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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,941,781 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,967,185 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 5.5 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 +0.58% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 12M (13.5% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Belgium vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium South Africa
2100 11,250,862 94,734,082
2099 11,269,247 94,523,360
2098 11,287,433 94,316,049
2097 11,303,694 94,125,043
2096 11,319,229 93,927,246
2095 11,335,187 93,719,451
2094 11,351,692 93,494,697
2093 11,367,258 93,267,274
2092 11,383,419 93,041,793
2091 11,397,881 92,793,249
2090 11,412,370 92,561,159
2089 11,426,889 92,322,396
2088 11,442,238 92,080,212
2087 11,457,739 91,833,409
2086 11,472,102 91,581,639
2085 11,485,745 91,352,906
2084 11,499,703 91,106,961
2083 11,513,055 90,845,161
2082 11,527,480 90,583,188
2081 11,539,632 90,313,417
2080 11,553,646 90,039,857
2079 11,566,656 89,770,116
2078 11,580,982 89,494,440
2077 11,593,809 89,217,520
2076 11,605,311 88,954,522
2075 11,617,264 88,681,719
2074 11,630,340 88,397,221
2073 11,643,635 88,118,589
2072 11,656,916 87,835,051
2071 11,670,459 87,509,098
2070 11,686,541 87,178,463
2069 11,702,841 86,870,660
2068 11,720,297 86,558,000
2067 11,737,631 86,237,764
2066 11,756,233 85,904,801
2065 11,776,031 85,573,984
2064 11,796,981 85,214,686
2063 11,818,873 84,845,370
2062 11,841,060 84,473,236
2061 11,864,790 84,103,016
2060 11,886,277 83,719,266
2059 11,907,924 83,325,330
2058 11,928,140 82,918,226
2057 11,951,275 82,508,742
2056 11,972,819 82,098,320
2055 11,992,614 81,669,191
2054 12,011,260 81,227,019
2053 12,029,602 80,789,939
2052 12,045,984 80,338,877
2051 12,059,458 79,858,310
2050 12,070,180 79,383,784
2049 12,079,277 78,897,472
2048 12,086,376 78,409,829
2047 12,091,336 77,894,547
2046 12,094,512 77,369,819
2045 12,096,264 76,852,544
2044 12,095,660 76,330,046
2043 12,094,445 75,800,788
2042 12,092,240 75,264,885
2041 12,088,320 74,721,871
2040 12,084,611 74,179,185
2039 12,080,011 73,636,894
2038 12,074,019 73,079,976
2037 12,067,048 72,506,991
2036 12,060,663 71,930,701
2035 12,054,093 71,337,219
2034 12,047,026 70,737,692
2033 12,038,587 70,128,299
2032 12,030,514 69,502,726
2031 12,022,079 68,865,544
2030 12,012,501 68,221,143
2029 12,000,773 67,549,189
2028 11,988,034 66,860,631
2027 11,974,384 66,166,759
2026 11,959,583 65,473,024
2025 11,941,781 64,747,319
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 635,763 people (a 5.61% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% 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 0.86% to 12,070,180 people with a rank change from 83rd to 92nd. The population of South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12.1M people compared to the peak of 94.7M 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 0.7% 1.16%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Belgium grew by 0.7%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Belgium South Africa
Current population
11967185
65829368
Population rank 83/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.79%
One net population change
6.34 minutes
42.7 seconds
One birth every
4.82 minutes
26.7 seconds
One death every
4.67 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +228 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +83,171 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +0.7% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 116/197 91/197
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 -3,557 36,243 591,618 166,972
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 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
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
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 (1960–2025, 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/south-africa | 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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