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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 1.31 times bigger than Switzerland's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Belgium vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Switzerland
2100 11,193,616 9,234,296
2099 11,211,908 9,226,472
2098 11,230,002 9,220,109
2097 11,246,180 9,212,728
2096 11,261,636 9,208,997
2095 11,277,513 9,203,477
2094 11,293,934 9,199,095
2093 11,309,421 9,196,672
2092 11,325,500 9,194,082
2091 11,339,887 9,191,145
2090 11,354,304 9,189,122
2089 11,368,748 9,188,754
2088 11,384,019 9,190,102
2087 11,399,441 9,189,763
2086 11,413,731 9,191,494
2085 11,427,305 9,195,728
2084 11,441,192 9,199,983
2083 11,454,476 9,204,908
2082 11,468,827 9,210,695
2081 11,480,917 9,217,065
2080 11,494,860 9,223,475
2079 11,507,804 9,230,920
2078 11,522,057 9,237,649
2077 11,534,819 9,245,300
2076 11,546,262 9,250,248
2075 11,558,154 9,255,753
2074 11,571,164 9,266,455
2073 11,584,391 9,275,439
2072 11,597,605 9,283,185
2071 11,611,079 9,292,913
2070 11,627,079 9,303,843
2069 11,643,296 9,311,935
2068 11,660,663 9,320,335
2067 11,677,909 9,327,741
2066 11,696,417 9,339,455
2065 11,716,114 9,351,481
2064 11,736,957 9,362,413
2063 11,758,738 9,372,441
2062 11,780,812 9,383,258
2061 11,804,421 9,395,036
2060 11,825,799 9,403,920
2059 11,847,336 9,414,241
2058 11,867,449 9,422,560
2057 11,890,466 9,428,212
2056 11,911,901 9,435,441
2055 11,931,594 9,443,890
2054 11,950,146 9,451,268
2053 11,968,395 9,456,389
2052 11,984,694 9,456,418
2051 11,998,099 9,456,395
2050 12,008,766 9,454,544
2049 12,017,817 9,451,083
2048 12,024,879 9,444,091
2047 12,029,815 9,437,061
2046 12,032,975 9,430,954
2045 12,034,718 9,425,155
2044 12,034,116 9,418,152
2043 12,032,908 9,410,763
2042 12,030,714 9,400,808
2041 12,026,814 9,393,857
2040 12,023,124 9,382,662
2039 12,018,547 9,373,984
2038 12,012,586 9,365,030
2037 12,005,650 9,354,254
2036 11,999,298 9,342,450
2035 11,992,761 9,328,907
2034 11,985,730 9,312,054
2033 11,977,334 9,294,881
2032 11,969,302 9,276,221
2031 11,960,910 9,253,034
2030 11,951,381 9,228,188
2029 11,939,712 9,201,743
2028 11,927,038 9,170,620
2027 11,913,457 9,135,740
2026 11,898,731 9,097,532
2025 11,881,020 9,053,983
2024 11,858,610 9,005,582
2023 11,779,946 8,888,822
2022 11,680,210 8,777,088
2021 11,586,195 8,704,546
2020 11,538,604 8,638,167
2019 11,488,980 8,575,280
2018 11,427,054 8,514,329
2017 11,375,158 8,451,840
2016 11,331,422 8,373,338
2015 11,274,196 8,282,396
2014 11,209,057 8,188,649
2013 11,159,407 8,089,346
2012 11,106,932 7,996,861
2011 11,038,264 7,912,398
2010 10,895,586 7,824,909
2009 10,796,493 7,743,831
2008 10,709,973 7,647,675
2007 10,625,700 7,551,117
2006 10,547,958 7,483,934
2005 10,478,617 7,437,115
2004 10,421,137 7,389,625
2003 10,376,133 7,339,001
2002 10,332,785 7,284,753
2001 10,286,570 7,229,854
2000 10,251,250 7,184,250
1999 10,226,419 7,143,991
1998 10,203,008 7,110,001
1997 10,181,245 7,088,906
1996 10,156,637 7,071,850
1995 10,136,811 7,040,687
1994 10,115,603 6,993,795
1993 10,084,475 6,938,265
1992 10,045,158 6,875,364
1991 10,004,486 6,799,978
1990 9,967,379 6,715,519
1989 9,937,697 6,646,912
1988 9,901,664 6,593,386
1987 9,870,234 6,545,106
1986 9,861,823 6,504,124
1985 9,858,308 6,470,365
1984 9,855,372 6,441,865
1983 9,855,520 6,418,773
1982 9,856,303 6,391,309
1981 9,858,982 6,354,074
1980 9,859,242 6,319,408
1979 9,848,382 6,294,365
1978 9,839,534 6,281,738
1977 9,830,358 6,281,174
1976 9,818,227 6,302,504
1975 9,800,700 6,338,632
1974 9,772,419 6,341,405
1973 9,741,720 6,307,347
1972 9,711,115 6,260,956
1971 9,673,162 6,213,399
1970 9,655,549 6,180,877
1969 9,646,032 6,136,387
1968 9,618,756 6,067,714
1967 9,580,991 5,991,785
1966 9,527,807 5,918,002
1965 9,463,667 5,856,472
1964 9,378,113 5,789,228
1963 9,289,770 5,694,247
1962 9,220,578 5,573,815
1961 9,183,948 5,434,294
1960 9,153,489 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Switzerland
2100 -0.16% 0.08%
2099 -0.16% 0.07%
2098 -0.14% 0.08%
2097 -0.14% 0.04%
2096 -0.14% 0.06%
2095 -0.15% 0.05%
2094 -0.14% 0.03%
2093 -0.14% 0.03%
2092 -0.13% 0.03%
2091 -0.13% 0.02%
2090 -0.13% 0.004%
2089 -0.13% -0.01%
2088 -0.14% 0.004%
2087 -0.13% -0.02%
2086 -0.12% -0.05%
2085 -0.12% -0.05%
2084 -0.12% -0.05%
2083 -0.13% -0.06%
2082 -0.11% -0.07%
2081 -0.12% -0.07%
2080 -0.11% -0.08%
2079 -0.12% -0.07%
2078 -0.11% -0.08%
2077 -0.1% -0.05%
2076 -0.1% -0.06%
2075 -0.11% -0.12%
2074 -0.11% -0.1%
2073 -0.11% -0.08%
2072 -0.12% -0.1%
2071 -0.14% -0.12%
2070 -0.14% -0.09%
2069 -0.15% -0.09%
2068 -0.15% -0.08%
2067 -0.16% -0.13%
2066 -0.17% -0.13%
2065 -0.18% -0.12%
2064 -0.19% -0.11%
2063 -0.19% -0.12%
2062 -0.2% -0.13%
2061 -0.18% -0.09%
2060 -0.18% -0.11%
2059 -0.17% -0.09%
2058 -0.19% -0.06%
2057 -0.18% -0.08%
2056 -0.17% -0.09%
2055 -0.16% -0.08%
2054 -0.15% -0.05%
2053 -0.14% -0%
2052 -0.11% 0%
2051 -0.09% 0.02%
2050 -0.08% 0.04%
2049 -0.06% 0.07%
2048 -0.04% 0.07%
2047 -0.03% 0.06%
2046 -0.01% 0.06%
2045 0.005% 0.07%
2044 0.01% 0.08%
2043 0.02% 0.11%
2042 0.03% 0.07%
2041 0.03% 0.12%
2040 0.04% 0.09%
2039 0.05% 0.1%
2038 0.06% 0.12%
2037 0.05% 0.13%
2036 0.05% 0.15%
2035 0.06% 0.18%
2034 0.07% 0.18%
2033 0.07% 0.2%
2032 0.07% 0.25%
2031 0.08% 0.27%
2030 0.1% 0.29%
2029 0.11% 0.34%
2028 0.11% 0.38%
2027 0.12% 0.42%
2026 0.15% 0.48%
2025 0.19% 0.54%
2024 0.67% 1.31%
2023 0.85% 1.27%
2022 0.81% 0.83%
2021 0.41% 0.77%
2020 0.43% 0.73%
2019 0.54% 0.72%
2018 0.46% 0.74%
2017 0.39% 0.94%
2016 0.51% 1.1%
2015 0.58% 1.14%
2014 0.44% 1.23%
2013 0.47% 1.16%
2012 0.62% 1.07%
2011 1.31% 1.12%
2010 0.92% 1.05%
2009 0.81% 1.26%
2008 0.79% 1.28%
2007 0.74% 0.9%
2006 0.66% 0.63%
2005 0.55% 0.64%
2004 0.43% 0.69%
2003 0.42% 0.74%
2002 0.45% 0.76%
2001 0.34% 0.63%
2000 0.24% 0.56%
1999 0.23% 0.48%
1998 0.21% 0.3%
1997 0.24% 0.24%
1996 0.2% 0.44%
1995 0.21% 0.67%
1994 0.31% 0.8%
1993 0.39% 0.91%
1992 0.41% 1.11%
1991 0.37% 1.26%
1990 0.3% 1.03%
1989 0.36% 0.81%
1988 0.32% 0.74%
1987 0.09% 0.63%
1986 0.04% 0.52%
1985 0.03% 0.44%
1984 -0.002% 0.36%
1983 -0.008% 0.43%
1982 -0.03% 0.59%
1981 -0.003% 0.55%
1980 0.11% 0.4%
1979 0.09% 0.2%
1978 0.09% 0.009%
1977 0.12% -0.34%
1976 0.18% -0.57%
1975 0.29% -0.04%
1974 0.32% 0.54%
1973 0.32% 0.74%
1972 0.39% 0.77%
1971 0.18% 0.53%
1970 0.1% 0.73%
1969 0.28% 1.13%
1968 0.39% 1.27%
1967 0.56% 1.25%
1966 0.68% 1.05%
1965 0.91% 1.16%
1964 0.95% 1.67%
1963 0.75% 2.16%
1962 0.4% 2.57%
1961 0.33% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Belgium Switzerland
Current population
11902714
9107866
Population rank 83/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.11%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
4.5 minutes
One birth every
4.75 minutes
6.57 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +320
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 81/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +37,253
Net migration rank 28/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 37,253
2024 - 36,243 - 40,099
2023 0 41,679 8,000 45,098
2022 -2,336 118,615 7,899 96,424
2021 5,793 24,017 18,279 50,665
2020 -12,692 43,777 9,502 55,523
2019 8,042 58,469 18,008 44,517
2018 7,999 50,604 20,434 41,253
2017 10,238 37,981 20,284 45,658
2016 14,731 28,090 22,608 71,009
2015 11,274 63,536 19,050 71,876
2014 21,297 37,472 21,290 78,122
2013 16,739 28,066 17,797 83,823
2012 18,882 45,001 18,393 67,840
2011 25,388 52,464 18,990 67,194
2010 23,970 105,232 17,997 76,388
2009 23,752 97,175 15,487 69,324
2008 22,491 66,470 15,295 94,430
2007 23,376 59,911 13,592 72,475
2006 21,096 53,574 12,723 37,308
2005 15,718 50,576 11,899 33,203
2004 16,673 35,143 13,302 39,484
2003 7,263 34,472 8,807 42,567
2002 7,233 39,404 10,199 49,650
2001 11,315 34,924 10,845 35,420
2000 12,302 13,952 15,806 24,463
1999 9,203 16,849 16,431 25,599
1998 9,183 12,517 16,353 11,325
1997 12,218 10,262 17,722 -1,939
1996 12,188 15,684 19,801 -131
1995 11,150 1,937 19,010 25,343
1994 12,139 17,636 20,982 30,274
1993 14,118 18,542 21,509 40,267
1992 20,090 25,941 24,064 42,014
1991 22,010 27,038 23,800 69,738
1990 19,935 8,299 20,146 58,428
1989 13,912 7,301 19,941 34,432
1988 14,853 3,929 21,099 34,602
1987 11,844 3,525 15,708 27,081
1986 5,917 2,964 16,261 23,242
1985 2,958 2,165 14,882 14,402
1984 4,927 1,697 16,105 12,532
1983 2,956 1,252 12,837 5,663
1982 7,885 1,100 15,339 21,929
1981 11,831 2,826 13,979 24,229
1980 10,845 11,482 14,535 17,841
1979 11,818 11,277 14,477 4,262
1978 7,872 10,828 13,820 -6,552
1977 8,847 10,460 16,959 -22,516
1976 1,964 10,360 17,017 -54,255
1975 0 9,652 22,820 -58,187
1974 7,818 8,924 27,902 2,008
1973 11,690 8,684 30,906 8,158
1972 18,451 8,384 35,061 19,991
1971 21,281 7,992 38,523 2,636
1970 23,173 19,393 42,648 -18,326
1969 21,221 20,072 44,182 20,754
1968 20,199 19,809 47,328 25,828
1967 31,618 19,492 52,128 27,697
1966 36,206 18,985 53,854 14,979
1965 39,748 18,243 56,222 -1,351
1964 51,580 17,687 59,050 21,455
1963 41,804 16,355 52,956 58,415
1962 42,414 14,829 49,050 82,798
1961 52,349 10,566 48,365 101,278
1960 40,275 9,893 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

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
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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