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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 2.25 times bigger than Belgium's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Belgium vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Syria
2100 11,193,616 44,620,090
2099 11,211,908 44,690,260
2098 11,230,002 44,750,249
2097 11,246,180 44,813,148
2096 11,261,636 44,867,740
2095 11,277,513 44,895,489
2094 11,293,934 44,945,231
2093 11,309,421 44,974,311
2092 11,325,500 45,003,795
2091 11,339,887 45,016,478
2090 11,354,304 45,048,083
2089 11,368,748 45,047,102
2088 11,384,019 45,041,864
2087 11,399,441 45,049,516
2086 11,413,731 45,068,928
2085 11,427,305 45,034,847
2084 11,441,192 44,999,929
2083 11,454,476 44,971,600
2082 11,468,827 44,910,859
2081 11,480,917 44,843,908
2080 11,494,860 44,744,718
2079 11,507,804 44,687,371
2078 11,522,057 44,649,760
2077 11,534,819 44,604,175
2076 11,546,262 44,520,132
2075 11,558,154 44,426,423
2074 11,571,164 44,328,795
2073 11,584,391 44,221,016
2072 11,597,605 44,084,262
2071 11,611,079 43,939,848
2070 11,627,079 43,795,999
2069 11,643,296 43,648,130
2068 11,660,663 43,465,442
2067 11,677,909 43,271,173
2066 11,696,417 43,060,752
2065 11,716,114 42,810,442
2064 11,736,957 42,559,554
2063 11,758,738 42,311,907
2062 11,780,812 42,062,193
2061 11,804,421 41,808,082
2060 11,825,799 41,522,274
2059 11,847,336 41,208,825
2058 11,867,449 40,925,728
2057 11,890,466 40,643,453
2056 11,911,901 40,332,578
2055 11,931,594 40,026,632
2054 11,950,146 39,691,425
2053 11,968,395 39,348,020
2052 11,984,694 39,045,268
2051 11,998,099 38,733,827
2050 12,008,766 38,410,423
2049 12,017,817 38,089,455
2048 12,024,879 37,784,449
2047 12,029,815 37,492,636
2046 12,032,975 37,181,526
2045 12,034,718 36,843,579
2044 12,034,116 36,526,509
2043 12,032,908 36,188,225
2042 12,030,714 35,825,419
2041 12,026,814 35,447,414
2040 12,023,124 35,042,107
2039 12,018,547 34,626,945
2038 12,012,586 34,183,740
2037 12,005,650 33,703,682
2036 11,999,298 33,223,843
2035 11,992,761 32,696,648
2034 11,985,730 32,148,814
2033 11,977,334 31,562,427
2032 11,969,302 30,967,322
2031 11,960,910 30,329,874
2030 11,951,381 29,672,629
2029 11,939,712 28,949,535
2028 11,927,038 28,217,748
2027 11,913,457 27,428,807
2026 11,898,731 26,607,148
2025 11,881,020 25,689,551
2024 11,858,610 24,672,760
2023 11,779,946 23,594,623
2022 11,680,210 22,462,173
2021 11,586,195 21,628,839
2020 11,538,604 21,049,429
2019 11,488,980 20,353,534
2018 11,427,054 19,577,845
2017 11,375,158 19,224,668
2016 11,331,422 19,193,834
2015 11,274,196 19,424,618
2014 11,209,057 20,273,659
2013 11,159,407 21,666,917
2012 11,106,932 22,759,763
2011 11,038,264 22,878,098
2010 10,895,586 22,482,421
2009 10,796,493 21,976,969
2008 10,709,973 21,636,564
2007 10,625,700 20,884,125
2006 10,547,958 19,637,022
2005 10,478,617 18,814,091
2004 10,421,137 18,336,875
2003 10,376,133 17,889,296
2002 10,332,785 17,468,332
2001 10,286,570 17,051,338
2000 10,251,250 16,637,888
1999 10,226,419 16,228,061
1998 10,203,008 15,820,413
1997 10,181,245 15,417,542
1996 10,156,637 15,018,104
1995 10,136,811 14,616,801
1994 10,115,603 14,208,583
1993 10,084,475 13,795,686
1992 10,045,158 13,385,571
1991 10,004,486 12,980,821
1990 9,967,379 12,579,208
1989 9,937,697 12,179,060
1988 9,901,664 11,782,264
1987 9,870,234 11,388,923
1986 9,861,823 11,002,844
1985 9,858,308 10,625,672
1984 9,855,372 10,258,398
1983 9,855,520 9,904,809
1982 9,856,303 9,572,511
1981 9,858,982 9,260,189
1980 9,859,242 8,957,663
1979 9,848,382 8,661,909
1978 9,839,534 8,372,759
1977 9,830,358 8,090,501
1976 9,818,227 7,817,320
1975 9,800,700 7,554,364
1974 9,772,419 7,302,160
1973 9,741,720 7,060,321
1972 9,711,115 6,826,024
1971 9,673,162 6,598,094
1970 9,655,549 6,380,609
1969 9,646,032 6,175,166
1968 9,618,756 5,978,742
1967 9,580,991 5,790,198
1966 9,527,807 5,609,047
1965 9,463,667 5,435,267
1964 9,378,113 5,269,087
1963 9,289,770 5,110,467
1962 9,220,578 4,959,340
1961 9,183,948 4,815,466
1960 9,153,489 4,673,500

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/syria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th 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 Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 45.1M people in 2086 for Syria.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Syria
2100 -0.16% -0.16%
2099 -0.16% -0.13%
2098 -0.14% -0.14%
2097 -0.14% -0.12%
2096 -0.14% -0.06%
2095 -0.15% -0.11%
2094 -0.14% -0.06%
2093 -0.14% -0.07%
2092 -0.13% -0.03%
2091 -0.13% -0.07%
2090 -0.13% 0.002%
2089 -0.13% 0.01%
2088 -0.14% -0.02%
2087 -0.13% -0.04%
2086 -0.12% 0.08%
2085 -0.12% 0.08%
2084 -0.12% 0.06%
2083 -0.13% 0.14%
2082 -0.11% 0.15%
2081 -0.12% 0.22%
2080 -0.11% 0.13%
2079 -0.12% 0.08%
2078 -0.11% 0.1%
2077 -0.1% 0.19%
2076 -0.1% 0.21%
2075 -0.11% 0.22%
2074 -0.11% 0.24%
2073 -0.11% 0.31%
2072 -0.12% 0.33%
2071 -0.14% 0.33%
2070 -0.14% 0.34%
2069 -0.15% 0.42%
2068 -0.15% 0.45%
2067 -0.16% 0.49%
2066 -0.17% 0.58%
2065 -0.18% 0.59%
2064 -0.19% 0.59%
2063 -0.19% 0.59%
2062 -0.2% 0.61%
2061 -0.18% 0.69%
2060 -0.18% 0.76%
2059 -0.17% 0.69%
2058 -0.19% 0.69%
2057 -0.18% 0.77%
2056 -0.17% 0.76%
2055 -0.16% 0.84%
2054 -0.15% 0.87%
2053 -0.14% 0.78%
2052 -0.11% 0.8%
2051 -0.09% 0.84%
2050 -0.08% 0.84%
2049 -0.06% 0.81%
2048 -0.04% 0.78%
2047 -0.03% 0.84%
2046 -0.01% 0.92%
2045 0.005% 0.87%
2044 0.01% 0.93%
2043 0.02% 1.01%
2042 0.03% 1.07%
2041 0.03% 1.16%
2040 0.04% 1.2%
2039 0.05% 1.3%
2038 0.06% 1.42%
2037 0.05% 1.44%
2036 0.05% 1.61%
2035 0.06% 1.7%
2034 0.07% 1.86%
2033 0.07% 1.92%
2032 0.07% 2.1%
2031 0.08% 2.21%
2030 0.1% 2.5%
2029 0.11% 2.59%
2028 0.11% 2.88%
2027 0.12% 3.09%
2026 0.15% 3.57%
2025 0.19% 4.12%
2024 0.67% 4.57%
2023 0.85% 5.04%
2022 0.81% 3.85%
2021 0.41% 2.75%
2020 0.43% 3.42%
2019 0.54% 3.96%
2018 0.46% 1.84%
2017 0.39% 0.16%
2016 0.51% -1.19%
2015 0.58% -4.19%
2014 0.44% -6.43%
2013 0.47% -4.8%
2012 0.62% -0.52%
2011 1.31% 1.76%
2010 0.92% 2.3%
2009 0.81% 1.57%
2008 0.79% 3.6%
2007 0.74% 6.35%
2006 0.66% 4.37%
2005 0.55% 2.6%
2004 0.43% 2.5%
2003 0.42% 2.41%
2002 0.45% 2.45%
2001 0.34% 2.48%
2000 0.24% 2.53%
1999 0.23% 2.58%
1998 0.21% 2.61%
1997 0.24% 2.66%
1996 0.2% 2.75%
1995 0.21% 2.87%
1994 0.31% 2.99%
1993 0.39% 3.06%
1992 0.41% 3.12%
1991 0.37% 3.19%
1990 0.3% 3.29%
1989 0.36% 3.37%
1988 0.32% 3.45%
1987 0.09% 3.51%
1986 0.04% 3.55%
1985 0.03% 3.58%
1984 -0.002% 3.57%
1983 -0.008% 3.47%
1982 -0.03% 3.37%
1981 -0.003% 3.38%
1980 0.11% 3.41%
1979 0.09% 3.45%
1978 0.09% 3.49%
1977 0.12% 3.49%
1976 0.18% 3.48%
1975 0.29% 3.45%
1974 0.32% 3.43%
1973 0.32% 3.43%
1972 0.39% 3.45%
1971 0.18% 3.41%
1970 0.1% 3.33%
1969 0.28% 3.29%
1968 0.39% 3.26%
1967 0.56% 3.23%
1966 0.68% 3.2%
1965 0.91% 3.15%
1964 0.95% 3.1%
1963 0.75% 3.05%
1962 0.4% 2.99%
1961 0.33% 3.04%

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/syria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Belgium Syria
Current population
11902714
26829400
Population rank 83/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.32%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
29.3 seconds
One birth every
4.75 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
4.75 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline +216 +2,954
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 6/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change +31,989 +421,693
Net migration rank 28/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 30/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - 421,693
2024 - 36,243 - 546,494
2023 0 41,679 402,713 757,309
2022 -2,336 118,615 369,750 735,142
2021 5,793 24,017 350,560 211,220
2020 -12,692 43,777 327,992 269,050
2019 8,042 58,469 293,762 500,985
2018 7,999 50,604 242,530 514,102
2017 10,238 37,981 237,214 -287,501
2016 14,731 28,090 236,007 -124,063
2015 11,274 63,536 253,977 -827,496
2014 21,297 37,472 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 16,739 28,066 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 18,882 45,001 475,520 -999,267
2011 25,388 52,464 543,950 -256,888
2010 23,970 105,232 558,666 -54,359
2009 23,752 97,175 559,314 -52,703
2008 22,491 66,470 576,593 -402,393
2007 23,376 59,911 529,162 801,514
2006 21,096 53,574 480,616 682,911
2005 15,718 50,576 468,960 13,382
2004 16,673 35,143 461,209 10,881
2003 7,263 34,472 457,000 -33,920
2002 7,233 39,404 453,967 -35,096
2001 11,315 34,924 451,503 -36,383
2000 12,302 13,952 446,211 -34,425
1999 9,203 16,849 439,261 -31,394
1998 9,183 12,517 433,447 -26,025
1997 12,218 10,262 429,887 -31,571
1996 12,188 15,684 430,765 -30,197
1995 11,150 1,937 430,172 -28,122
1994 12,139 17,636 426,996 -12,630
1993 14,118 18,542 420,244 -8,828
1992 20,090 25,941 412,878 -4,063
1991 22,010 27,038 410,830 -10,154
1990 19,935 8,299 409,177 -6,620
1989 13,912 7,301 406,111 -8,379
1988 14,853 3,929 404,285 -8,426
1987 11,844 3,525 399,159 -8,335
1986 5,917 2,964 390,821 -9,485
1985 2,958 2,165 379,231 -6,221
1984 4,927 1,697 366,768 -5,245
1983 2,956 1,252 355,375 -9,729
1982 7,885 1,100 319,664 -721
1981 11,831 2,826 330,237 -24,536
1980 10,845 11,482 332,464 -33,114
1979 11,818 11,277 324,943 -32,793
1978 7,872 10,828 316,724 -30,567
1977 8,847 10,460 306,630 -28,275
1976 1,964 10,360 294,267 -26,268
1975 0 9,652 282,299 -24,389
1974 7,818 8,924 270,735 -24,242
1973 11,690 8,684 254,687 -17,502
1972 18,451 8,384 249,027 -17,610
1971 21,281 7,992 239,610 -15,167
1970 23,173 19,393 230,117 -19,594
1969 21,221 20,072 219,114 -18,749
1968 20,199 19,809 209,454 -16,968
1967 31,618 19,492 199,223 -14,618
1966 36,206 18,985 191,122 -13,434
1965 39,748 18,243 182,560 -12,704
1964 51,580 17,687 174,549 -12,044
1963 41,804 16,355 166,555 -11,817
1962 42,414 14,829 159,155 -11,641
1961 52,349 10,566 151,485 -11,237
1960 40,275 9,893 143,687 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/syria | 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 Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 2,349,032 residents or 20% of the population were not native-born in Belgium, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

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
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

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/syria | 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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