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Population in Belgium compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 5.52 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.94% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Belgium vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium South Africa
2100 11,193,616 94,767,727
2099 11,211,908 94,556,931
2098 11,230,002 94,349,546
2097 11,246,180 94,158,472
2096 11,261,636 93,960,605
2095 11,277,513 93,752,736
2094 11,293,934 93,527,902
2093 11,309,421 93,300,398
2092 11,325,500 93,074,837
2091 11,339,887 92,826,204
2090 11,354,304 92,594,033
2089 11,368,748 92,355,184
2088 11,384,019 92,112,914
2087 11,399,441 91,866,024
2086 11,413,731 91,614,165
2085 11,427,305 91,385,350
2084 11,441,192 91,139,318
2083 11,454,476 90,877,425
2082 11,468,827 90,615,359
2081 11,480,917 90,345,492
2080 11,494,860 90,071,835
2079 11,507,804 89,801,998
2078 11,522,057 89,526,224
2077 11,534,819 89,249,206
2076 11,546,262 88,986,114
2075 11,558,154 88,713,215
2074 11,571,164 88,428,616
2073 11,584,391 88,149,885
2072 11,597,605 87,866,246
2071 11,611,079 87,540,177
2070 11,627,079 87,209,425
2069 11,643,296 86,901,512
2068 11,660,663 86,588,742
2067 11,677,909 86,268,392
2066 11,696,417 85,935,310
2065 11,716,114 85,604,376
2064 11,736,957 85,244,950
2063 11,758,738 84,875,503
2062 11,780,812 84,503,237
2061 11,804,421 84,132,885
2060 11,825,799 83,748,999
2059 11,847,336 83,354,923
2058 11,867,449 82,947,675
2057 11,890,466 82,538,045
2056 11,911,901 82,127,477
2055 11,931,594 81,698,196
2054 11,950,146 81,255,867
2053 11,968,395 80,818,632
2052 11,984,694 80,367,409
2051 11,998,099 79,886,672
2050 12,008,766 79,411,977
2049 12,017,817 78,925,493
2048 12,024,879 78,437,677
2047 12,029,815 77,922,211
2046 12,032,975 77,397,298
2045 12,034,718 76,879,838
2044 12,034,116 76,357,155
2043 12,032,908 75,827,709
2042 12,030,714 75,291,615
2041 12,026,814 74,748,408
2040 12,023,124 74,205,530
2039 12,018,547 73,663,047
2038 12,012,586 73,105,930
2037 12,005,650 72,532,742
2036 11,999,298 71,956,247
2035 11,992,761 71,362,555
2034 11,985,730 70,762,815
2033 11,977,334 70,153,205
2032 11,969,302 69,527,410
2031 11,960,910 68,890,002
2030 11,951,381 68,245,372
2029 11,939,712 67,573,179
2028 11,927,038 66,884,377
2027 11,913,457 66,190,258
2026 11,898,731 65,496,277
2025 11,881,020 64,770,314
2024 11,858,610 64,007,187
2023 11,779,946 63,212,384
2022 11,680,210 62,378,410
2021 11,586,195 61,502,603
2020 11,538,604 60,562,381
2019 11,488,980 59,587,885
2018 11,427,054 58,613,001
2017 11,375,158 57,635,162
2016 11,331,422 57,259,551
2015 11,274,196 56,723,537
2014 11,209,057 55,594,838
2013 11,159,407 54,678,791
2012 11,106,932 53,782,567
2011 11,038,264 52,995,205
2010 10,895,586 52,344,051
2009 10,796,493 51,728,516
2008 10,709,973 51,114,599
2007 10,625,700 50,528,584
2006 10,547,958 49,998,277
2005 10,478,617 49,490,033
2004 10,421,137 48,991,421
2003 10,376,133 48,500,348
2002 10,332,785 48,019,415
2001 10,286,570 47,566,800
2000 10,251,250 47,159,719
1999 10,226,419 46,730,335
1998 10,203,008 46,223,880
1997 10,181,245 45,666,838
1996 10,156,637 45,123,018
1995 10,136,811 44,541,554
1994 10,115,603 44,004,139
1993 10,084,475 43,297,156
1992 10,045,158 42,443,509
1991 10,004,486 41,687,898
1990 9,967,379 40,746,268
1989 9,937,697 39,628,575
1988 9,901,664 38,480,649
1987 9,870,234 37,326,190
1986 9,861,823 36,180,515
1985 9,858,308 35,042,093
1984 9,855,372 33,892,788
1983 9,855,520 32,739,304
1982 9,856,303 31,615,339
1981 9,858,982 30,541,044
1980 9,859,242 29,518,857
1979 9,848,382 28,634,162
1978 9,839,534 27,869,507
1977 9,830,358 27,118,952
1976 9,818,227 26,395,450
1975 9,800,700 25,690,940
1974 9,772,419 24,989,108
1973 9,741,720 24,294,263
1972 9,711,115 23,609,456
1971 9,673,162 22,942,143
1970 9,655,549 22,279,984
1969 9,646,032 21,614,676
1968 9,618,756 20,957,287
1967 9,580,991 20,314,066
1966 9,527,807 19,690,087
1965 9,463,667 19,089,380
1964 9,378,113 18,511,361
1963 9,289,770 17,954,564
1962 9,220,578 17,418,522
1961 9,183,948 16,908,035
1960 9,153,489 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium South Africa
2100 -0.16% 0.22%
2099 -0.16% 0.22%
2098 -0.14% 0.2%
2097 -0.14% 0.21%
2096 -0.14% 0.22%
2095 -0.15% 0.24%
2094 -0.14% 0.24%
2093 -0.14% 0.24%
2092 -0.13% 0.27%
2091 -0.13% 0.25%
2090 -0.13% 0.26%
2089 -0.13% 0.26%
2088 -0.14% 0.27%
2087 -0.13% 0.27%
2086 -0.12% 0.25%
2085 -0.12% 0.27%
2084 -0.12% 0.29%
2083 -0.13% 0.29%
2082 -0.11% 0.3%
2081 -0.12% 0.3%
2080 -0.11% 0.3%
2079 -0.12% 0.31%
2078 -0.11% 0.31%
2077 -0.1% 0.3%
2076 -0.1% 0.31%
2075 -0.11% 0.32%
2074 -0.11% 0.32%
2073 -0.11% 0.32%
2072 -0.12% 0.37%
2071 -0.14% 0.38%
2070 -0.14% 0.35%
2069 -0.15% 0.36%
2068 -0.15% 0.37%
2067 -0.16% 0.39%
2066 -0.17% 0.39%
2065 -0.18% 0.42%
2064 -0.19% 0.44%
2063 -0.19% 0.44%
2062 -0.2% 0.44%
2061 -0.18% 0.46%
2060 -0.18% 0.47%
2059 -0.17% 0.49%
2058 -0.19% 0.5%
2057 -0.18% 0.5%
2056 -0.17% 0.53%
2055 -0.16% 0.54%
2054 -0.15% 0.54%
2053 -0.14% 0.56%
2052 -0.11% 0.6%
2051 -0.09% 0.6%
2050 -0.08% 0.62%
2049 -0.06% 0.62%
2048 -0.04% 0.66%
2047 -0.03% 0.68%
2046 -0.01% 0.67%
2045 0.005% 0.68%
2044 0.01% 0.7%
2043 0.02% 0.71%
2042 0.03% 0.73%
2041 0.03% 0.73%
2040 0.04% 0.74%
2039 0.05% 0.76%
2038 0.06% 0.79%
2037 0.05% 0.8%
2036 0.05% 0.83%
2035 0.06% 0.85%
2034 0.07% 0.87%
2033 0.07% 0.9%
2032 0.07% 0.93%
2031 0.08% 0.94%
2030 0.1% 0.99%
2029 0.11% 1.03%
2028 0.11% 1.05%
2027 0.12% 1.06%
2026 0.15% 1.12%
2025 0.19% 1.19%
2024 0.67% 1.26%
2023 0.85% 1.34%
2022 0.81% 1.42%
2021 0.41% 1.55%
2020 0.43% 1.64%
2019 0.54% 1.66%
2018 0.46% 1.7%
2017 0.39% 0.66%
2016 0.51% 0.94%
2015 0.58% 2.03%
2014 0.44% 1.68%
2013 0.47% 1.67%
2012 0.62% 1.49%
2011 1.31% 1.24%
2010 0.92% 1.19%
2009 0.81% 1.2%
2008 0.79% 1.16%
2007 0.74% 1.06%
2006 0.66% 1.03%
2005 0.55% 1.02%
2004 0.43% 1.01%
2003 0.42% 1%
2002 0.45% 0.95%
2001 0.34% 0.86%
2000 0.24% 0.92%
1999 0.23% 1.1%
1998 0.21% 1.22%
1997 0.24% 1.21%
1996 0.2% 1.31%
1995 0.21% 1.22%
1994 0.31% 1.63%
1993 0.39% 2.01%
1992 0.41% 1.81%
1991 0.37% 2.31%
1990 0.3% 2.82%
1989 0.36% 2.98%
1988 0.32% 3.09%
1987 0.09% 3.17%
1986 0.04% 3.25%
1985 0.03% 3.39%
1984 -0.002% 3.52%
1983 -0.008% 3.56%
1982 -0.03% 3.52%
1981 -0.003% 3.46%
1980 0.11% 3.09%
1979 0.09% 2.74%
1978 0.09% 2.77%
1977 0.12% 2.74%
1976 0.18% 2.74%
1975 0.29% 2.81%
1974 0.32% 2.86%
1973 0.32% 2.9%
1972 0.39% 2.91%
1971 0.18% 2.97%
1970 0.1% 3.08%
1969 0.28% 3.14%
1968 0.39% 3.17%
1967 0.56% 3.17%
1966 0.68% 3.15%
1965 0.91% 3.12%
1964 0.95% 3.1%
1963 0.75% 3.08%
1962 0.4% 3.02%
1961 0.33% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Belgium South Africa
Current population
11902714
65683993
Population rank 83/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.79%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
39.7 seconds
One birth every
4.75 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
4.75 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline +216 +2,178
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 85/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +146,370
Net migration rank 28/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 146,370
2024 - 36,243 - 166,972
2023 0 41,679 602,793 228,222
2022 -2,336 118,615 603,636 233,284
2021 5,793 24,017 456,411 458,246
2020 -12,692 43,777 595,873 369,901
2019 8,042 58,469 652,130 331,124
2018 7,999 50,604 648,319 318,260
2017 10,238 37,981 645,975 343,146
2016 14,731 28,090 641,365 -879,235
2015 11,274 63,536 668,771 641,150
2014 21,297 37,472 674,754 272,697
2013 16,739 28,066 652,427 232,230
2012 18,882 45,001 643,723 264,091
2011 25,388 52,464 601,708 65,166
2010 23,970 105,232 566,834 68,563
2009 23,752 97,175 554,115 41,528
2008 22,491 66,470 595,332 36,869
2007 23,376 59,911 503,567 36,339
2006 21,096 53,574 487,584 33,159
2005 15,718 50,576 464,464 31,286
2004 16,673 35,143 442,540 58,924
2003 7,263 34,472 415,018 65,604
2002 7,233 39,404 430,926 50,313
2001 11,315 34,924 484,801 -60,793
2000 12,302 13,952 526,963 -136,794
1999 9,203 16,849 594,643 -126,011
1998 9,183 12,517 627,027 -82,722
1997 12,218 10,262 667,969 -98,181
1996 12,188 15,684 710,868 -193,007
1995 11,150 1,937 743,488 -98,403
1994 12,139 17,636 698,609 -268,849
1993 14,118 18,542 789,220 194,977
1992 20,090 25,941 794,415 -71,342
1991 22,010 27,038 827,296 -39,131
1990 19,935 8,299 835,421 259,718
1989 13,912 7,301 884,629 255,605
1988 14,853 3,929 909,221 246,382
1987 11,844 3,525 922,330 231,009
1986 5,917 2,964 903,644 234,378
1985 2,958 2,165 893,889 244,940
1984 4,927 1,697 869,011 290,789
1983 2,956 1,252 837,013 310,172
1982 7,885 1,100 807,550 293,195
1981 11,831 2,826 767,833 279,985
1980 10,845 11,482 738,415 258,127
1979 11,818 11,277 716,541 56,323
1978 7,872 10,828 694,341 62,121
1977 8,847 10,460 680,929 63,739
1976 1,964 10,360 675,011 27,333
1975 0 9,652 667,862 38,809
1974 7,818 8,924 658,438 38,518
1973 11,690 8,684 651,596 41,125
1972 18,451 8,384 638,754 38,163
1971 21,281 7,992 624,761 32,961
1970 23,173 19,393 605,102 61,514
1969 21,221 20,072 590,794 73,225
1968 20,199 19,809 571,841 78,932
1967 31,618 19,492 553,741 81,932
1966 36,206 18,985 534,862 77,417
1965 39,748 18,243 506,632 82,514
1964 51,580 17,687 490,606 76,298
1963 41,804 16,355 473,821 72,844
1962 42,414 14,829 455,634 69,771
1961 52,349 10,566 437,851 57,728
1960 40,275 9,893 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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