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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 4.1 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.73% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Belgium vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Spain
2100 11,193,616 33,862,981
2099 11,211,908 34,039,965
2098 11,230,002 34,215,187
2097 11,246,180 34,387,116
2096 11,261,636 34,552,002
2095 11,277,513 34,719,411
2094 11,293,934 34,882,039
2093 11,309,421 35,044,043
2092 11,325,500 35,204,657
2091 11,339,887 35,366,895
2090 11,354,304 35,535,838
2089 11,368,748 35,707,942
2088 11,384,019 35,877,681
2087 11,399,441 36,043,209
2086 11,413,731 36,210,710
2085 11,427,305 36,386,207
2084 11,441,192 36,564,622
2083 11,454,476 36,749,680
2082 11,468,827 36,936,644
2081 11,480,917 37,133,976
2080 11,494,860 37,337,517
2079 11,507,804 37,551,557
2078 11,522,057 37,771,135
2077 11,534,819 38,002,963
2076 11,546,262 38,249,247
2075 11,558,154 38,506,040
2074 11,571,164 38,777,715
2073 11,584,391 39,056,249
2072 11,597,605 39,348,447
2071 11,611,079 39,642,346
2070 11,627,079 39,949,413
2069 11,643,296 40,256,590
2068 11,660,663 40,575,543
2067 11,677,909 40,893,798
2066 11,696,417 41,218,263
2065 11,716,114 41,543,254
2064 11,736,957 41,878,338
2063 11,758,738 42,208,320
2062 11,780,812 42,542,893
2061 11,804,421 42,874,096
2060 11,825,799 43,191,452
2059 11,847,336 43,506,737
2058 11,867,449 43,809,907
2057 11,890,466 44,112,668
2056 11,911,901 44,415,689
2055 11,931,594 44,691,749
2054 11,950,146 44,958,971
2053 11,968,395 45,223,225
2052 11,984,694 45,470,541
2051 11,998,099 45,695,307
2050 12,008,766 45,911,520
2049 12,017,817 46,127,777
2048 12,024,879 46,322,244
2047 12,029,815 46,510,152
2046 12,032,975 46,687,914
2045 12,034,718 46,858,778
2044 12,034,116 47,016,278
2043 12,032,908 47,158,325
2042 12,030,714 47,301,091
2041 12,026,814 47,434,593
2040 12,023,124 47,563,236
2039 12,018,547 47,685,343
2038 12,012,586 47,798,797
2037 12,005,650 47,910,899
2036 11,999,298 48,020,350
2035 11,992,761 48,124,430
2034 11,985,730 48,220,051
2033 11,977,334 48,311,842
2032 11,969,302 48,402,470
2031 11,960,910 48,495,278
2030 11,951,381 48,579,920
2029 11,939,712 48,648,699
2028 11,927,038 48,707,969
2027 11,913,457 48,758,200
2026 11,898,731 48,806,901
2025 11,881,020 48,838,057
2024 11,858,610 48,848,840
2023 11,779,946 48,352,528
2022 11,680,210 47,786,102
2021 11,586,195 47,443,821
2020 11,538,604 47,359,424
2019 11,488,980 47,118,501
2018 11,427,054 46,782,011
2017 11,375,158 46,571,232
2016 11,331,422 46,458,139
2015 11,274,196 46,422,303
2014 11,209,057 46,460,733
2013 11,159,407 46,604,197
2012 11,106,932 46,773,055
2011 11,038,264 46,742,697
2010 10,895,586 46,576,897
2009 10,796,493 46,362,946
2008 10,709,973 45,954,106
2007 10,625,700 45,226,803
2006 10,547,958 44,397,319
2005 10,478,617 43,653,155
2004 10,421,137 42,921,895
2003 10,376,133 42,187,645
2002 10,332,785 41,431,558
2001 10,286,570 40,850,412
2000 10,251,250 40,567,864
1999 10,226,419 40,386,875
1998 10,203,008 40,223,509
1997 10,181,245 40,057,389
1996 10,156,637 39,889,852
1995 10,136,811 39,724,050
1994 10,115,603 39,549,108
1993 10,084,475 39,361,262
1992 10,045,158 39,157,685
1991 10,004,486 38,966,376
1990 9,967,379 38,867,322
1989 9,937,697 38,827,764
1988 9,901,664 38,766,939
1987 9,870,234 38,684,815
1986 9,861,823 38,584,624
1985 9,858,308 38,469,512
1984 9,855,372 38,330,364
1983 9,855,520 38,171,525
1982 9,856,303 37,986,012
1981 9,858,982 37,758,631
1980 9,859,242 37,491,165
1979 9,848,382 37,191,330
1978 9,839,534 36,864,898
1977 9,830,358 36,511,638
1976 9,818,227 36,137,812
1975 9,800,700 35,757,900
1974 9,772,419 35,373,335
1973 9,741,720 34,988,947
1972 9,711,115 34,604,469
1971 9,673,162 34,224,490
1970 9,655,549 33,814,531
1969 9,646,032 33,441,054
1968 9,618,756 33,113,134
1967 9,580,991 32,682,947
1966 9,527,807 32,283,194
1965 9,463,667 31,954,292
1964 9,378,113 31,609,195
1963 9,289,770 31,296,651
1962 9,220,578 31,023,366
1961 9,183,948 30,739,250
1960 9,153,489 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Spain
2100 -0.16% -0.52%
2099 -0.16% -0.51%
2098 -0.14% -0.5%
2097 -0.14% -0.48%
2096 -0.14% -0.48%
2095 -0.15% -0.47%
2094 -0.14% -0.46%
2093 -0.14% -0.46%
2092 -0.13% -0.46%
2091 -0.13% -0.48%
2090 -0.13% -0.48%
2089 -0.13% -0.47%
2088 -0.14% -0.46%
2087 -0.13% -0.46%
2086 -0.12% -0.48%
2085 -0.12% -0.49%
2084 -0.12% -0.5%
2083 -0.13% -0.51%
2082 -0.11% -0.53%
2081 -0.12% -0.55%
2080 -0.11% -0.57%
2079 -0.12% -0.58%
2078 -0.11% -0.61%
2077 -0.1% -0.64%
2076 -0.1% -0.67%
2075 -0.11% -0.7%
2074 -0.11% -0.71%
2073 -0.11% -0.74%
2072 -0.12% -0.74%
2071 -0.14% -0.77%
2070 -0.14% -0.76%
2069 -0.15% -0.79%
2068 -0.15% -0.78%
2067 -0.16% -0.79%
2066 -0.17% -0.78%
2065 -0.18% -0.8%
2064 -0.19% -0.78%
2063 -0.19% -0.79%
2062 -0.2% -0.77%
2061 -0.18% -0.73%
2060 -0.18% -0.72%
2059 -0.17% -0.69%
2058 -0.19% -0.69%
2057 -0.18% -0.68%
2056 -0.17% -0.62%
2055 -0.16% -0.59%
2054 -0.15% -0.58%
2053 -0.14% -0.54%
2052 -0.11% -0.49%
2051 -0.09% -0.47%
2050 -0.08% -0.47%
2049 -0.06% -0.42%
2048 -0.04% -0.4%
2047 -0.03% -0.38%
2046 -0.01% -0.36%
2045 0.005% -0.33%
2044 0.01% -0.3%
2043 0.02% -0.3%
2042 0.03% -0.28%
2041 0.03% -0.27%
2040 0.04% -0.26%
2039 0.05% -0.24%
2038 0.06% -0.23%
2037 0.05% -0.23%
2036 0.05% -0.22%
2035 0.06% -0.2%
2034 0.07% -0.19%
2033 0.07% -0.19%
2032 0.07% -0.19%
2031 0.08% -0.17%
2030 0.1% -0.14%
2029 0.11% -0.12%
2028 0.11% -0.1%
2027 0.12% -0.1%
2026 0.15% -0.06%
2025 0.19% -0.02%
2024 0.67% 1.03%
2023 0.85% 1.19%
2022 0.81% 0.72%
2021 0.41% 0.18%
2020 0.43% 0.51%
2019 0.54% 0.72%
2018 0.46% 0.45%
2017 0.39% 0.24%
2016 0.51% 0.08%
2015 0.58% -0.08%
2014 0.44% -0.31%
2013 0.47% -0.36%
2012 0.62% 0.06%
2011 1.31% 0.36%
2010 0.92% 0.46%
2009 0.81% 0.89%
2008 0.79% 1.61%
2007 0.74% 1.87%
2006 0.66% 1.7%
2005 0.55% 1.7%
2004 0.43% 1.74%
2003 0.42% 1.82%
2002 0.45% 1.42%
2001 0.34% 0.7%
2000 0.24% 0.45%
1999 0.23% 0.41%
1998 0.21% 0.41%
1997 0.24% 0.42%
1996 0.2% 0.42%
1995 0.21% 0.44%
1994 0.31% 0.48%
1993 0.39% 0.52%
1992 0.41% 0.49%
1991 0.37% 0.25%
1990 0.3% 0.1%
1989 0.36% 0.16%
1988 0.32% 0.21%
1987 0.09% 0.26%
1986 0.04% 0.3%
1985 0.03% 0.36%
1984 -0.002% 0.42%
1983 -0.008% 0.49%
1982 -0.03% 0.6%
1981 -0.003% 0.71%
1980 0.11% 0.81%
1979 0.09% 0.89%
1978 0.09% 0.97%
1977 0.12% 1.03%
1976 0.18% 1.06%
1975 0.29% 1.09%
1974 0.32% 1.1%
1973 0.32% 1.11%
1972 0.39% 1.11%
1971 0.18% 1.21%
1970 0.1% 1.12%
1969 0.28% 0.99%
1968 0.39% 1.32%
1967 0.56% 1.24%
1966 0.68% 1.03%
1965 0.91% 1.09%
1964 0.95% 1%
1963 0.75% 0.88%
1962 0.4% 0.92%
1961 0.33% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Belgium Spain
Current population
11902714
48806901
Population rank 83/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.59%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
1.06 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 100/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +96,630
Net migration rank 28/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 96,630
2024 - 36,243 - 111,674
2023 0 41,679 -111,211 119,099
2022 -2,336 118,615 -133,801 299,779
2021 5,793 24,017 -113,865 144,385
2020 -12,692 43,777 -151,551 236,854
2019 8,042 58,469 -56,542 464,783
2018 7,999 50,604 -56,139 337,467
2017 10,238 37,981 -32,600 201,135
2016 14,731 28,090 0 106,474
2015 11,274 63,536 -4,642 -1,979
2014 21,297 37,472 32,522 -97,870
2013 16,739 28,066 37,284 -250,741
2012 18,882 45,001 51,450 -153,486
2011 25,388 52,464 84,137 60,761
2010 23,970 105,232 102,469 69,406
2009 23,752 97,175 106,635 129,557
2008 22,491 66,470 133,267 434,135
2007 23,376 59,911 108,545 772,317
2006 21,096 53,574 110,994 659,720
2005 15,718 50,576 78,576 629,803
2004 16,673 35,143 85,844 661,158
2003 7,263 34,472 54,844 658,428
2002 7,233 39,404 53,861 737,880
2001 11,315 34,924 44,936 181,307
2000 12,302 13,952 36,512 176,269
1999 9,203 16,849 8,077 178,559
1998 9,183 12,517 4,022 182,926
1997 12,218 10,262 20,028 165,345
1996 12,188 15,684 11,967 162,704
1995 11,150 1,937 15,889 162,434
1994 12,139 17,636 31,639 160,407
1993 14,118 18,542 47,234 160,907
1992 20,090 25,941 62,652 177,544
1991 22,010 27,038 58,450 122,841
1990 19,935 8,299 66,075 -30,684
1989 13,912 7,301 81,538 -25,892
1988 14,853 3,929 100,794 -17,663
1987 11,844 3,525 116,054 -12,681
1986 5,917 2,964 131,188 -13,540
1985 2,958 2,165 146,184 -589
1984 4,927 1,697 172,487 2,754
1983 2,956 1,252 183,223 1,241
1982 7,885 1,100 231,714 -7,384
1981 11,831 2,826 237,879 2,563
1980 10,845 11,482 281,184 20,166
1979 11,818 11,277 312,407 -5,929
1978 7,872 10,828 339,157 -2,504
1977 8,847 10,460 361,465 -1,332
1976 1,964 10,360 375,834 2,804
1975 0 9,652 371,882 -218
1974 7,818 8,924 396,182 105,838
1973 11,690 8,684 374,381 8,624
1972 18,451 8,384 391,030 7,935
1971 21,281 7,992 369,625 7,363
1970 23,173 19,393 378,723 -60,580
1969 21,221 20,072 367,851 -49,956
1968 20,199 19,809 387,423 -46,088
1967 31,618 19,492 402,001 -42,344
1966 36,206 18,985 397,084 -41,467
1965 39,748 18,243 405,819 -42,476
1964 51,580 17,687 429,885 -41,461
1963 41,804 16,355 394,338 -44,446
1962 42,414 14,829 384,690 -45,211
1961 52,349 10,566 396,537 -46,517
1960 40,275 9,893 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

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
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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