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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,941,781 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,967,185 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 2.23 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 0.46% 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 +0.58% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 12M (13.5% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Belgium vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium North Korea
2100 11,250,862 19,601,003
2099 11,269,247 19,729,897
2098 11,287,433 19,859,274
2097 11,303,694 19,989,589
2096 11,319,229 20,120,795
2095 11,335,187 20,252,653
2094 11,351,692 20,384,384
2093 11,367,258 20,516,457
2092 11,383,419 20,649,140
2091 11,397,881 20,781,939
2090 11,412,370 20,914,434
2089 11,426,889 21,046,685
2088 11,442,238 21,178,406
2087 11,457,739 21,310,103
2086 11,472,102 21,441,361
2085 11,485,745 21,571,843
2084 11,499,703 21,701,761
2083 11,513,055 21,830,989
2082 11,527,480 21,960,135
2081 11,539,632 22,088,774
2080 11,553,646 22,216,836
2079 11,566,656 22,344,442
2078 11,580,982 22,471,597
2077 11,593,809 22,598,635
2076 11,605,311 22,725,293
2075 11,617,264 22,852,140
2074 11,630,340 22,979,532
2073 11,643,635 23,107,165
2072 11,656,916 23,234,961
2071 11,670,459 23,363,260
2070 11,686,541 23,491,789
2069 11,702,841 23,621,167
2068 11,720,297 23,750,741
2067 11,737,631 23,880,460
2066 11,756,233 24,010,584
2065 11,776,031 24,140,518
2064 11,796,981 24,269,765
2063 11,818,873 24,397,924
2062 11,841,060 24,525,403
2061 11,864,790 24,651,788
2060 11,886,277 24,776,326
2059 11,907,924 24,898,430
2058 11,928,140 25,018,630
2057 11,951,275 25,135,871
2056 11,972,819 25,250,670
2055 11,992,614 25,361,704
2054 12,011,260 25,469,578
2053 12,029,602 25,574,137
2052 12,045,984 25,675,211
2051 12,059,458 25,772,870
2050 12,070,180 25,866,886
2049 12,079,277 25,957,363
2048 12,086,376 26,043,774
2047 12,091,336 26,126,594
2046 12,094,512 26,205,638
2045 12,096,264 26,281,344
2044 12,095,660 26,353,455
2043 12,094,445 26,422,173
2042 12,092,240 26,486,580
2041 12,088,320 26,547,651
2040 12,084,611 26,604,634
2039 12,080,011 26,656,882
2038 12,074,019 26,703,458
2037 12,067,048 26,744,185
2036 12,060,663 26,778,348
2035 12,054,093 26,805,065
2034 12,047,026 26,823,948
2033 12,038,587 26,834,263
2032 12,030,514 26,835,978
2031 12,022,079 26,827,992
2030 12,012,501 26,809,850
2029 12,000,773 26,782,161
2028 11,988,034 26,744,278
2027 11,974,384 26,696,504
2026 11,959,583 26,638,530
2025 11,941,781 26,571,036
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 635,763 people (a 5.61% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% 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 0.86% to 12,070,180 people with a rank change from 83rd to 92nd. The population of North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12.1M 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 0.7% 0.27%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Belgium grew by 0.7%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Belgium North Korea
Current population
11967185
26668308
Population rank 83/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.32%
One net population change
6.34 minutes
7.3 minutes
One birth every
4.82 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
4.67 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +228 +198
Annual growth/decline +83,171 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +0.7% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 116/197 146/197
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 -3,557 36,243 79,496 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 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 (1960–2025, 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/north-korea | 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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