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Population in Belgium compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 1.86 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.41% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Belgium vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Sri Lanka
2100 11,193,616 20,270,496
2099 11,211,908 20,383,669
2098 11,230,002 20,498,567
2097 11,246,180 20,611,123
2096 11,261,636 20,723,560
2095 11,277,513 20,834,629
2094 11,293,934 20,943,809
2093 11,309,421 21,052,131
2092 11,325,500 21,158,833
2091 11,339,887 21,263,961
2090 11,354,304 21,371,263
2089 11,368,748 21,475,426
2088 11,384,019 21,577,177
2087 11,399,441 21,677,510
2086 11,413,731 21,777,420
2085 11,427,305 21,876,464
2084 11,441,192 21,970,336
2083 11,454,476 22,062,801
2082 11,468,827 22,151,745
2081 11,480,917 22,240,834
2080 11,494,860 22,326,555
2079 11,507,804 22,411,438
2078 11,522,057 22,489,772
2077 11,534,819 22,565,028
2076 11,546,262 22,637,463
2075 11,558,154 22,707,112
2074 11,571,164 22,778,489
2073 11,584,391 22,844,703
2072 11,597,605 22,905,707
2071 11,611,079 22,964,866
2070 11,627,079 23,022,515
2069 11,643,296 23,076,310
2068 11,660,663 23,129,541
2067 11,677,909 23,184,596
2066 11,696,417 23,234,419
2065 11,716,114 23,285,901
2064 11,736,957 23,331,390
2063 11,758,738 23,372,184
2062 11,780,812 23,409,522
2061 11,804,421 23,441,893
2060 11,825,799 23,474,032
2059 11,847,336 23,502,132
2058 11,867,449 23,528,076
2057 11,890,466 23,550,580
2056 11,911,901 23,570,923
2055 11,931,594 23,582,432
2054 11,950,146 23,591,414
2053 11,968,395 23,601,371
2052 11,984,694 23,605,361
2051 11,998,099 23,606,194
2050 12,008,766 23,603,330
2049 12,017,817 23,597,604
2048 12,024,879 23,587,307
2047 12,029,815 23,570,881
2046 12,032,975 23,547,409
2045 12,034,718 23,515,133
2044 12,034,116 23,483,546
2043 12,032,908 23,446,242
2042 12,030,714 23,404,983
2041 12,026,814 23,357,358
2040 12,023,124 23,306,148
2039 12,018,547 23,248,341
2038 12,012,586 23,187,512
2037 12,005,650 23,120,775
2036 11,999,298 23,053,427
2035 11,992,761 22,981,808
2034 11,985,730 22,906,587
2033 11,977,334 22,826,414
2032 11,969,302 22,742,267
2031 11,960,910 22,655,907
2030 11,951,381 22,564,038
2029 11,939,712 22,470,759
2028 11,927,038 22,370,999
2027 11,913,457 22,266,017
2026 11,898,731 22,155,543
2025 11,881,020 22,039,908
2024 11,858,610 21,916,000
2023 11,779,946 22,037,000
2022 11,680,210 22,181,000
2021 11,586,195 22,156,000
2020 11,538,604 21,919,000
2019 11,488,980 21,803,000
2018 11,427,054 21,670,000
2017 11,375,158 21,453,000
2016 11,331,422 21,209,000
2015 11,274,196 20,970,000
2014 11,209,057 20,778,000
2013 11,159,407 20,585,000
2012 11,106,932 21,169,458
2011 11,038,264 21,009,048
2010 10,895,586 20,879,089
2009 10,796,493 20,756,435
2008 10,709,973 20,629,378
2007 10,625,700 20,492,545
2006 10,547,958 20,352,411
2005 10,478,617 20,216,524
2004 10,421,137 20,087,605
2003 10,376,133 19,951,521
2002 10,332,785 19,805,752
2001 10,286,570 19,600,362
2000 10,251,250 19,293,054
1999 10,226,419 18,944,731
1998 10,203,008 18,596,003
1997 10,181,245 18,248,200
1996 10,156,637 17,905,018
1995 10,136,811 17,564,068
1994 10,115,603 17,275,773
1993 10,084,475 17,025,918
1992 10,045,158 16,739,284
1991 10,004,486 16,475,354
1990 9,967,379 16,352,458
1989 9,937,697 16,248,557
1988 9,901,664 16,078,621
1987 9,870,234 15,916,576
1986 9,861,823 15,731,256
1985 9,858,308 15,544,154
1984 9,855,372 15,441,860
1983 9,855,520 15,388,794
1982 9,856,303 15,286,567
1981 9,858,982 15,099,414
1980 9,859,242 14,847,974
1979 9,848,382 14,579,614
1978 9,839,534 14,310,128
1977 9,830,358 14,049,371
1976 9,818,227 13,796,770
1975 9,800,700 13,548,984
1974 9,772,419 13,305,693
1973 9,741,720 13,060,916
1972 9,711,115 12,809,205
1971 9,673,162 12,551,910
1970 9,655,549 12,287,110
1969 9,646,032 12,013,858
1968 9,618,756 11,736,088
1967 9,580,991 11,457,328
1966 9,527,807 11,183,928
1965 9,463,667 10,916,965
1964 9,378,113 10,653,397
1963 9,289,770 10,395,040
1962 9,220,578 10,143,754
1961 9,183,948 9,899,372
1960 9,153,489 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Sri Lanka
2100 -0.16% -0.56%
2099 -0.16% -0.56%
2098 -0.14% -0.55%
2097 -0.14% -0.54%
2096 -0.14% -0.53%
2095 -0.15% -0.52%
2094 -0.14% -0.51%
2093 -0.14% -0.5%
2092 -0.13% -0.49%
2091 -0.13% -0.5%
2090 -0.13% -0.49%
2089 -0.13% -0.47%
2088 -0.14% -0.46%
2087 -0.13% -0.46%
2086 -0.12% -0.45%
2085 -0.12% -0.43%
2084 -0.12% -0.42%
2083 -0.13% -0.4%
2082 -0.11% -0.4%
2081 -0.12% -0.38%
2080 -0.11% -0.38%
2079 -0.12% -0.35%
2078 -0.11% -0.33%
2077 -0.1% -0.32%
2076 -0.1% -0.31%
2075 -0.11% -0.31%
2074 -0.11% -0.29%
2073 -0.11% -0.27%
2072 -0.12% -0.26%
2071 -0.14% -0.25%
2070 -0.14% -0.23%
2069 -0.15% -0.23%
2068 -0.15% -0.24%
2067 -0.16% -0.21%
2066 -0.17% -0.22%
2065 -0.18% -0.19%
2064 -0.19% -0.17%
2063 -0.19% -0.16%
2062 -0.2% -0.14%
2061 -0.18% -0.14%
2060 -0.18% -0.12%
2059 -0.17% -0.11%
2058 -0.19% -0.1%
2057 -0.18% -0.09%
2056 -0.17% -0.05%
2055 -0.16% -0.04%
2054 -0.15% -0.04%
2053 -0.14% -0.02%
2052 -0.11% -0.004%
2051 -0.09% 0.01%
2050 -0.08% 0.02%
2049 -0.06% 0.04%
2048 -0.04% 0.07%
2047 -0.03% 0.1%
2046 -0.01% 0.14%
2045 0.005% 0.13%
2044 0.01% 0.16%
2043 0.02% 0.18%
2042 0.03% 0.2%
2041 0.03% 0.22%
2040 0.04% 0.25%
2039 0.05% 0.26%
2038 0.06% 0.29%
2037 0.05% 0.29%
2036 0.05% 0.31%
2035 0.06% 0.33%
2034 0.07% 0.35%
2033 0.07% 0.37%
2032 0.07% 0.38%
2031 0.08% 0.41%
2030 0.1% 0.42%
2029 0.11% 0.45%
2028 0.11% 0.47%
2027 0.12% 0.5%
2026 0.15% 0.52%
2025 0.19% 0.57%
2024 0.67% -0.55%
2023 0.85% -0.65%
2022 0.81% 0.11%
2021 0.41% 1.08%
2020 0.43% 0.53%
2019 0.54% 0.61%
2018 0.46% 1.01%
2017 0.39% 1.15%
2016 0.51% 1.14%
2015 0.58% 0.92%
2014 0.44% 0.94%
2013 0.47% -2.76%
2012 0.62% 0.76%
2011 1.31% 0.62%
2010 0.92% 0.59%
2009 0.81% 0.62%
2008 0.79% 0.67%
2007 0.74% 0.69%
2006 0.66% 0.67%
2005 0.55% 0.64%
2004 0.43% 0.68%
2003 0.42% 0.74%
2002 0.45% 1.05%
2001 0.34% 1.59%
2000 0.24% 1.84%
1999 0.23% 1.88%
1998 0.21% 1.91%
1997 0.24% 1.92%
1996 0.2% 1.94%
1995 0.21% 1.67%
1994 0.31% 1.47%
1993 0.39% 1.71%
1992 0.41% 1.6%
1991 0.37% 0.75%
1990 0.3% 0.64%
1989 0.36% 1.06%
1988 0.32% 1.02%
1987 0.09% 1.18%
1986 0.04% 1.2%
1985 0.03% 0.66%
1984 -0.002% 0.34%
1983 -0.008% 0.67%
1982 -0.03% 1.24%
1981 -0.003% 1.69%
1980 0.11% 1.84%
1979 0.09% 1.88%
1978 0.09% 1.86%
1977 0.12% 1.83%
1976 0.18% 1.83%
1975 0.29% 1.83%
1974 0.32% 1.87%
1973 0.32% 1.97%
1972 0.39% 2.05%
1971 0.18% 2.16%
1970 0.1% 2.27%
1969 0.28% 2.37%
1968 0.39% 2.43%
1967 0.56% 2.44%
1966 0.68% 2.45%
1965 0.91% 2.47%
1964 0.95% 2.49%
1963 0.75% 2.48%
1962 0.4% 2.47%
1961 0.33% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Belgium Sri Lanka
Current population
11902714
22185425
Population rank 83/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.27%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
4.34 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 -332
Annual growth/decline +78,664 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 188/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 -30,724
Net migration rank 28/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -30,724
2024 - 36,243 - -27,245
2023 0 41,679 66,111 -28,011
2022 -2,336 118,615 95,378 -27,435
2021 5,793 24,017 121,858 -29,586
2020 -12,692 43,777 170,968 -29,875
2019 8,042 58,469 172,243 -28,426
2018 7,999 50,604 183,610 -28,607
2017 10,238 37,981 187,993 -22,324
2016 14,731 28,090 194,232 -18,388
2015 11,274 63,536 201,815 -29,797
2014 21,297 37,472 211,541 -33,672
2013 16,739 28,066 221,021 -37,754
2012 18,882 45,001 229,138 -41,955
2011 25,388 52,464 224,461 -90,839
2010 23,970 105,232 224,325 -98,060
2009 23,752 97,175 200,175 -81,130
2008 22,491 66,470 232,225 -97,144
2007 23,376 59,911 248,287 -109,695
2006 21,096 53,574 248,706 -107,045
2005 15,718 50,576 248,683 -118,594
2004 16,673 35,143 212,527 -84,795
2003 7,263 34,472 252,008 -107,573
2002 7,233 39,404 252,840 -105,718
2001 11,315 34,924 244,377 19,273
2000 12,302 13,952 227,060 123,894
1999 9,203 16,849 206,876 138,799
1998 9,183 12,517 201,059 150,724
1997 12,218 10,262 208,193 135,636
1996 12,188 15,684 215,290 127,236
1995 11,150 1,937 221,957 117,416
1994 12,139 17,636 228,904 8,323
1993 14,118 18,542 226,257 36,232
1992 20,090 25,941 222,230 88,542
1991 22,010 27,038 218,117 -1,047
1990 19,935 8,299 224,454 -195,736
1989 13,912 7,301 212,401 -33,305
1988 14,853 3,929 219,184 -58,415
1987 11,844 3,525 226,414 -63,105
1986 5,917 2,964 233,782 -26,460
1985 2,958 2,165 247,836 -80,950
1984 4,927 1,697 263,175 -225,450
1983 2,956 1,252 277,768 -209,362
1982 7,885 1,100 300,030 -163,987
1981 11,831 2,826 328,096 -89,824
1980 10,845 11,482 328,155 -63,541
1979 11,818 11,277 329,791 -57,683
1978 7,872 10,828 317,055 -50,189
1977 8,847 10,460 300,038 -45,383
1976 1,964 10,360 291,816 -41,258
1975 0 9,652 282,496 -37,475
1974 7,818 8,924 275,521 -33,979
1973 11,690 8,684 278,577 -30,582
1972 18,451 8,384 282,494 -27,071
1971 21,281 7,992 281,200 -22,021
1970 23,173 19,393 286,719 -16,299
1969 21,221 20,072 286,218 -10,152
1968 20,199 19,809 286,642 -7,163
1967 31,618 19,492 284,738 -6,696
1966 36,206 18,985 275,549 -6,794
1965 39,748 18,243 272,422 -7,249
1964 51,580 17,687 269,584 -7,614
1963 41,804 16,355 262,880 -8,118
1962 42,414 14,829 256,719 -8,909
1961 52,349 10,566 251,087 -10,144
1960 40,275 9,893 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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