Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,941,781 in 2025 vs 2,363,325 people in Lesotho in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,967,185 people compared to 2,402,837 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 4.98 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.58% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 12M (13.5% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.5% growth).

Belgium vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Lesotho
2100 11,250,862 3,280,518
2099 11,269,247 3,286,430
2098 11,287,433 3,292,231
2097 11,303,694 3,297,835
2096 11,319,229 3,302,758
2095 11,335,187 3,307,678
2094 11,351,692 3,311,734
2093 11,367,258 3,315,488
2092 11,383,419 3,319,391
2091 11,397,881 3,322,303
2090 11,412,370 3,324,499
2089 11,426,889 3,326,577
2088 11,442,238 3,328,210
2087 11,457,739 3,329,694
2086 11,472,102 3,330,185
2085 11,485,745 3,330,989
2084 11,499,703 3,331,214
2083 11,513,055 3,331,221
2082 11,527,480 3,330,964
2081 11,539,632 3,330,141
2080 11,553,646 3,328,997
2079 11,566,656 3,326,895
2078 11,580,982 3,324,376
2077 11,593,809 3,321,152
2076 11,605,311 3,317,581
2075 11,617,264 3,313,968
2074 11,630,340 3,308,905
2073 11,643,635 3,303,592
2072 11,656,916 3,297,913
2071 11,670,459 3,291,224
2070 11,686,541 3,283,387
2069 11,702,841 3,274,978
2068 11,720,297 3,265,887
2067 11,737,631 3,256,362
2066 11,756,233 3,246,639
2065 11,776,031 3,236,890
2064 11,796,981 3,226,227
2063 11,818,873 3,214,843
2062 11,841,060 3,202,027
2061 11,864,790 3,188,674
2060 11,886,277 3,174,740
2059 11,907,924 3,159,947
2058 11,928,140 3,144,797
2057 11,951,275 3,129,007
2056 11,972,819 3,112,877
2055 11,992,614 3,095,653
2054 12,011,260 3,078,317
2053 12,029,602 3,059,904
2052 12,045,984 3,040,402
2051 12,059,458 3,019,864
2050 12,070,180 2,999,214
2049 12,079,277 2,977,795
2048 12,086,376 2,955,487
2047 12,091,336 2,932,450
2046 12,094,512 2,909,071
2045 12,096,264 2,885,303
2044 12,095,660 2,861,140
2043 12,094,445 2,836,547
2042 12,092,240 2,811,435
2041 12,088,320 2,785,921
2040 12,084,611 2,760,167
2039 12,080,011 2,734,178
2038 12,074,019 2,707,996
2037 12,067,048 2,681,646
2036 12,060,663 2,654,540
2035 12,054,093 2,627,488
2034 12,047,026 2,600,669
2033 12,038,587 2,573,856
2032 12,030,514 2,547,137
2031 12,022,079 2,520,626
2030 12,012,501 2,494,444
2029 12,000,773 2,468,067
2028 11,988,034 2,441,673
2027 11,974,384 2,415,634
2026 11,959,583 2,389,322
2025 11,941,781 2,363,325
2024 11,858,610 2,337,423
2023 11,779,946 2,311,472
2022 11,680,210 2,286,110
2021 11,586,195 2,261,542
2020 11,538,604 2,235,727
2019 11,488,980 2,209,405
2018 11,427,054 2,183,603
2017 11,375,158 2,157,110
2016 11,331,422 2,130,422
2015 11,274,196 2,104,611
2014 11,209,057 2,080,089
2013 11,159,407 2,056,504
2012 11,106,932 2,034,354
2011 11,038,264 2,014,009
2010 10,895,586 1,996,251
2009 10,796,493 1,980,883
2008 10,709,973 1,966,541
2007 10,625,700 1,953,268
2006 10,547,958 1,945,063
2005 10,478,617 1,953,076
2004 10,421,137 1,971,129
2003 10,376,133 1,985,059
2002 10,332,785 1,994,679
2001 10,286,570 2,000,853
2000 10,251,250 2,003,913
1999 10,226,419 2,003,234
1998 10,203,008 1,998,049
1997 10,181,245 1,988,130
1996 10,156,637 1,972,418
1995 10,136,811 1,951,437
1994 10,115,603 1,927,707
1993 10,084,475 1,901,793
1992 10,045,158 1,873,274
1991 10,004,486 1,842,379
1990 9,967,379 1,809,696
1989 9,937,697 1,775,436
1988 9,901,664 1,739,841
1987 9,870,234 1,703,390
1986 9,861,823 1,666,138
1985 9,858,308 1,624,379
1984 9,855,372 1,578,986
1983 9,855,520 1,534,413
1982 9,856,303 1,490,732
1981 9,858,982 1,448,069
1980 9,859,242 1,406,521
1979 9,848,382 1,366,169
1978 9,839,534 1,327,240
1977 9,830,358 1,289,967
1976 9,818,227 1,253,214
1975 9,800,700 1,213,643
1974 9,772,419 1,172,420
1973 9,741,720 1,132,697
1972 9,711,115 1,094,063
1971 9,673,162 1,056,246
1970 9,655,549 1,019,273
1969 9,646,032 983,202
1968 9,618,756 948,105
1967 9,580,991 913,982
1966 9,527,807 881,870
1965 9,463,667 854,090
1964 9,378,113 829,437
1963 9,289,770 805,373
1962 9,220,578 781,814
1961 9,183,948 758,824
1960 9,153,489 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 635,763 people (a 5.61% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 272,415 people (a 12.8% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 24.8% to 2,999,214 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12.1M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Lesotho
2100 -0.16% -0.18%
2099 -0.16% -0.18%
2098 -0.14% -0.17%
2097 -0.14% -0.15%
2096 -0.14% -0.15%
2095 -0.15% -0.12%
2094 -0.14% -0.11%
2093 -0.14% -0.12%
2092 -0.13% -0.09%
2091 -0.13% -0.07%
2090 -0.13% -0.06%
2089 -0.13% -0.05%
2088 -0.14% -0.04%
2087 -0.13% -0.01%
2086 -0.12% -0.02%
2085 -0.12% -0.007%
2084 -0.12% -0%
2083 -0.13% 0.008%
2082 -0.11% 0.02%
2081 -0.12% 0.03%
2080 -0.11% 0.06%
2079 -0.12% 0.08%
2078 -0.11% 0.1%
2077 -0.1% 0.11%
2076 -0.1% 0.11%
2075 -0.11% 0.15%
2074 -0.11% 0.16%
2073 -0.11% 0.17%
2072 -0.12% 0.2%
2071 -0.14% 0.24%
2070 -0.14% 0.26%
2069 -0.15% 0.28%
2068 -0.15% 0.29%
2067 -0.16% 0.3%
2066 -0.17% 0.3%
2065 -0.18% 0.33%
2064 -0.19% 0.35%
2063 -0.19% 0.4%
2062 -0.2% 0.42%
2061 -0.18% 0.44%
2060 -0.18% 0.47%
2059 -0.17% 0.48%
2058 -0.19% 0.5%
2057 -0.18% 0.52%
2056 -0.17% 0.56%
2055 -0.16% 0.56%
2054 -0.15% 0.6%
2053 -0.14% 0.64%
2052 -0.11% 0.68%
2051 -0.09% 0.69%
2050 -0.08% 0.72%
2049 -0.06% 0.75%
2048 -0.04% 0.79%
2047 -0.03% 0.8%
2046 -0.01% 0.82%
2045 0.005% 0.84%
2044 0.01% 0.87%
2043 0.02% 0.89%
2042 0.03% 0.92%
2041 0.03% 0.93%
2040 0.04% 0.95%
2039 0.05% 0.97%
2038 0.06% 0.98%
2037 0.05% 1.02%
2036 0.05% 1.03%
2035 0.06% 1.03%
2034 0.07% 1.04%
2033 0.07% 1.05%
2032 0.07% 1.05%
2031 0.08% 1.05%
2030 0.1% 1.07%
2029 0.11% 1.08%
2028 0.11% 1.08%
2027 0.12% 1.1%
2026 0.15% 1.1%
2025 0.7% 1.11%
2024 0.67% 1.12%
2023 0.85% 1.11%
2022 0.81% 1.09%
2021 0.41% 1.15%
2020 0.43% 1.19%
2019 0.54% 1.18%
2018 0.46% 1.23%
2017 0.39% 1.25%
2016 0.51% 1.23%
2015 0.58% 1.18%
2014 0.44% 1.15%
2013 0.47% 1.09%
2012 0.62% 1.01%
2011 1.31% 0.89%
2010 0.92% 0.78%
2009 0.81% 0.73%
2008 0.79% 0.68%
2007 0.74% 0.42%
2006 0.66% -0.41%
2005 0.55% -0.92%
2004 0.43% -0.7%
2003 0.42% -0.48%
2002 0.45% -0.31%
2001 0.34% -0.15%
2000 0.24% 0.03%
1999 0.23% 0.26%
1998 0.21% 0.5%
1997 0.24% 0.8%
1996 0.2% 1.08%
1995 0.21% 1.23%
1994 0.31% 1.36%
1993 0.39% 1.52%
1992 0.41% 1.68%
1991 0.37% 1.81%
1990 0.3% 1.93%
1989 0.36% 2.05%
1988 0.32% 2.14%
1987 0.09% 2.24%
1986 0.04% 2.57%
1985 0.03% 2.87%
1984 -0.002% 2.9%
1983 -0.008% 2.93%
1982 -0.03% 2.95%
1981 -0.003% 2.95%
1980 0.11% 2.95%
1979 0.09% 2.93%
1978 0.09% 2.89%
1977 0.12% 2.93%
1976 0.18% 3.26%
1975 0.29% 3.52%
1974 0.32% 3.51%
1973 0.32% 3.53%
1972 0.39% 3.58%
1971 0.18% 3.63%
1970 0.1% 3.67%
1969 0.28% 3.7%
1968 0.39% 3.73%
1967 0.56% 3.64%
1966 0.68% 3.25%
1965 0.91% 2.97%
1964 0.95% 2.99%
1963 0.75% 3.01%
1962 0.4% 3.03%
1961 0.33% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Belgium grew by 0.7%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.11%.

Live population counters

Belgium Lesotho
Current population
11967185
2402837
Population rank 83/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.03%
One net population change
6.34 minutes
20.3 minutes
One birth every
4.82 minutes
9.46 minutes
One death every
4.67 minutes
21.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +228 +71
Annual growth/decline +83,171 +25,902
Annual growth/decline rate +0.7% +1.11%
Population growth rate rank 116/197 94/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +31,989 -5,192
Net migration rank 28/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -5,192
2024 -3,557 36,243 31,050 -5,107
2023 0 41,679 31,115 -5,168
2022 -2,336 118,615 30,803 -6,023
2021 5,793 24,017 27,806 -3,449
2020 -12,692 43,777 30,721 -3,449
2019 8,042 58,469 32,279 -6,896
2018 7,999 50,604 33,112 -6,892
2017 10,238 37,981 33,601 -6,850
2016 14,731 28,090 33,390 -6,766
2015 11,274 63,536 32,087 -7,087
2014 21,297 37,472 30,922 -6,877
2013 16,739 28,066 29,789 -6,659
2012 18,882 45,001 27,592 -6,425
2011 25,388 52,464 25,647 -6,118
2010 23,970 105,232 21,877 -5,886
2009 23,752 97,175 20,335 -5,599
2008 22,491 66,470 19,349 -5,392
2007 23,376 59,911 17,763 -5,179
2006 21,096 53,574 15,234 -11,416
2005 15,718 50,576 15,831 -35,679
2004 16,673 35,143 17,271 -33,530
2003 7,263 34,472 20,133 -31,723
2002 7,233 39,404 22,274 -29,924
2001 11,315 34,924 23,190 -27,874
2000 12,302 13,952 24,786 -26,220
1999 9,203 16,849 27,393 -24,610
1998 9,183 12,517 30,889 -23,299
1997 12,218 10,262 34,637 -22,396
1996 12,188 15,684 36,228 -17,042
1995 11,150 1,937 37,370 -14,588
1994 12,139 17,636 38,629 -13,953
1993 14,118 18,542 40,505 -13,347
1992 20,090 25,941 42,579 -12,707
1991 22,010 27,038 44,026 -12,114
1990 19,935 8,299 45,060 -11,598
1989 13,912 7,301 46,264 -11,207
1988 14,853 3,929 47,158 -11,028
1987 11,844 3,525 47,718 -10,946
1986 5,917 2,964 45,232 -7,501
1985 2,958 2,165 44,575 1,222
1984 4,927 1,697 43,785 1,199
1983 2,956 1,252 42,899 1,253
1982 7,885 1,100 41,941 1,281
1981 11,831 2,826 40,808 1,307
1980 10,845 11,482 39,617 1,361
1979 11,818 11,277 38,440 1,285
1978 7,872 10,828 37,084 1,047
1977 8,847 10,460 35,654 746
1976 1,964 10,360 34,117 2,986
1975 0 9,652 32,311 9,723
1974 7,818 8,924 30,444 9,972
1973 11,690 8,684 28,859 10,183
1972 18,451 8,384 27,841 10,386
1971 21,281 7,992 26,838 10,563
1970 23,173 19,393 25,935 10,605
1969 21,221 20,072 25,137 10,465
1968 20,199 19,809 24,490 10,108
1967 31,618 19,492 23,911 9,734
1966 36,206 18,985 23,326 7,248
1965 39,748 18,243 22,755 2,239
1964 51,580 17,687 22,116 2,198
1963 41,804 16,355 21,585 2,220
1962 42,414 14,829 21,132 2,172
1961 52,349 10,566 20,581 2,100
1960 40,275 9,893 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,964 people) and 15.4% is from migration (a loss of 57,687 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

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

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.