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Population in Belgium compared to Japan: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,941,781 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,967,185 people compared to 122,704,252 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 10.3 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.62% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.58% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 12M (13.5% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

Belgium vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Japan
2100 11,250,862 76,995,942
2099 11,269,247 77,380,486
2098 11,287,433 77,759,557
2097 11,303,694 78,135,569
2096 11,319,229 78,515,892
2095 11,335,187 78,892,606
2094 11,351,692 79,267,768
2093 11,367,258 79,645,584
2092 11,383,419 80,025,578
2091 11,397,881 80,401,222
2090 11,412,370 80,778,500
2089 11,426,889 81,158,413
2088 11,442,238 81,539,639
2087 11,457,739 81,926,401
2086 11,472,102 82,322,612
2085 11,485,745 82,727,738
2084 11,499,703 83,141,354
2083 11,513,055 83,562,394
2082 11,527,480 83,998,809
2081 11,539,632 84,447,888
2080 11,553,646 84,918,455
2079 11,566,656 85,406,042
2078 11,580,982 85,916,840
2077 11,593,809 86,453,316
2076 11,605,311 87,012,155
2075 11,617,264 87,597,053
2074 11,630,340 88,209,803
2073 11,643,635 88,854,316
2072 11,656,916 89,519,055
2071 11,670,459 90,204,314
2070 11,686,541 90,919,143
2069 11,702,841 91,645,589
2068 11,720,297 92,388,299
2067 11,737,631 93,133,993
2066 11,756,233 93,889,902
2065 11,776,031 94,654,259
2064 11,796,981 95,412,429
2063 11,818,873 96,169,244
2062 11,841,060 96,924,236
2061 11,864,790 97,675,525
2060 11,886,277 98,422,553
2059 11,907,924 99,166,038
2058 11,928,140 99,890,950
2057 11,951,275 100,607,740
2056 11,972,819 101,318,164
2055 11,992,614 102,012,184
2054 12,011,260 102,706,063
2053 12,029,602 103,381,833
2052 12,045,984 104,059,800
2051 12,059,458 104,729,745
2050 12,070,180 105,400,477
2049 12,079,277 106,076,354
2048 12,086,376 106,754,699
2047 12,091,336 107,442,881
2046 12,094,512 108,139,155
2045 12,096,264 108,844,934
2044 12,095,660 109,553,441
2043 12,094,445 110,269,851
2042 12,092,240 110,992,599
2041 12,088,320 111,729,216
2040 12,084,611 112,463,507
2039 12,080,011 113,200,859
2038 12,074,019 113,940,856
2037 12,067,048 114,687,611
2036 12,060,663 115,436,359
2035 12,054,093 116,187,949
2034 12,047,026 116,936,734
2033 12,038,587 117,678,572
2032 12,030,514 118,419,247
2031 12,022,079 119,153,646
2030 12,012,501 119,882,512
2029 12,000,773 120,600,781
2028 11,988,034 121,314,239
2027 11,974,384 122,015,984
2026 11,959,583 122,704,252
2025 11,941,781 123,366,734
2024 11,858,610 123,975,371
2023 11,779,946 124,516,650
2022 11,680,210 125,124,989
2021 11,586,195 125,681,593
2020 11,538,604 126,261,000
2019 11,488,980 126,633,000
2018 11,427,054 126,811,000
2017 11,375,158 126,972,000
2016 11,331,422 127,076,000
2015 11,274,196 127,141,000
2014 11,209,057 127,276,000
2013 11,159,407 127,445,000
2012 11,106,932 127,629,000
2011 11,038,264 127,833,000
2010 10,895,586 128,070,000
2009 10,796,493 128,047,000
2008 10,709,973 128,063,000
2007 10,625,700 128,001,000
2006 10,547,958 127,854,000
2005 10,478,617 127,773,000
2004 10,421,137 127,761,000
2003 10,376,133 127,718,000
2002 10,332,785 127,445,000
2001 10,286,570 127,149,000
2000 10,251,250 126,843,000
1999 10,226,419 126,631,000
1998 10,203,008 126,400,000
1997 10,181,245 126,057,000
1996 10,156,637 125,757,000
1995 10,136,811 125,472,000
1994 10,115,603 125,178,000
1993 10,084,475 124,829,000
1992 10,045,158 124,425,000
1991 10,004,486 123,964,000
1990 9,967,379 123,478,000
1989 9,937,697 123,069,000
1988 9,901,664 122,578,000
1987 9,870,234 122,069,000
1986 9,861,823 121,482,000
1985 9,858,308 120,837,000
1984 9,855,372 120,083,000
1983 9,855,520 119,307,000
1982 9,856,303 118,480,000
1981 9,858,982 117,661,000
1980 9,859,242 116,807,000
1979 9,848,382 115,890,000
1978 9,839,534 114,913,000
1977 9,830,358 113,872,000
1976 9,818,227 112,775,000
1975 9,800,700 111,573,000
1974 9,772,419 110,162,000
1973 9,741,720 108,707,000
1972 9,711,115 107,188,000
1971 9,673,162 105,697,000
1970 9,655,549 103,403,000
1969 9,646,032 102,219,000
1968 9,618,756 101,011,000
1967 9,580,991 99,879,000
1966 9,527,807 98,851,000
1965 9,463,667 97,952,000
1964 9,378,113 96,903,000
1963 9,289,770 95,900,000
1962 9,220,578 94,933,000
1961 9,183,948 94,055,000
1960 9,153,489 93,216,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 635,763 people (a 5.61% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Belgium's population will grow by 0.86% to 12,070,180 people with a rank change from 83rd to 92nd. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12.1M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Japan
2100 -0.16% -0.5%
2099 -0.16% -0.49%
2098 -0.14% -0.48%
2097 -0.14% -0.48%
2096 -0.14% -0.48%
2095 -0.15% -0.47%
2094 -0.14% -0.47%
2093 -0.14% -0.47%
2092 -0.13% -0.47%
2091 -0.13% -0.47%
2090 -0.13% -0.47%
2089 -0.13% -0.47%
2088 -0.14% -0.47%
2087 -0.13% -0.48%
2086 -0.12% -0.49%
2085 -0.12% -0.5%
2084 -0.12% -0.5%
2083 -0.13% -0.52%
2082 -0.11% -0.53%
2081 -0.12% -0.55%
2080 -0.11% -0.57%
2079 -0.12% -0.59%
2078 -0.11% -0.62%
2077 -0.1% -0.64%
2076 -0.1% -0.67%
2075 -0.11% -0.69%
2074 -0.11% -0.73%
2073 -0.11% -0.74%
2072 -0.12% -0.76%
2071 -0.14% -0.79%
2070 -0.14% -0.79%
2069 -0.15% -0.8%
2068 -0.15% -0.8%
2067 -0.16% -0.81%
2066 -0.17% -0.81%
2065 -0.18% -0.79%
2064 -0.19% -0.79%
2063 -0.19% -0.78%
2062 -0.2% -0.77%
2061 -0.18% -0.76%
2060 -0.18% -0.75%
2059 -0.17% -0.73%
2058 -0.19% -0.71%
2057 -0.18% -0.7%
2056 -0.17% -0.68%
2055 -0.16% -0.68%
2054 -0.15% -0.65%
2053 -0.14% -0.65%
2052 -0.11% -0.64%
2051 -0.09% -0.64%
2050 -0.08% -0.64%
2049 -0.06% -0.64%
2048 -0.04% -0.64%
2047 -0.03% -0.64%
2046 -0.01% -0.65%
2045 0.005% -0.65%
2044 0.01% -0.65%
2043 0.02% -0.65%
2042 0.03% -0.66%
2041 0.03% -0.65%
2040 0.04% -0.65%
2039 0.05% -0.65%
2038 0.06% -0.65%
2037 0.05% -0.65%
2036 0.05% -0.65%
2035 0.06% -0.64%
2034 0.07% -0.63%
2033 0.07% -0.63%
2032 0.07% -0.62%
2031 0.08% -0.61%
2030 0.1% -0.6%
2029 0.11% -0.59%
2028 0.11% -0.58%
2027 0.12% -0.56%
2026 0.15% -0.54%
2025 0.7% -0.49%
2024 0.67% -0.43%
2023 0.85% -0.49%
2022 0.81% -0.44%
2021 0.41% -0.46%
2020 0.43% -0.29%
2019 0.54% -0.14%
2018 0.46% -0.13%
2017 0.39% -0.08%
2016 0.51% -0.05%
2015 0.58% -0.11%
2014 0.44% -0.13%
2013 0.47% -0.14%
2012 0.62% -0.16%
2011 1.31% -0.19%
2010 0.92% 0.02%
2009 0.81% -0.01%
2008 0.79% 0.05%
2007 0.74% 0.11%
2006 0.66% 0.06%
2005 0.55% 0.009%
2004 0.43% 0.03%
2003 0.42% 0.21%
2002 0.45% 0.23%
2001 0.34% 0.24%
2000 0.24% 0.17%
1999 0.23% 0.18%
1998 0.21% 0.27%
1997 0.24% 0.24%
1996 0.2% 0.23%
1995 0.21% 0.23%
1994 0.31% 0.28%
1993 0.39% 0.32%
1992 0.41% 0.37%
1991 0.37% 0.39%
1990 0.3% 0.33%
1989 0.36% 0.4%
1988 0.32% 0.42%
1987 0.09% 0.48%
1986 0.04% 0.53%
1985 0.03% 0.63%
1984 -0.002% 0.65%
1983 -0.008% 0.7%
1982 -0.03% 0.7%
1981 -0.003% 0.73%
1980 0.11% 0.79%
1979 0.09% 0.85%
1978 0.09% 0.91%
1977 0.12% 0.97%
1976 0.18% 1.08%
1975 0.29% 1.28%
1974 0.32% 1.34%
1973 0.32% 1.42%
1972 0.39% 1.41%
1971 0.18% 2.22%
1970 0.1% 1.16%
1969 0.28% 1.2%
1968 0.39% 1.13%
1967 0.56% 1.04%
1966 0.68% 0.92%
1965 0.91% 1.08%
1964 0.95% 1.05%
1963 0.75% 1.02%
1962 0.4% 0.93%
1961 0.33% 0.9%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/japan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Belgium grew by 0.7%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Belgium Japan
Current population
11967185
122704252
Population rank 83/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 1.48%
One net population change
6.34 minutes
52 seconds
One birth every
4.82 minutes
44.6 seconds
One death every
4.67 minutes
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +228 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +83,171 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +0.7% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 116/197 183/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +140,579
Net migration rank 28/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 140,579
2024 -3,557 36,243 -942,213 153,357
2023 0 41,679 -871,617 175,003
2022 -2,336 118,615 -825,825 175,003
2021 5,793 24,017 -640,976 -34,996
2020 -12,692 43,777 -542,923 42,001
2019 8,042 58,469 -531,858 318,190
2018 7,999 50,604 -456,520 320,601
2017 10,238 37,981 -406,310 322,564
2016 14,731 28,090 -343,106 314,732
2015 11,274 63,536 -292,424 168,896
2014 21,297 37,472 -267,279 58,109
2013 16,739 28,066 -242,146 66,449
2012 18,882 45,001 -229,733 67,904
2011 25,388 52,464 -204,533 97,720
2010 23,970 105,232 -128,070 131,860
2009 23,752 97,175 -76,828 125,450
2008 22,491 66,470 -51,225 142,605
2007 23,376 59,911 -25,600 138,024
2006 21,096 53,574 12,785 130,065
2005 15,718 50,576 -25,554 113,017
2004 16,673 35,143 76,656 69,014
2003 7,263 34,472 114,946 74,875
2002 7,233 39,404 178,423 60,864
2001 11,315 34,924 203,438 59,563
2000 12,302 13,952 228,317 23,468
1999 9,203 16,849 202,610 56,901
1998 9,183 12,517 265,440 45,912
1997 12,218 10,262 277,325 43,366
1996 12,188 15,684 314,392 25,030
1995 11,150 1,937 276,039 87,714
1994 12,139 17,636 363,017 154,214
1993 14,118 18,542 312,073 168,836
1992 20,090 25,941 360,833 170,878
1991 22,010 27,038 396,685 161,331
1990 19,935 8,299 407,478 124,582
1989 13,912 7,301 467,662 31,202
1988 14,853 3,929 527,085 51,154
1987 11,844 3,525 598,138 28,001
1986 5,917 2,964 631,706 27,987
1985 2,958 2,165 676,687 -141,323
1984 4,927 1,697 756,523 -273,686
1983 2,956 1,252 775,495 -269,755
1982 7,885 1,100 805,664 -288,550
1981 11,831 2,826 811,861 -278,525
1980 10,845 11,482 864,372 -92,314
1979 11,818 11,277 950,298 -57,692
1978 7,872 10,828 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 8,847 10,460 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 1,964 10,360 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 0 9,652 1,204,989 107
1974 7,818 8,924 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 11,690 8,684 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 18,451 8,384 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 21,281 7,992 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 23,173 19,393 1,230,496 33,731
1969 21,221 20,072 1,195,962 49,447
1968 20,199 19,809 1,191,930 43,593
1967 31,618 19,492 1,258,475 29,632
1966 36,206 18,985 682,072 68,934
1965 39,748 18,243 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 51,580 17,687 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 41,804 16,355 987,770 -100,742
1962 42,414 14,829 901,864 -57,075
1961 52,349 10,566 893,522 -58,882
1960 40,275 9,893 894,874 -150,371

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/japan | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 7.28% of the population change in Belgium is from natural causes (a gain of 39,492 people) and 92.7% is from migration (a gain of 503,011 people). In Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

Belgium
City Population
Brussels 1.25M
Antwerp 529K
Ghent 273K
Charleroi 204K
Liege 195K
Schaerbeek 133K
Anderlecht 121K
Bruges 119K
Namur 115K
Leuven 101K
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/japan | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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