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Population in Belgium compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.24 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Belgium vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium North Korea
2100 11,193,616 19,604,631
2099 11,211,908 19,733,548
2098 11,230,002 19,862,949
2097 11,246,180 19,993,288
2096 11,261,636 20,124,518
2095 11,277,513 20,256,401
2094 11,293,934 20,388,156
2093 11,309,421 20,520,253
2092 11,325,500 20,652,961
2091 11,339,887 20,785,785
2090 11,354,304 20,918,305
2089 11,368,748 21,050,580
2088 11,384,019 21,182,325
2087 11,399,441 21,314,047
2086 11,413,731 21,445,329
2085 11,427,305 21,575,835
2084 11,441,192 21,705,777
2083 11,454,476 21,835,029
2082 11,468,827 21,964,199
2081 11,480,917 22,092,862
2080 11,494,860 22,220,948
2079 11,507,804 22,348,577
2078 11,522,057 22,475,755
2077 11,534,819 22,602,817
2076 11,546,262 22,729,499
2075 11,558,154 22,856,369
2074 11,571,164 22,983,784
2073 11,584,391 23,111,441
2072 11,597,605 23,239,261
2071 11,611,079 23,367,583
2070 11,627,079 23,496,136
2069 11,643,296 23,625,538
2068 11,660,663 23,755,136
2067 11,677,909 23,884,879
2066 11,696,417 24,015,027
2065 11,716,114 24,144,985
2064 11,736,957 24,274,257
2063 11,758,738 24,402,439
2062 11,780,812 24,529,941
2061 11,804,421 24,656,350
2060 11,825,799 24,780,911
2059 11,847,336 24,903,037
2058 11,867,449 25,023,260
2057 11,890,466 25,140,523
2056 11,911,901 25,255,342
2055 11,931,594 25,366,397
2054 11,950,146 25,474,292
2053 11,968,395 25,578,870
2052 11,984,694 25,679,963
2051 11,998,099 25,777,639
2050 12,008,766 25,871,673
2049 12,017,817 25,962,167
2048 12,024,879 26,048,593
2047 12,029,815 26,131,429
2046 12,032,975 26,210,487
2045 12,034,718 26,286,208
2044 12,034,116 26,358,331
2043 12,032,908 26,427,062
2042 12,030,714 26,491,482
2041 12,026,814 26,552,564
2040 12,023,124 26,609,557
2039 12,018,547 26,661,815
2038 12,012,586 26,708,400
2037 12,005,650 26,749,134
2036 11,999,298 26,783,304
2035 11,992,761 26,810,026
2034 11,985,730 26,828,912
2033 11,977,334 26,839,229
2032 11,969,302 26,840,944
2031 11,960,910 26,832,957
2030 11,951,381 26,814,812
2029 11,939,712 26,787,117
2028 11,927,038 26,749,227
2027 11,913,457 26,701,444
2026 11,898,731 26,643,460
2025 11,881,020 26,575,953
2024 11,858,610 26,498,823
2023 11,779,946 26,418,204
2022 11,680,210 26,328,845
2021 11,586,195 26,232,534
2020 11,538,604 26,136,312
2019 11,488,980 26,037,632
2018 11,427,054 25,931,147
2017 11,375,158 25,817,709
2016 11,331,422 25,698,326
2015 11,274,196 25,575,350
2014 11,209,057 25,451,262
2013 11,159,407 25,329,451
2012 11,106,932 25,211,728
2011 11,038,264 25,097,874
2010 10,895,586 24,987,258
2009 10,796,493 24,878,332
2008 10,709,973 24,764,618
2007 10,625,700 24,646,383
2006 10,547,958 24,524,507
2005 10,478,617 24,396,433
2004 10,421,137 24,254,943
2003 10,376,133 24,090,380
2002 10,332,785 23,943,973
2001 10,286,570 23,815,358
2000 10,251,250 23,665,910
1999 10,226,419 23,497,599
1998 10,203,008 23,311,564
1997 10,181,245 23,110,830
1996 10,156,637 22,895,746
1995 10,136,811 22,669,304
1994 10,115,603 22,393,975
1993 10,084,475 22,073,352
1992 10,045,158 21,750,911
1991 10,004,486 21,428,638
1990 9,967,379 21,112,137
1989 9,937,697 20,804,367
1988 9,901,664 20,503,161
1987 9,870,234 20,205,483
1986 9,861,823 19,910,855
1985 9,858,308 19,620,388
1984 9,855,372 19,335,043
1983 9,855,520 19,054,034
1982 9,856,303 18,776,357
1981 9,858,982 18,501,295
1980 9,859,242 18,236,786
1979 9,848,382 17,983,470
1978 9,839,534 17,735,995
1977 9,830,358 17,492,798
1976 9,818,227 17,243,450
1975 9,800,700 16,971,055
1974 9,772,419 16,673,121
1973 9,741,720 16,350,367
1972 9,711,115 15,975,069
1971 9,673,162 15,572,457
1970 9,655,549 15,172,775
1969 9,646,032 14,767,615
1968 9,618,756 14,365,596
1967 9,580,991 13,958,350
1966 9,527,807 13,569,094
1965 9,463,667 13,219,369
1964 9,378,113 12,889,770
1963 9,289,770 12,567,057
1962 9,220,578 12,262,882
1961 9,183,948 11,990,713
1960 9,153,489 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium North Korea
2100 -0.16% -0.65%
2099 -0.16% -0.65%
2098 -0.14% -0.65%
2097 -0.14% -0.65%
2096 -0.14% -0.65%
2095 -0.15% -0.65%
2094 -0.14% -0.64%
2093 -0.14% -0.64%
2092 -0.13% -0.64%
2091 -0.13% -0.63%
2090 -0.13% -0.63%
2089 -0.13% -0.62%
2088 -0.14% -0.62%
2087 -0.13% -0.61%
2086 -0.12% -0.6%
2085 -0.12% -0.6%
2084 -0.12% -0.59%
2083 -0.13% -0.59%
2082 -0.11% -0.58%
2081 -0.12% -0.58%
2080 -0.11% -0.57%
2079 -0.12% -0.57%
2078 -0.11% -0.56%
2077 -0.1% -0.56%
2076 -0.1% -0.56%
2075 -0.11% -0.55%
2074 -0.11% -0.55%
2073 -0.11% -0.55%
2072 -0.12% -0.55%
2071 -0.14% -0.55%
2070 -0.14% -0.55%
2069 -0.15% -0.55%
2068 -0.15% -0.54%
2067 -0.16% -0.54%
2066 -0.17% -0.54%
2065 -0.18% -0.53%
2064 -0.19% -0.53%
2063 -0.19% -0.52%
2062 -0.2% -0.51%
2061 -0.18% -0.5%
2060 -0.18% -0.49%
2059 -0.17% -0.48%
2058 -0.19% -0.47%
2057 -0.18% -0.45%
2056 -0.17% -0.44%
2055 -0.16% -0.42%
2054 -0.15% -0.41%
2053 -0.14% -0.39%
2052 -0.11% -0.38%
2051 -0.09% -0.36%
2050 -0.08% -0.35%
2049 -0.06% -0.33%
2048 -0.04% -0.32%
2047 -0.03% -0.3%
2046 -0.01% -0.29%
2045 0.005% -0.27%
2044 0.01% -0.26%
2043 0.02% -0.24%
2042 0.03% -0.23%
2041 0.03% -0.21%
2040 0.04% -0.2%
2039 0.05% -0.17%
2038 0.06% -0.15%
2037 0.05% -0.13%
2036 0.05% -0.1%
2035 0.06% -0.07%
2034 0.07% -0.04%
2033 0.07% -0.006%
2032 0.07% 0.03%
2031 0.08% 0.07%
2030 0.1% 0.1%
2029 0.11% 0.14%
2028 0.11% 0.18%
2027 0.12% 0.22%
2026 0.15% 0.25%
2025 0.19% 0.29%
2024 0.67% 0.31%
2023 0.85% 0.34%
2022 0.81% 0.37%
2021 0.41% 0.37%
2020 0.43% 0.38%
2019 0.54% 0.41%
2018 0.46% 0.44%
2017 0.39% 0.46%
2016 0.51% 0.48%
2015 0.58% 0.49%
2014 0.44% 0.48%
2013 0.47% 0.47%
2012 0.62% 0.45%
2011 1.31% 0.44%
2010 0.92% 0.44%
2009 0.81% 0.46%
2008 0.79% 0.48%
2007 0.74% 0.5%
2006 0.66% 0.52%
2005 0.55% 0.58%
2004 0.43% 0.68%
2003 0.42% 0.61%
2002 0.45% 0.54%
2001 0.34% 0.63%
2000 0.24% 0.72%
1999 0.23% 0.8%
1998 0.21% 0.87%
1997 0.24% 0.94%
1996 0.2% 1%
1995 0.21% 1.23%
1994 0.31% 1.45%
1993 0.39% 1.48%
1992 0.41% 1.5%
1991 0.37% 1.5%
1990 0.3% 1.48%
1989 0.36% 1.47%
1988 0.32% 1.47%
1987 0.09% 1.48%
1986 0.04% 1.48%
1985 0.03% 1.48%
1984 -0.002% 1.47%
1983 -0.008% 1.48%
1982 -0.03% 1.49%
1981 -0.003% 1.45%
1980 0.11% 1.41%
1979 0.09% 1.4%
1978 0.09% 1.39%
1977 0.12% 1.45%
1976 0.18% 1.61%
1975 0.29% 1.79%
1974 0.32% 1.97%
1973 0.32% 2.35%
1972 0.39% 2.59%
1971 0.18% 2.63%
1970 0.1% 2.74%
1969 0.28% 2.8%
1968 0.39% 2.92%
1967 0.56% 2.87%
1966 0.68% 2.65%
1965 0.91% 2.56%
1964 0.95% 2.57%
1963 0.75% 2.48%
1962 0.4% 2.27%
1961 0.33% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Belgium North Korea
Current population
11902714
26659144
Population rank 83/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.32%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
6.52 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +221
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 150/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change +31,989 -2,787
Net migration rank 28/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -2,787
2024 - 36,243 - -2,473
2023 0 41,679 86,203 -1,997
2022 -2,336 118,615 96,495 -1,997
2021 5,793 24,017 99,710 -1,585
2020 -12,692 43,777 95,920 -1,585
2019 8,042 58,469 106,208 -3,142
2018 7,999 50,604 113,164 -3,225
2017 10,238 37,981 120,181 -3,224
2016 14,731 28,090 125,048 -3,222
2015 11,274 63,536 127,365 -3,208
2014 21,297 37,472 127,078 -3,042
2013 16,739 28,066 122,519 -2,933
2012 18,882 45,001 118,773 -2,919
2011 25,388 52,464 114,798 -2,957
2010 23,970 105,232 112,443 -3,053
2009 23,752 97,175 111,530 -3,058
2008 22,491 66,470 122,015 -3,051
2007 23,376 59,911 120,521 -3,021
2006 21,096 53,574 129,171 -2,948
2005 15,718 50,576 132,765 -2,861
2004 16,673 35,143 155,838 -2,758
2003 7,263 34,472 178,775 -2,717
2002 7,233 39,404 119,504 -2,763
2001 11,315 34,924 143,321 -2,884
2000 12,302 13,952 161,591 -3,142
1999 9,203 16,849 181,613 -3,443
1998 9,183 12,517 197,589 -3,706
1997 12,218 10,262 211,325 -3,745
1996 12,188 15,684 226,095 -3,512
1995 11,150 1,937 233,381 -3,094
1994 12,139 17,636 320,861 -517
1993 14,118 18,542 320,880 0
1992 20,090 25,941 324,002 0
1991 22,010 27,038 320,551 0
1990 19,935 8,299 312,460 0
1989 13,912 7,301 303,078 0
1988 14,853 3,929 299,305 0
1987 11,844 3,525 296,030 0
1986 5,917 2,964 293,227 0
1985 2,958 2,165 287,714 0
1984 4,927 1,697 282,987 0
1983 2,956 1,252 279,046 0
1982 7,885 1,100 276,332 0
1981 11,831 2,826 273,800 0
1980 10,845 11,482 255,206 0
1979 11,818 11,277 251,409 0
1978 7,872 10,828 243,533 0
1977 8,847 10,460 242,870 0
1976 1,964 10,360 255,841 0
1975 0 9,652 288,966 0
1974 7,818 8,924 306,902 0
1973 11,690 8,684 338,600 0
1972 18,451 8,384 411,997 0
1971 21,281 7,992 393,220 0
1970 23,173 19,393 406,129 0
1969 21,221 20,072 404,189 0
1968 20,199 19,809 399,837 0
1967 31,618 19,492 414,632 0
1966 36,206 18,985 363,882 0
1965 39,748 18,243 335,587 0
1964 51,580 17,687 323,623 0
1963 41,804 16,355 321,805 0
1962 42,414 14,829 286,534 0
1961 52,349 10,566 257,788 0
1960 40,275 9,893 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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