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Population in Belgium compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 1.53 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.36% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Belgium vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Netherlands
2100 11,193,616 17,359,081
2099 11,211,908 17,392,412
2098 11,230,002 17,425,508
2097 11,246,180 17,459,827
2096 11,261,636 17,495,124
2095 11,277,513 17,532,593
2094 11,293,934 17,571,051
2093 11,309,421 17,610,792
2092 11,325,500 17,649,611
2091 11,339,887 17,688,532
2090 11,354,304 17,730,570
2089 11,368,748 17,770,380
2088 11,384,019 17,809,825
2087 11,399,441 17,845,820
2086 11,413,731 17,885,001
2085 11,427,305 17,921,302
2084 11,441,192 17,957,639
2083 11,454,476 17,994,232
2082 11,468,827 18,029,404
2081 11,480,917 18,063,233
2080 11,494,860 18,093,703
2079 11,507,804 18,124,294
2078 11,522,057 18,152,738
2077 11,534,819 18,181,372
2076 11,546,262 18,206,864
2075 11,558,154 18,227,791
2074 11,571,164 18,245,652
2073 11,584,391 18,263,765
2072 11,597,605 18,280,443
2071 11,611,079 18,295,700
2070 11,627,079 18,311,141
2069 11,643,296 18,326,509
2068 11,660,663 18,341,711
2067 11,677,909 18,356,770
2066 11,696,417 18,374,904
2065 11,716,114 18,396,018
2064 11,736,957 18,417,894
2063 11,758,738 18,441,434
2062 11,780,812 18,464,922
2061 11,804,421 18,492,436
2060 11,825,799 18,520,315
2059 11,847,336 18,548,786
2058 11,867,449 18,577,700
2057 11,890,466 18,608,370
2056 11,911,901 18,638,918
2055 11,931,594 18,666,514
2054 11,950,146 18,692,598
2053 11,968,395 18,718,268
2052 11,984,694 18,741,740
2051 11,998,099 18,768,309
2050 12,008,766 18,789,481
2049 12,017,817 18,809,886
2048 12,024,879 18,827,655
2047 12,029,815 18,844,635
2046 12,032,975 18,855,920
2045 12,034,718 18,867,286
2044 12,034,116 18,877,101
2043 12,032,908 18,882,735
2042 12,030,714 18,885,839
2041 12,026,814 18,885,255
2040 12,023,124 18,879,571
2039 12,018,547 18,870,248
2038 12,012,586 18,855,512
2037 12,005,650 18,837,172
2036 11,999,298 18,811,873
2035 11,992,761 18,783,312
2034 11,985,730 18,750,125
2033 11,977,334 18,708,101
2032 11,969,302 18,662,054
2031 11,960,910 18,609,452
2030 11,951,381 18,549,634
2029 11,939,712 18,481,269
2028 11,927,038 18,404,195
2027 11,913,457 18,320,644
2026 11,898,731 18,227,403
2025 11,881,020 18,118,662
2024 11,858,610 17,993,485
2023 11,779,946 17,877,117
2022 11,680,210 17,700,982
2021 11,586,195 17,533,044
2020 11,538,604 17,441,500
2019 11,488,980 17,344,874
2018 11,427,054 17,231,624
2017 11,375,158 17,131,296
2016 11,331,422 17,030,314
2015 11,274,196 16,939,923
2014 11,209,057 16,865,008
2013 11,159,407 16,804,432
2012 11,106,932 16,754,962
2011 11,038,264 16,693,074
2010 10,895,586 16,615,394
2009 10,796,493 16,530,388
2008 10,709,973 16,445,593
2007 10,625,700 16,381,696
2006 10,547,958 16,346,101
2005 10,478,617 16,319,868
2004 10,421,137 16,281,779
2003 10,376,133 16,225,302
2002 10,332,785 16,148,929
2001 10,286,570 16,046,180
2000 10,251,250 15,925,513
1999 10,226,419 15,812,088
1998 10,203,008 15,707,209
1997 10,181,245 15,610,650
1996 10,156,637 15,530,498
1995 10,136,811 15,459,006
1994 10,115,603 15,382,838
1993 10,084,475 15,290,368
1992 10,045,158 15,184,166
1991 10,004,486 15,069,798
1990 9,967,379 14,951,510
1989 9,937,697 14,848,907
1988 9,901,664 14,760,094
1987 9,870,234 14,665,037
1986 9,861,823 14,572,278
1985 9,858,308 14,491,632
1984 9,855,372 14,424,211
1983 9,855,520 14,367,070
1982 9,856,303 14,312,690
1981 9,858,982 14,247,208
1980 9,859,242 14,149,800
1979 9,848,382 14,038,270
1978 9,839,534 13,941,700
1977 9,830,358 13,856,185
1976 9,818,227 13,774,037
1975 9,800,700 13,666,335
1974 9,772,419 13,545,056
1973 9,741,720 13,439,322
1972 9,711,115 13,328,593
1971 9,673,162 13,194,497
1970 9,655,549 13,038,526
1969 9,646,032 12,877,984
1968 9,618,756 12,729,721
1967 9,580,991 12,598,201
1966 9,527,807 12,456,251
1965 9,463,667 12,294,732
1964 9,378,113 12,127,120
1963 9,289,770 11,965,966
1962 9,220,578 11,805,689
1961 9,183,948 11,638,712
1960 9,153,489 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Netherlands
2100 -0.16% -0.19%
2099 -0.16% -0.19%
2098 -0.14% -0.2%
2097 -0.14% -0.2%
2096 -0.14% -0.21%
2095 -0.15% -0.22%
2094 -0.14% -0.23%
2093 -0.14% -0.22%
2092 -0.13% -0.22%
2091 -0.13% -0.24%
2090 -0.13% -0.22%
2089 -0.13% -0.22%
2088 -0.14% -0.2%
2087 -0.13% -0.22%
2086 -0.12% -0.2%
2085 -0.12% -0.2%
2084 -0.12% -0.2%
2083 -0.13% -0.2%
2082 -0.11% -0.19%
2081 -0.12% -0.17%
2080 -0.11% -0.17%
2079 -0.12% -0.16%
2078 -0.11% -0.16%
2077 -0.1% -0.14%
2076 -0.1% -0.11%
2075 -0.11% -0.1%
2074 -0.11% -0.1%
2073 -0.11% -0.09%
2072 -0.12% -0.08%
2071 -0.14% -0.08%
2070 -0.14% -0.08%
2069 -0.15% -0.08%
2068 -0.15% -0.08%
2067 -0.16% -0.1%
2066 -0.17% -0.11%
2065 -0.18% -0.12%
2064 -0.19% -0.13%
2063 -0.19% -0.13%
2062 -0.2% -0.15%
2061 -0.18% -0.15%
2060 -0.18% -0.15%
2059 -0.17% -0.16%
2058 -0.19% -0.16%
2057 -0.18% -0.16%
2056 -0.17% -0.15%
2055 -0.16% -0.14%
2054 -0.15% -0.14%
2053 -0.14% -0.13%
2052 -0.11% -0.14%
2051 -0.09% -0.11%
2050 -0.08% -0.11%
2049 -0.06% -0.09%
2048 -0.04% -0.09%
2047 -0.03% -0.06%
2046 -0.01% -0.06%
2045 0.005% -0.05%
2044 0.01% -0.03%
2043 0.02% -0.02%
2042 0.03% 0.003%
2041 0.03% 0.03%
2040 0.04% 0.05%
2039 0.05% 0.08%
2038 0.06% 0.1%
2037 0.05% 0.13%
2036 0.05% 0.15%
2035 0.06% 0.18%
2034 0.07% 0.22%
2033 0.07% 0.25%
2032 0.07% 0.28%
2031 0.08% 0.32%
2030 0.1% 0.37%
2029 0.11% 0.42%
2028 0.11% 0.46%
2027 0.12% 0.51%
2026 0.15% 0.6%
2025 0.19% 0.7%
2024 0.67% 0.65%
2023 0.85% 1%
2022 0.81% 0.96%
2021 0.41% 0.52%
2020 0.43% 0.56%
2019 0.54% 0.66%
2018 0.46% 0.59%
2017 0.39% 0.59%
2016 0.51% 0.53%
2015 0.58% 0.44%
2014 0.44% 0.36%
2013 0.47% 0.3%
2012 0.62% 0.37%
2011 1.31% 0.47%
2010 0.92% 0.51%
2009 0.81% 0.52%
2008 0.79% 0.39%
2007 0.74% 0.22%
2006 0.66% 0.16%
2005 0.55% 0.23%
2004 0.43% 0.35%
2003 0.42% 0.47%
2002 0.45% 0.64%
2001 0.34% 0.76%
2000 0.24% 0.72%
1999 0.23% 0.67%
1998 0.21% 0.62%
1997 0.24% 0.52%
1996 0.2% 0.46%
1995 0.21% 0.5%
1994 0.31% 0.6%
1993 0.39% 0.7%
1992 0.41% 0.76%
1991 0.37% 0.79%
1990 0.3% 0.69%
1989 0.36% 0.6%
1988 0.32% 0.65%
1987 0.09% 0.64%
1986 0.04% 0.56%
1985 0.03% 0.47%
1984 -0.002% 0.4%
1983 -0.008% 0.38%
1982 -0.03% 0.46%
1981 -0.003% 0.69%
1980 0.11% 0.79%
1979 0.09% 0.69%
1978 0.09% 0.62%
1977 0.12% 0.6%
1976 0.18% 0.79%
1975 0.29% 0.9%
1974 0.32% 0.79%
1973 0.32% 0.83%
1972 0.39% 1.02%
1971 0.18% 1.2%
1970 0.1% 1.25%
1969 0.28% 1.16%
1968 0.39% 1.04%
1967 0.56% 1.14%
1966 0.68% 1.31%
1965 0.91% 1.38%
1964 0.95% 1.35%
1963 0.75% 1.36%
1962 0.4% 1.43%
1961 0.33% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Belgium Netherlands
Current population
11902714
18252623
Population rank 83/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.22%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
4.52 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +319
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 121/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +104,681
Net migration rank 28/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 104,681
2024 - 36,243 - 121,628
2023 0 41,679 -5,363 144,558
2022 -2,336 118,615 -1,770 224,472
2021 5,793 24,017 7,014 106,416
2020 -12,692 43,777 0 67,598
2019 8,042 58,469 17,345 109,003
2018 7,999 50,604 15,508 87,197
2017 10,238 37,981 18,844 86,332
2016 14,731 28,090 23,843 88,743
2015 11,274 63,536 23,716 55,585
2014 21,297 37,472 35,417 36,591
2013 16,739 28,066 30,248 19,973
2012 18,882 45,001 35,186 14,861
2011 25,388 52,464 45,072 31,224
2010 23,970 105,232 48,184 33,703
2009 23,752 97,175 51,244 39,832
2008 22,491 66,470 49,337 32,406
2007 23,376 59,911 49,145 -304
2006 21,096 53,574 49,038 -25,401
2005 15,718 50,576 50,592 -22,496
2004 16,673 35,143 56,987 -9,230
2003 7,263 34,472 58,411 7,937
2002 7,233 39,404 59,751 28,824
2001 11,315 34,924 62,580 56,096
2000 12,302 13,952 66,887 59,308
1999 9,203 16,849 60,086 47,179
1998 9,183 12,517 61,258 52,058
1997 12,218 10,262 56,198 31,302
1996 12,188 15,684 51,251 21,792
1995 11,150 1,937 54,106 15,056
1994 12,139 17,636 61,532 20,193
1993 14,118 18,542 58,103 44,514
1992 20,090 25,941 66,811 50,148
1991 22,010 27,038 69,321 51,670
1990 19,935 8,299 68,777 53,564
1989 13,912 7,301 59,396 31,165
1988 14,853 3,929 61,993 31,026
1987 11,844 3,525 64,526 39,559
1986 5,917 2,964 59,746 30,380
1985 2,958 2,165 55,069 27,356
1984 4,927 1,697 54,812 12,902
1983 2,956 1,252 51,722 11,007
1982 7,885 1,100 54,388 7,644
1981 11,831 2,826 62,688 17,643
1980 10,845 11,482 66,504 54,010
1979 11,818 11,277 63,172 42,772
1978 7,872 10,828 61,344 26,639
1977 8,847 10,460 63,739 19,809
1976 1,964 10,360 63,361 18,774
1975 0 9,652 64,232 68,569
1974 7,818 8,924 75,853 31,645
1973 11,690 8,684 84,668 18,705
1972 18,451 8,384 101,297 17,470
1971 21,281 7,992 116,112 32,756
1970 23,173 19,393 129,082 32,438
1969 21,221 20,072 139,082 21,850
1968 20,199 19,809 132,389 7,243
1967 31,618 19,492 138,580 -10,673
1966 36,206 18,985 138,265 20,740
1965 39,748 18,243 146,308 19,444
1964 51,580 17,687 157,653 15,014
1963 41,804 16,355 154,361 -21
1962 42,414 14,829 153,474 18,024
1961 52,349 10,566 159,450 8,258
1960 40,275 9,893 151,623 -13,235

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | CC BY

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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)

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