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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 10,694,681 people in Portugal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 10,667,081 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 1.12 times bigger than Portugal's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 92nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.27% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +0.21% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.7M (1.38% growth).

Belgium vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Portugal
2100 11,193,616 8,977,781
2099 11,211,908 8,983,042
2098 11,230,002 8,987,129
2097 11,246,180 8,992,549
2096 11,261,636 8,998,689
2095 11,277,513 9,006,394
2094 11,293,934 9,011,158
2093 11,309,421 9,016,023
2092 11,325,500 9,021,257
2091 11,339,887 9,025,345
2090 11,354,304 9,029,722
2089 11,368,748 9,034,399
2088 11,384,019 9,039,122
2087 11,399,441 9,045,400
2086 11,413,731 9,050,153
2085 11,427,305 9,055,552
2084 11,441,192 9,062,369
2083 11,454,476 9,068,714
2082 11,468,827 9,077,003
2081 11,480,917 9,087,394
2080 11,494,860 9,098,423
2079 11,507,804 9,111,057
2078 11,522,057 9,125,056
2077 11,534,819 9,140,039
2076 11,546,262 9,158,661
2075 11,558,154 9,178,289
2074 11,571,164 9,201,245
2073 11,584,391 9,225,478
2072 11,597,605 9,248,867
2071 11,611,079 9,275,782
2070 11,627,079 9,304,137
2069 11,643,296 9,334,425
2068 11,660,663 9,367,211
2067 11,677,909 9,399,389
2066 11,696,417 9,432,609
2065 11,716,114 9,466,860
2064 11,736,957 9,503,941
2063 11,758,738 9,540,829
2062 11,780,812 9,578,098
2061 11,804,421 9,614,549
2060 11,825,799 9,652,893
2059 11,847,336 9,691,151
2058 11,867,449 9,731,557
2057 11,890,466 9,769,285
2056 11,911,901 9,807,403
2055 11,931,594 9,847,280
2054 11,950,146 9,885,446
2053 11,968,395 9,924,814
2052 11,984,694 9,963,090
2051 11,998,099 9,999,372
2050 12,008,766 10,035,796
2049 12,017,817 10,072,922
2048 12,024,879 10,106,403
2047 12,029,815 10,140,325
2046 12,032,975 10,173,871
2045 12,034,718 10,206,046
2044 12,034,116 10,237,224
2043 12,032,908 10,268,090
2042 12,030,714 10,296,167
2041 12,026,814 10,322,968
2040 12,023,124 10,351,965
2039 12,018,547 10,379,824
2038 12,012,586 10,405,843
2037 12,005,650 10,430,143
2036 11,999,298 10,454,779
2035 11,992,761 10,478,501
2034 11,985,730 10,502,828
2033 11,977,334 10,525,638
2032 11,969,302 10,548,736
2031 11,960,910 10,569,489
2030 11,951,381 10,588,717
2029 11,939,712 10,609,556
2028 11,927,038 10,631,437
2027 11,913,457 10,649,916
2026 11,898,731 10,667,081
2025 11,881,020 10,683,692
2024 11,858,610 10,694,681
2023 11,779,946 10,578,174
2022 11,680,210 10,434,332
2021 11,586,195 10,361,831
2020 11,538,604 10,297,081
2019 11,488,980 10,286,263
2018 11,427,054 10,283,822
2017 11,375,158 10,300,300
2016 11,331,422 10,325,452
2015 11,274,196 10,358,076
2014 11,209,057 10,401,062
2013 11,159,407 10,457,295
2012 11,106,932 10,514,844
2011 11,038,264 10,557,560
2010 10,895,586 10,573,100
2009 10,796,493 10,568,247
2008 10,709,973 10,558,177
2007 10,625,700 10,542,964
2006 10,547,958 10,522,288
2005 10,478,617 10,503,330
2004 10,421,137 10,483,861
2003 10,376,133 10,458,821
2002 10,332,785 10,419,631
2001 10,286,570 10,362,722
2000 10,251,250 10,289,898
1999 10,226,419 10,217,828
1998 10,203,008 10,160,196
1997 10,181,245 10,108,977
1996 10,156,637 10,063,945
1995 10,136,811 10,026,176
1994 10,115,603 9,991,525
1993 10,084,475 9,964,675
1992 10,045,158 9,952,494
1991 10,004,486 9,960,235
1990 9,967,379 9,983,218
1989 9,937,697 10,005,000
1988 9,901,664 10,019,610
1987 9,870,234 10,030,031
1986 9,861,823 10,032,734
1985 9,858,308 10,023,613
1984 9,855,372 9,996,232
1983 9,855,520 9,957,865
1982 9,856,303 9,911,771
1981 9,858,982 9,851,362
1980 9,859,242 9,766,312
1979 9,848,382 9,661,265
1978 9,839,534 9,558,250
1977 9,830,358 9,455,675
1976 9,818,227 9,355,810
1975 9,800,700 9,093,470
1974 9,772,419 8,754,365
1973 9,741,720 8,633,100
1972 9,711,115 8,630,430
1971 9,673,162 8,643,756
1970 9,655,549 8,680,431
1969 9,646,032 8,757,705
1968 9,618,756 8,836,650
1967 9,580,991 8,874,520
1966 9,527,807 8,930,990
1965 9,463,667 8,998,595
1964 9,378,113 9,035,365
1963 9,289,770 9,030,355
1962 9,220,578 8,993,985
1961 9,183,948 8,929,316
1960 9,153,489 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 341,629 people (a 3.31% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 92nd 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,035,796 people and rank change from 92nd to 97th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2024 at 10.7M people and is projected to decrease to 8.98M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Portugal
2100 -0.16% -0.06%
2099 -0.16% -0.05%
2098 -0.14% -0.06%
2097 -0.14% -0.07%
2096 -0.14% -0.09%
2095 -0.15% -0.05%
2094 -0.14% -0.05%
2093 -0.14% -0.06%
2092 -0.13% -0.05%
2091 -0.13% -0.05%
2090 -0.13% -0.05%
2089 -0.13% -0.05%
2088 -0.14% -0.07%
2087 -0.13% -0.05%
2086 -0.12% -0.06%
2085 -0.12% -0.08%
2084 -0.12% -0.07%
2083 -0.13% -0.09%
2082 -0.11% -0.11%
2081 -0.12% -0.12%
2080 -0.11% -0.14%
2079 -0.12% -0.15%
2078 -0.11% -0.16%
2077 -0.1% -0.2%
2076 -0.1% -0.21%
2075 -0.11% -0.25%
2074 -0.11% -0.26%
2073 -0.11% -0.25%
2072 -0.12% -0.29%
2071 -0.14% -0.3%
2070 -0.14% -0.32%
2069 -0.15% -0.35%
2068 -0.15% -0.34%
2067 -0.16% -0.35%
2066 -0.17% -0.36%
2065 -0.18% -0.39%
2064 -0.19% -0.39%
2063 -0.19% -0.39%
2062 -0.2% -0.38%
2061 -0.18% -0.4%
2060 -0.18% -0.39%
2059 -0.17% -0.42%
2058 -0.19% -0.39%
2057 -0.18% -0.39%
2056 -0.17% -0.4%
2055 -0.16% -0.39%
2054 -0.15% -0.4%
2053 -0.14% -0.38%
2052 -0.11% -0.36%
2051 -0.09% -0.36%
2050 -0.08% -0.37%
2049 -0.06% -0.33%
2048 -0.04% -0.33%
2047 -0.03% -0.33%
2046 -0.01% -0.32%
2045 0.005% -0.3%
2044 0.01% -0.3%
2043 0.02% -0.27%
2042 0.03% -0.26%
2041 0.03% -0.28%
2040 0.04% -0.27%
2039 0.05% -0.25%
2038 0.06% -0.23%
2037 0.05% -0.24%
2036 0.05% -0.23%
2035 0.06% -0.23%
2034 0.07% -0.22%
2033 0.07% -0.22%
2032 0.07% -0.2%
2031 0.08% -0.18%
2030 0.1% -0.2%
2029 0.11% -0.21%
2028 0.11% -0.17%
2027 0.12% -0.16%
2026 0.15% -0.16%
2025 0.19% -0.1%
2024 0.67% 1.1%
2023 0.85% 1.38%
2022 0.81% 0.7%
2021 0.41% 0.63%
2020 0.43% 0.11%
2019 0.54% 0.02%
2018 0.46% -0.16%
2017 0.39% -0.24%
2016 0.51% -0.31%
2015 0.58% -0.41%
2014 0.44% -0.54%
2013 0.47% -0.55%
2012 0.62% -0.4%
2011 1.31% -0.15%
2010 0.92% 0.05%
2009 0.81% 0.1%
2008 0.79% 0.14%
2007 0.74% 0.2%
2006 0.66% 0.18%
2005 0.55% 0.19%
2004 0.43% 0.24%
2003 0.42% 0.38%
2002 0.45% 0.55%
2001 0.34% 0.71%
2000 0.24% 0.71%
1999 0.23% 0.57%
1998 0.21% 0.51%
1997 0.24% 0.45%
1996 0.2% 0.38%
1995 0.21% 0.35%
1994 0.31% 0.27%
1993 0.39% 0.12%
1992 0.41% -0.08%
1991 0.37% -0.23%
1990 0.3% -0.22%
1989 0.36% -0.15%
1988 0.32% -0.1%
1987 0.09% -0.03%
1986 0.04% 0.09%
1985 0.03% 0.27%
1984 -0.002% 0.39%
1983 -0.008% 0.47%
1982 -0.03% 0.61%
1981 -0.003% 0.87%
1980 0.11% 1.09%
1979 0.09% 1.08%
1978 0.09% 1.08%
1977 0.12% 1.07%
1976 0.18% 2.88%
1975 0.29% 3.87%
1974 0.32% 1.4%
1973 0.32% 0.03%
1972 0.39% -0.15%
1971 0.18% -0.42%
1970 0.1% -0.88%
1969 0.28% -0.89%
1968 0.39% -0.43%
1967 0.56% -0.63%
1966 0.68% -0.75%
1965 0.91% -0.41%
1964 0.95% 0.06%
1963 0.75% 0.4%
1962 0.4% 0.72%
1961 0.33% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.1%.

Live population counters

Belgium Portugal
Current population
11902714
10667081
Population rank 83/197 92/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.13%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
4.51 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
6.13 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
4.44 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +319
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +116,507
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +1.1%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 94/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
32 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +16,472
Net migration rank 28/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 16,472
2024 - 36,243 - 20,648
2023 0 41,679 -32,792 29,102
2022 -2,336 118,615 -40,694 68,696
2021 5,793 24,017 -45,592 69,606
2020 -12,692 43,777 -39,129 54,076
2019 8,042 58,469 -24,687 63,031
2018 7,999 50,604 -25,709 22,495
2017 10,238 37,981 -23,691 13,979
2016 14,731 28,090 -23,749 -775
2015 11,274 63,536 -23,823 -3,209
2014 21,297 37,472 -22,882 -26,447
2013 16,739 28,066 -24,052 -36,342
2012 18,882 45,001 -17,875 -37,083
2011 25,388 52,464 -5,279 -31,513
2010 23,970 105,232 -4,230 -5,627
2009 23,752 97,175 -5,284 14,532
2008 22,491 66,470 0 9,478
2007 23,376 59,911 -1,055 21,064
2006 21,096 53,574 3,156 16,754
2005 15,718 50,576 2,101 15,537
2004 16,673 35,143 7,339 13,928
2003 7,263 34,472 4,184 24,740
2002 7,233 39,404 8,335 42,169
2001 11,315 34,924 8,290 55,565
2000 12,302 13,952 15,435 60,586
1999 9,203 16,849 8,175 49,572
1998 9,183 12,517 7,112 40,931
1997 12,218 10,262 8,087 36,922
1996 12,188 15,684 4,026 32,640
1995 11,150 1,937 4,011 26,971
1994 12,139 17,636 9,991 20,761
1993 14,118 18,542 7,972 8,561
1992 20,090 25,941 13,933 -11,847
1991 22,010 27,038 12,948 -37,914
1990 19,935 8,299 13,976 -34,855
1989 13,912 7,301 22,011 -30,615
1988 14,853 3,929 24,047 -26,595
1987 11,844 3,525 28,084 -23,142
1986 5,917 2,964 31,102 -20,000
1985 2,958 2,165 33,077 -19,183
1984 4,927 1,697 45,983 -16,658
1983 2,956 1,252 47,798 -16,568
1982 7,885 1,100 58,479 -15,006
1981 11,831 2,826 56,152 -7,938
1980 10,845 11,482 63,481 29,881
1979 11,818 11,277 67,628 32,434
1978 7,872 10,828 70,731 34,345
1977 8,847 10,460 84,156 37,779
1976 1,964 10,360 85,138 40,490
1975 0 9,652 81,841 42,262
1974 7,818 8,924 74,412 41,254
1973 11,690 8,684 76,835 39,748
1972 18,451 8,384 83,715 39,058
1971 21,281 7,992 82,980 48,944
1970 23,173 19,393 87,672 -191,862
1969 21,221 20,072 89,329 -161,114
1968 20,199 19,809 100,737 -145,200
1967 31,618 19,492 106,495 -136,232
1966 36,206 18,985 107,171 -129,233
1965 39,748 18,243 115,182 -123,855
1964 51,580 17,687 120,170 -118,763
1963 41,804 16,355 113,783 -116,874
1962 42,414 14,829 123,217 -113,947
1961 52,349 10,566 117,867 -112,768
1960 40,275 9,893 118,693 -95,886

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/portugal | 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 Portugal 51% is from natural causes (a loss of 302,748 people) and 49% is from migration (a gain of 290,554 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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