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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 4.34 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.77% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Belgium vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium South Korea
2100 11,193,616 22,012,503
2099 11,211,908 22,335,528
2098 11,230,002 22,668,719
2097 11,246,180 23,009,661
2096 11,261,636 23,360,151
2095 11,277,513 23,722,747
2094 11,293,934 24,093,391
2093 11,309,421 24,473,038
2092 11,325,500 24,860,975
2091 11,339,887 25,255,379
2090 11,354,304 25,655,577
2089 11,368,748 26,060,945
2088 11,384,019 26,470,073
2087 11,399,441 26,884,813
2086 11,413,731 27,301,913
2085 11,427,305 27,723,736
2084 11,441,192 28,147,480
2083 11,454,476 28,578,182
2082 11,468,827 29,012,953
2081 11,480,917 29,456,022
2080 11,494,860 29,901,880
2079 11,507,804 30,352,062
2078 11,522,057 30,809,176
2077 11,534,819 31,273,700
2076 11,546,262 31,744,480
2075 11,558,154 32,221,226
2074 11,571,164 32,706,020
2073 11,584,391 33,196,556
2072 11,597,605 33,696,490
2071 11,611,079 34,203,935
2070 11,627,079 34,719,324
2069 11,643,296 35,241,850
2068 11,660,663 35,762,799
2067 11,677,909 36,292,307
2066 11,696,417 36,826,655
2065 11,716,114 37,368,086
2064 11,736,957 37,916,439
2063 11,758,738 38,469,051
2062 11,780,812 39,028,473
2061 11,804,421 39,584,621
2060 11,825,799 40,149,830
2059 11,847,336 40,712,514
2058 11,867,449 41,277,134
2057 11,890,466 41,833,887
2056 11,911,901 42,377,427
2055 11,931,594 42,909,302
2054 11,950,146 43,427,254
2053 11,968,395 43,938,741
2052 11,984,694 44,441,106
2051 11,998,099 44,923,604
2050 12,008,766 45,385,311
2049 12,017,817 45,832,153
2048 12,024,879 46,258,529
2047 12,029,815 46,668,898
2046 12,032,975 47,056,404
2045 12,034,718 47,433,205
2044 12,034,116 47,797,411
2043 12,032,908 48,144,730
2042 12,030,714 48,478,991
2041 12,026,814 48,806,273
2040 12,023,124 49,115,658
2039 12,018,547 49,412,830
2038 12,012,586 49,694,340
2037 12,005,650 49,957,504
2036 11,999,298 50,200,702
2035 11,992,761 50,426,000
2034 11,985,730 50,632,962
2033 11,977,334 50,821,090
2032 11,969,302 50,987,020
2031 11,960,910 51,134,940
2030 11,951,381 51,267,908
2029 11,939,712 51,385,868
2028 11,927,038 51,486,791
2027 11,913,457 51,576,746
2026 11,898,731 51,649,918
2025 11,881,020 51,710,062
2024 11,858,610 51,751,065
2023 11,779,946 51,712,619
2022 11,680,210 51,672,569
2021 11,586,195 51,769,539
2020 11,538,604 51,836,239
2019 11,488,980 51,764,822
2018 11,427,054 51,585,058
2017 11,375,158 51,361,911
2016 11,331,422 51,217,803
2015 11,274,196 51,014,947
2014 11,209,057 50,746,659
2013 11,159,407 50,428,893
2012 11,106,932 50,199,853
2011 11,038,264 49,936,638
2010 10,895,586 49,554,112
2009 10,796,493 49,307,835
2008 10,709,973 49,054,708
2007 10,625,700 48,683,638
2006 10,547,958 48,438,292
2005 10,478,617 48,184,561
2004 10,421,137 48,082,519
2003 10,376,133 47,892,330
2002 10,332,785 47,644,736
2001 10,286,570 47,370,164
2000 10,251,250 47,008,111
1999 10,226,419 46,616,677
1998 10,203,008 46,286,503
1997 10,181,245 45,953,580
1996 10,156,637 45,524,681
1995 10,136,811 45,092,991
1994 10,115,603 44,641,540
1993 10,084,475 44,194,628
1992 10,045,158 43,747,962
1991 10,004,486 43,295,704
1990 9,967,379 42,869,283
1989 9,937,697 42,449,038
1988 9,901,664 42,031,247
1987 9,870,234 41,621,690
1986 9,861,823 41,213,674
1985 9,858,308 40,805,744
1984 9,855,372 40,405,956
1983 9,855,520 39,910,403
1982 9,856,303 39,326,352
1981 9,858,982 38,723,248
1980 9,859,242 38,123,775
1979 9,848,382 37,534,236
1978 9,839,534 36,969,185
1977 9,830,358 36,411,795
1976 9,818,227 35,848,523
1975 9,800,700 35,280,725
1974 9,772,419 34,692,266
1973 9,741,720 34,103,149
1972 9,711,115 33,505,406
1971 9,673,162 32,882,704
1970 9,655,549 32,240,827
1969 9,646,032 31,544,266
1968 9,618,756 30,838,302
1967 9,580,991 30,130,983
1966 9,527,807 29,435,571
1965 9,463,667 28,704,674
1964 9,378,113 27,984,155
1963 9,289,770 27,261,747
1962 9,220,578 26,513,030
1961 9,183,948 25,765,673
1960 9,153,489 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium South Korea
2100 -0.16% -1.45%
2099 -0.16% -1.47%
2098 -0.14% -1.48%
2097 -0.14% -1.5%
2096 -0.14% -1.53%
2095 -0.15% -1.54%
2094 -0.14% -1.55%
2093 -0.14% -1.56%
2092 -0.13% -1.56%
2091 -0.13% -1.56%
2090 -0.13% -1.56%
2089 -0.13% -1.55%
2088 -0.14% -1.54%
2087 -0.13% -1.53%
2086 -0.12% -1.52%
2085 -0.12% -1.51%
2084 -0.12% -1.51%
2083 -0.13% -1.5%
2082 -0.11% -1.5%
2081 -0.12% -1.49%
2080 -0.11% -1.48%
2079 -0.12% -1.48%
2078 -0.11% -1.49%
2077 -0.1% -1.48%
2076 -0.1% -1.48%
2075 -0.11% -1.48%
2074 -0.11% -1.48%
2073 -0.11% -1.48%
2072 -0.12% -1.48%
2071 -0.14% -1.48%
2070 -0.14% -1.48%
2069 -0.15% -1.46%
2068 -0.15% -1.46%
2067 -0.16% -1.45%
2066 -0.17% -1.45%
2065 -0.18% -1.45%
2064 -0.19% -1.44%
2063 -0.19% -1.43%
2062 -0.2% -1.4%
2061 -0.18% -1.41%
2060 -0.18% -1.38%
2059 -0.17% -1.37%
2058 -0.19% -1.33%
2057 -0.18% -1.28%
2056 -0.17% -1.24%
2055 -0.16% -1.19%
2054 -0.15% -1.16%
2053 -0.14% -1.13%
2052 -0.11% -1.07%
2051 -0.09% -1.02%
2050 -0.08% -0.97%
2049 -0.06% -0.92%
2048 -0.04% -0.88%
2047 -0.03% -0.82%
2046 -0.01% -0.79%
2045 0.005% -0.76%
2044 0.01% -0.72%
2043 0.02% -0.69%
2042 0.03% -0.67%
2041 0.03% -0.63%
2040 0.04% -0.6%
2039 0.05% -0.57%
2038 0.06% -0.53%
2037 0.05% -0.48%
2036 0.05% -0.45%
2035 0.06% -0.41%
2034 0.07% -0.37%
2033 0.07% -0.33%
2032 0.07% -0.29%
2031 0.08% -0.26%
2030 0.1% -0.23%
2029 0.11% -0.2%
2028 0.11% -0.17%
2027 0.12% -0.14%
2026 0.15% -0.12%
2025 0.19% -0.08%
2024 0.67% 0.07%
2023 0.85% 0.08%
2022 0.81% -0.19%
2021 0.41% -0.13%
2020 0.43% 0.14%
2019 0.54% 0.35%
2018 0.46% 0.43%
2017 0.39% 0.28%
2016 0.51% 0.4%
2015 0.58% 0.53%
2014 0.44% 0.63%
2013 0.47% 0.46%
2012 0.62% 0.53%
2011 1.31% 0.77%
2010 0.92% 0.5%
2009 0.81% 0.52%
2008 0.79% 0.76%
2007 0.74% 0.51%
2006 0.66% 0.53%
2005 0.55% 0.21%
2004 0.43% 0.4%
2003 0.42% 0.52%
2002 0.45% 0.58%
2001 0.34% 0.77%
2000 0.24% 0.84%
1999 0.23% 0.71%
1998 0.21% 0.72%
1997 0.24% 0.94%
1996 0.2% 0.96%
1995 0.21% 1.01%
1994 0.31% 1.01%
1993 0.39% 1.02%
1992 0.41% 1.04%
1991 0.37% 0.99%
1990 0.3% 0.99%
1989 0.36% 0.99%
1988 0.32% 0.98%
1987 0.09% 0.99%
1986 0.04% 1%
1985 0.03% 0.99%
1984 -0.002% 1.24%
1983 -0.008% 1.49%
1982 -0.03% 1.56%
1981 -0.003% 1.57%
1980 0.11% 1.57%
1979 0.09% 1.53%
1978 0.09% 1.53%
1977 0.12% 1.57%
1976 0.18% 1.61%
1975 0.29% 1.7%
1974 0.32% 1.73%
1973 0.32% 1.78%
1972 0.39% 1.89%
1971 0.18% 1.99%
1970 0.1% 2.21%
1969 0.28% 2.29%
1968 0.39% 2.35%
1967 0.56% 2.36%
1966 0.68% 2.55%
1965 0.91% 2.57%
1964 0.95% 2.65%
1963 0.75% 2.82%
1962 0.4% 2.9%
1961 0.33% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Belgium South Korea
Current population
11902714
51649918
Population rank 83/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.62%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +105
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 160/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +65,731
Net migration rank 28/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 65,731
2024 - 36,243 - 75,963
2023 0 41,679 -77,569 87,800
2022 -2,336 118,615 -124,014 87,800
2021 5,793 24,017 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -12,692 43,777 -31,101 112,631
2019 8,042 58,469 10,353 128,622
2018 7,999 50,604 30,951 118,220
2017 10,238 37,981 71,907 104,029
2016 14,731 28,090 122,923 91,568
2015 11,274 63,536 163,248 276,427
2014 21,297 37,472 167,464 308,037
2013 16,739 28,066 166,415 301,926
2012 18,882 45,001 215,859 281,866
2011 25,388 52,464 214,728 269,958
2010 23,970 105,232 213,083 52,042
2009 23,752 97,175 197,231 5,308
2008 22,491 66,470 215,841 -19,630
2007 23,376 59,911 248,286 -42,293
2006 21,096 53,574 203,441 -28,434
2005 15,718 50,576 187,920 -47,821
2004 16,673 35,143 225,988 -42,549
2003 7,263 34,472 244,251 -31,994
2002 7,233 39,404 247,752 -18,105
2001 11,315 34,924 312,643 -28,006
2000 12,302 13,952 390,167 -84,960
1999 9,203 16,849 368,272 -107,448
1998 9,183 12,517 393,436 -98,044
1997 12,218 10,262 422,773 -109,130
1996 12,188 15,684 446,142 -115,705
1995 11,150 1,937 468,967 -208,491
1994 12,139 17,636 473,200 -208,309
1993 14,118 18,542 477,302 -222,802
1992 20,090 25,941 494,352 -265,849
1991 22,010 27,038 467,594 -270,754
1990 19,935 8,299 411,546 79,294
1989 13,912 7,301 403,266 186,120
1988 14,853 3,929 399,297 192,534
1987 11,844 3,525 378,758 198,057
1986 5,917 2,964 395,651 189,782
1985 2,958 2,165 416,219 97,949
1984 4,927 1,697 436,384 101,394
1983 2,956 1,252 514,844 102,167
1982 7,885 1,100 605,626 48,638
1981 11,831 2,826 631,189 18,442
1980 10,845 11,482 583,294 -148,341
1979 11,818 11,277 623,068 -139,566
1978 7,872 10,828 499,084 -85,721
1977 8,847 10,460 578,947 -90,737
1976 1,964 10,360 530,558 -92,314
1975 0 9,652 603,300 -52,332
1974 7,818 8,924 673,030 27,005
1973 11,690 8,684 699,115 35,779
1972 18,451 8,384 740,469 25,382
1971 21,281 7,992 789,185 -6,326
1970 23,173 19,393 747,987 -27,999
1969 21,221 20,072 694,227 -21,175
1968 20,199 19,809 684,487 -16,868
1967 31,618 19,492 692,169 -16,484
1966 36,206 18,985 623,534 -16,688
1965 39,748 18,243 641,090 -146,386
1964 51,580 17,687 655,501 -102,284
1963 41,804 16,355 685,824 -80,226
1962 42,414 14,829 712,590 -94,606
1961 52,349 10,566 730,173 -93,179
1960 40,275 9,893 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/south-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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South 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
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-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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