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Population in Belgium compared to the Vatican: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Belgium was 11,858,610 in 2024 vs 1,000 people in the Vatican in 2019. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Belgium's population is 11,902,714 people compared to 936 in the Vatican.

Population statistics:

  • Belgium's population is 12,717 times bigger than the Vatican's.
  • Belgium is ranked the 83rd most populous country in the world, while the Vatican is the 197th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.14% for Belgium vs 0.00001% for the Vatican.
  • For the last 10 years, Belgium has had an average growth rate of +0.55% per year vs +1.9% in the Vatican.
  • Since 2006, the population of Belgium has increased from 10.5M people to 11.9M (12.8% growth), while the Vatican has grown from 932 to 936 (0.43% growth).

Belgium vs Vatican: population by year and forecast

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Belgium Vatican
2100 11,193,616 2,521
2099 11,211,908 2,506
2098 11,230,002 2,497
2097 11,246,180 2,482
2096 11,261,636 2,469
2095 11,277,513 2,452
2094 11,293,934 2,435
2093 11,309,421 2,421
2092 11,325,500 2,400
2091 11,339,887 2,384
2090 11,354,304 2,359
2089 11,368,748 2,337
2088 11,384,019 2,319
2087 11,399,441 2,291
2086 11,413,731 2,269
2085 11,427,305 2,248
2084 11,441,192 2,217
2083 11,454,476 2,183
2082 11,468,827 2,159
2081 11,480,917 2,129
2080 11,494,860 2,105
2079 11,507,804 2,089
2078 11,522,057 2,068
2077 11,534,819 2,050
2076 11,546,262 2,025
2075 11,558,154 2,001
2074 11,571,164 1,970
2073 11,584,391 1,944
2072 11,597,605 1,912
2071 11,611,079 1,866
2070 11,627,079 1,829
2069 11,643,296 1,795
2068 11,660,663 1,777
2067 11,677,909 1,755
2066 11,696,417 1,729
2065 11,716,114 1,701
2064 11,736,957 1,679
2063 11,758,738 1,651
2062 11,780,812 1,623
2061 11,804,421 1,595
2060 11,825,799 1,556
2059 11,847,336 1,530
2058 11,867,449 1,512
2057 11,890,466 1,493
2056 11,911,901 1,469
2055 11,931,594 1,441
2054 11,950,146 1,419
2053 11,968,395 1,382
2052 11,984,694 1,358
2051 11,998,099 1,335
2050 12,008,766 1,311
2049 12,017,817 1,283
2048 12,024,879 1,256
2047 12,029,815 1,237
2046 12,032,975 1,215
2045 12,034,718 1,192
2044 12,034,116 1,174
2043 12,032,908 1,152
2042 12,030,714 1,135
2041 12,026,814 1,105
2040 12,023,124 1,070
2039 12,018,547 1,033
2038 12,012,586 1,001
2037 12,005,650 996
2036 11,999,298 1,001
2035 11,992,761 988
2034 11,985,730 988
2033 11,977,334 974
2032 11,969,302 964
2031 11,960,910 977
2030 11,951,381 979
2029 11,939,712 985
2028 11,927,038 983
2027 11,913,457 946
2026 11,898,731 933
2025 11,881,020 927
2024 11,858,610 910
2023 11,779,946 927
2022 11,680,210 951
2021 11,586,195 972
2020 11,538,604 987
2019 11,488,980 1,000
2018 11,427,054 -
2017 11,375,158 1,000
2016 11,331,422 -
2015 11,274,196 1,000
2014 11,209,057 842
2013 11,159,407 839
2012 11,106,932 836
2011 11,038,264 832
2010 10,895,586 829
2009 10,796,493 826
2008 10,709,973 824
2007 10,625,700 821
2006 10,547,958 932
2005 10,478,617 921
2004 10,421,137 921
2003 10,376,133 911
2002 10,332,785 900
2001 10,286,570 890
2000 10,251,250 880
1999 10,226,419 -
1998 10,203,008 -
1997 10,181,245 -
1996 10,156,637 -
1995 10,136,811 -
1994 10,115,603 -
1993 10,084,475 -
1992 10,045,158 -
1991 10,004,486 -
1990 9,967,379 -
1989 9,937,697 -
1988 9,901,664 -
1987 9,870,234 -
1986 9,861,823 -
1985 9,858,308 -
1984 9,855,372 -
1983 9,855,520 -
1982 9,856,303 -
1981 9,858,982 -
1980 9,859,242 -
1979 9,848,382 -
1978 9,839,534 -
1977 9,830,358 -
1976 9,818,227 -
1975 9,800,700 -
1974 9,772,419 -
1973 9,741,720 -
1972 9,711,115 -
1971 9,673,162 -
1970 9,655,549 -
1969 9,646,032 -
1968 9,618,756 -
1967 9,580,991 -
1966 9,527,807 -
1965 9,463,667 -
1964 9,378,113 -
1963 9,289,770 -
1962 9,220,578 -
1961 9,183,948 -
1960 9,153,489 -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/vatican | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Belgium increased by 783,464 people (a 7.43% growth), while the Vatican gained 68 people (a 7.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Belgium gained 571,292 people (a 5.04% growth), while the Vatican's population decreased by 64 people (a 6.4% decline).

Belgium was ranked 77th most populous country in 2006 and is 83rd in 2026. The Vatican was ranked 197th in 2006 and still ranked 197th 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 the Vatican will increase by 40.1% to 1,311 people and will still be ranked 197th.

Belgium is projected to reach its peak in 2045 at 12M people compared to the peak of 2.52K people in 2100 for the Vatican.

Population growth rate by year

Belgium
Factual

Projection
Vatican
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Belgium Vatican
2100 -0.16% 0.59%
2099 -0.16% 0.37%
2098 -0.14% 0.6%
2097 -0.14% 0.53%
2096 -0.14% 0.68%
2095 -0.15% 0.69%
2094 -0.14% 0.61%
2093 -0.14% 0.85%
2092 -0.13% 0.7%
2091 -0.13% 1.02%
2090 -0.13% 0.95%
2089 -0.13% 0.8%
2088 -0.14% 1.21%
2087 -0.13% 0.98%
2086 -0.12% 0.91%
2085 -0.12% 1.42%
2084 -0.12% 1.53%
2083 -0.13% 1.12%
2082 -0.11% 1.39%
2081 -0.12% 1.15%
2080 -0.11% 0.8%
2079 -0.12% 0.99%
2078 -0.11% 0.9%
2077 -0.1% 1.19%
2076 -0.1% 1.2%
2075 -0.11% 1.6%
2074 -0.11% 1.34%
2073 -0.11% 1.65%
2072 -0.12% 2.49%
2071 -0.14% 2.03%
2070 -0.14% 1.86%
2069 -0.15% 1.04%
2068 -0.15% 1.27%
2067 -0.16% 1.5%
2066 -0.17% 1.64%
2065 -0.18% 1.33%
2064 -0.19% 1.69%
2063 -0.19% 1.71%
2062 -0.2% 1.74%
2061 -0.18% 2.5%
2060 -0.18% 1.7%
2059 -0.17% 1.23%
2058 -0.19% 1.24%
2057 -0.18% 1.64%
2056 -0.17% 1.93%
2055 -0.16% 1.57%
2054 -0.15% 2.68%
2053 -0.14% 1.78%
2052 -0.11% 1.67%
2051 -0.09% 1.84%
2050 -0.08% 2.17%
2049 -0.06% 2.22%
2048 -0.04% 1.5%
2047 -0.03% 1.83%
2046 -0.01% 1.87%
2045 0.005% 1.58%
2044 0.01% 1.93%
2043 0.02% 1.47%
2042 0.03% 2.68%
2041 0.03% 3.29%
2040 0.04% 3.59%
2039 0.05% 3.15%
2038 0.06% 0.56%
2037 0.05% -0.56%
2036 0.05% 1.31%
2035 0.06% 0%
2034 0.07% 1.52%
2033 0.07% 0.96%
2032 0.07% -1.33%
2031 0.08% -0.19%
2030 0.1% -0.56%
2029 0.11% 0.19%
2028 0.11% 3.92%
2027 0.12% 1.39%
2026 0.15% 0.6%
2025 0.19% 1.83%
2024 0.67% -1.8%
2023 0.85% -2.53%
2022 0.81% -2.1%
2021 0.41% -1.5%
2020 0.43% -1.3%
2019 0.54% 0%
2018 0.46% 0%
2017 0.39% 0%
2016 0.51% 0%
2015 0.58% 18.8%
2014 0.44% 0.36%
2013 0.47% 0.36%
2012 0.62% 0.48%
2011 1.31% 0.36%
2010 0.92% 0.36%
2009 0.81% 0.24%
2008 0.79% 0.37%
2007 0.74% -11.9%
2006 0.66% 1.19%
2005 0.55% 0%
2004 0.43% 1.1%
2003 0.42% 1.22%
2002 0.45% 1.12%
2001 0.34% 1.14%
2000 0.24% -
1999 0.23% -
1998 0.21% -
1997 0.24% -
1996 0.2% -
1995 0.21% -
1994 0.31% -
1993 0.39% -
1992 0.41% -
1991 0.37% -
1990 0.3% -
1989 0.36% -
1988 0.32% -
1987 0.09% -
1986 0.04% -
1985 0.03% -
1984 -0.002% -
1983 -0.008% -
1982 -0.03% -
1981 -0.003% -
1980 0.11% -
1979 0.09% -
1978 0.09% -
1977 0.12% -
1976 0.18% -
1975 0.29% -
1974 0.32% -
1973 0.32% -
1972 0.39% -
1971 0.18% -
1970 0.1% -
1969 0.28% -
1968 0.39% -
1967 0.56% -
1966 0.68% -
1965 0.91% -
1964 0.95% -
1963 0.75% -
1962 0.4% -
1961 0.33% -

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2020–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2001–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/vatican | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Belgium grew by 0.67%, while the Vatican's population declined by 0%.

Live population counters

Belgium Vatican
Current population
11902714
936
Population rank 83/197 197/197
Percent of world population 0.14% 0.00001%
One net population change
6.68 minutes
1 month
One birth every
4.75 minutes
n/a
One death every
4.75 minutes
n/a
Daily growth/decline +216 +0
Annual growth/decline +78,664 +0
Annual growth/decline rate +0.67% +0%
Population growth rate rank 119/197 163/197
One migration net change every
16.5 minutes
n/a
Annual migration change +31,989 n/a
Net migration rank 28/196
Foreign-born residents 2,349,032 n/a
Foreign-born residents rank 30/195
Foreign-born share of population 20% n/a
Foreign-born share rank 30/195

Natural population change vs migration

Belgium
Natural

Migration
Vatican
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Belgium Vatican
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 31,989 - -
2024 - 36,243 - -
2023 0 41,679 - -
2022 -2,336 118,615 - -
2021 5,793 24,017 - -
2020 -12,692 43,777 - -
2019 8,042 58,469 - -
2018 7,999 50,604 - -
2017 10,238 37,981 - -
2016 14,731 28,090 - -
2015 11,274 63,536 - -
2014 21,297 37,472 - -
2013 16,739 28,066 - -
2012 18,882 45,001 - -
2011 25,388 52,464 - -
2010 23,970 105,232 - -
2009 23,752 97,175 - -
2008 22,491 66,470 - -
2007 23,376 59,911 - -
2006 21,096 53,574 - -
2005 15,718 50,576 - -
2004 16,673 35,143 - -
2003 7,263 34,472 - -
2002 7,233 39,404 - -
2001 11,315 34,924 - -
2000 12,302 13,952 - -
1999 9,203 16,849 - -
1998 9,183 12,517 - -
1997 12,218 10,262 - -
1996 12,188 15,684 - -
1995 11,150 1,937 - -
1994 12,139 17,636 - -
1993 14,118 18,542 - -
1992 20,090 25,941 - -
1991 22,010 27,038 - -
1990 19,935 8,299 - -
1989 13,912 7,301 - -
1988 14,853 3,929 - -
1987 11,844 3,525 - -
1986 5,917 2,964 - -
1985 2,958 2,165 - -
1984 4,927 1,697 - -
1983 2,956 1,252 - -
1982 7,885 1,100 - -
1981 11,831 2,826 - -
1980 10,845 11,482 - -
1979 11,818 11,277 - -
1978 7,872 10,828 - -
1977 8,847 10,460 - -
1976 1,964 10,360 - -
1975 0 9,652 - -
1974 7,818 8,924 - -
1973 11,690 8,684 - -
1972 18,451 8,384 - -
1971 21,281 7,992 - -
1970 23,173 19,393 - -
1969 21,221 20,072 - -
1968 20,199 19,809 - -
1967 31,618 19,492 - -
1966 36,206 18,985 - -
1965 39,748 18,243 - -
1964 51,580 17,687 - -
1963 41,804 16,355 - -
1962 42,414 14,829 - -
1961 52,349 10,566 - -
1960 40,275 9,893 - -

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

GeoRank.org/population/belgium/vatican | CC BY

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
Vatican
City Population
Vatican City 882

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population differences between Belgium and the Vatican

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/vatican | 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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