Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 122,677,250 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 +0.55% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Belgium vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Japan
2100 11,193,616 76,978,998
2099 11,211,908 77,363,458
2098 11,230,002 77,742,445
2097 11,246,180 78,118,375
2096 11,261,636 78,498,614
2095 11,277,513 78,875,245
2094 11,293,934 79,250,325
2093 11,309,421 79,628,057
2092 11,325,500 80,007,967
2091 11,339,887 80,383,529
2090 11,354,304 80,760,724
2089 11,368,748 81,140,553
2088 11,384,019 81,521,696
2087 11,399,441 81,908,373
2086 11,413,731 82,304,497
2085 11,427,305 82,709,534
2084 11,441,192 83,123,058
2083 11,454,476 83,544,006
2082 11,468,827 83,980,325
2081 11,480,917 84,429,305
2080 11,494,860 84,899,768
2079 11,507,804 85,387,247
2078 11,522,057 85,897,934
2077 11,534,819 86,434,291
2076 11,546,262 86,993,007
2075 11,558,154 87,577,777
2074 11,571,164 88,190,392
2073 11,584,391 88,834,763
2072 11,597,605 89,499,356
2071 11,611,079 90,184,464
2070 11,627,079 90,899,136
2069 11,643,296 91,625,421
2068 11,660,663 92,367,969
2067 11,677,909 93,113,499
2066 11,696,417 93,869,240
2065 11,716,114 94,633,430
2064 11,736,957 95,391,433
2063 11,758,738 96,148,081
2062 11,780,812 96,902,907
2061 11,804,421 97,654,031
2060 11,825,799 98,400,894
2059 11,847,336 99,144,216
2058 11,867,449 99,868,968
2057 11,890,466 100,585,601
2056 11,911,901 101,295,868
2055 11,931,594 101,989,736
2054 11,950,146 102,683,462
2053 11,968,395 103,359,083
2052 11,984,694 104,036,901
2051 11,998,099 104,706,698
2050 12,008,766 105,377,283
2049 12,017,817 106,053,011
2048 12,024,879 106,731,207
2047 12,029,815 107,419,237
2046 12,032,975 108,115,358
2045 12,034,718 108,820,982
2044 12,034,116 109,529,333
2043 12,032,908 110,245,586
2042 12,030,714 110,968,174
2041 12,026,814 111,704,629
2040 12,023,124 112,438,759
2039 12,018,547 113,175,948
2038 12,012,586 113,915,783
2037 12,005,650 114,662,374
2036 11,999,298 115,410,956
2035 11,992,761 116,162,381
2034 11,985,730 116,911,001
2033 11,977,334 117,652,676
2032 11,969,302 118,393,188
2031 11,960,910 119,127,425
2030 11,951,381 119,856,131
2029 11,939,712 120,574,242
2028 11,927,038 121,287,543
2027 11,913,457 121,989,133
2026 11,898,731 122,677,250
2025 11,881,020 123,339,586
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% 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 0.89% to 12,008,766 people with a rank change from 83rd to 92nd. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M 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 0.19% -0.51%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Belgium Japan
Current population
11902714
122677250
Population rank 83/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 1.48%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
58.3 seconds
One birth every
4.75 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
4.75 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +216 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +78,664 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 185/197
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 - 36,243 - 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 11.3% of the population change in Belgium is from natural causes (a gain of 64,346 people) and 88.7% is from migration (a gain of 504,240 people). In Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.