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Belgium

Europe · Western Europe · BEL · 30,528 km²
Population
11,858,610
Year 2024

Total number of people living in the country.

Population Density
386.3/km²

How many people live per square kilometer of land.

Life Expectancy
82.4 years
♂ 80.3 / ♀ 84.6

How long a newborn baby can expect to live on average.

Fertility Rate (TFR)
1.47
children per woman

Average number of children born to each woman. About 2.1 is needed to keep population stable.

Median Age
41.8 years

Half the population is younger and half is older than this age.

Net Migration
36,243

Difference between people moving in and out. Positive means more arrivals.

Key demographic indicators for Belgium as of 2024. These numbers give a quick overview of the country's population size, density, birth rates, life expectancy, and migration patterns.

Population Trend

How the total population has changed over the decades. A rising line means the country has been growing, a flat or falling line indicates stagnation or decline.

Population Projection to 2100

Estimated future population based on current trends in birth rates, death rates, and migration. The dashed line shows this is a projection, not actual data.

Birth Rate vs Death Rate

Birth rate (green) vs. death rate (red) per 1,000 people per year. When the birth rate is higher than the death rate, the population grows naturally.

Life Expectancy (Male vs Female)

Average number of years a newborn can expect to live. Blue shows men, red shows women. Women typically live longer in most countries.

Fertility Rate Trend

Total Fertility Rate — the average number of children per woman. A rate of about 2.1 is needed to maintain the population without immigration.

Population Pyramid

Shows the age distribution of the population. Blue bars (left) represent men, red bars (right) represent women. A wide base means a young population, a wide top means an aging population.

Historical Data

Detailed numbers for selected years showing how the country's key indicators have changed over time. Click column headers to sort.

Year Population Growth Rate Fertility Rate (TFR) Life Expectancy Median Age Birth Rate Death Rate
1960 9,153,489 0.00% 2.54 69.7 35.5 16.8‰ 12.4‰
1965 9,463,667 0.91% 2.61 70.6 35.5 16.4‰ 12.2‰
1970 9,655,549 0.10% 2.25 71.0 35.9 14.7‰ 12.3‰
1975 9,800,700 0.29% 1.74 72.0 36.8 12.2‰ 12.2‰
1980 9,859,242 0.11% 1.68 73.2 37.8 12.6‰ 11.5‰
1985 9,858,308 0.03% 1.51 74.5 38.1 11.6‰ 11.3‰
1990 9,967,379 0.30% 1.62 76.1 38.8 12.4‰ 10.4‰
1995 10,136,811 0.21% 1.56 76.8 39.2 11.4‰ 10.3‰
2000 10,251,250 0.24% 1.67 77.7 39.7 11.4‰ 10.2‰
2005 10,478,617 0.55% 1.76 79.0 40.0 11.4‰ 9.9‰
2010 10,895,586 0.91% 1.86 80.2 40.1 11.9‰ 9.7‰
2015 11,274,196 0.58% 1.70 81.0 40.5 10.8‰ 9.8‰
2020 11,538,604 0.43% 1.55 80.7 40.9 9.9‰ 11.0‰
2024 11,858,610 0.67% 1.47 82.4 41.8 9.4‰ 9.4‰
2025 11,937,536 0.67% 1.47 82.5 41.8 9.4‰ 9.4‰
2030 12,323,807 0.62% 1.49 83.0 41.7 9.4‰ 9.4‰
2035 12,694,555 0.58% 1.51 83.5 41.6 9.5‰ 9.3‰
2040 13,047,643 0.53% 1.54 84.0 41.6 9.5‰ 9.3‰
2045 13,380,989 0.49% 1.56 84.5 41.5 9.6‰ 9.3‰
2050 13,692,586 0.44% 1.58 85.0 41.4 9.6‰ 9.3‰
2055 13,980,526 0.40% 1.60 85.5 41.3 9.6‰ 9.2‰
2060 14,243,011 0.36% 1.62 86.0 41.3 9.7‰ 9.2‰
2065 14,478,380 0.31% 1.65 86.5 41.2 9.7‰ 9.2‰
2070 14,685,123 0.27% 1.67 87.0 41.1 9.8‰ 9.2‰
2075 14,861,896 0.22% 1.69 87.5 41.0 9.8‰ 9.1‰
2080 15,007,538 0.18% 1.71 88.0 41.0 9.8‰ 9.1‰
2085 15,121,081 0.13% 1.73 88.5 40.9 9.9‰ 9.1‰
2090 15,201,764 0.09% 1.76 89.0 40.8 9.9‰ 9.1‰
2095 15,249,038 0.04% 1.78 89.5 40.7 10.0‰ 9.0‰
2100 15,262,575 0.00% 1.80 90.0 40.7 10.0‰ 9.0‰

About Country — Belgium

Belgium is a country in Europe (Western Europe) with a total population of 11,858,610 as of 2024. It covers an area of 30,528 km², resulting in a population density of 386.3 people per km².

The average life expectancy is 82.4 years (80.3 for men, 84.6 for women). The fertility rate stands at 1.47 children per woman, and the median age of the population is 41.8 years.

The country's population growth rate is 0.67% per year. Net migration is 36,243 people, indicating that more people are moving into the country than leaving. The infant mortality rate is 3.0 per 1,000 live births.

Demographic Profile

Belgium is located in Western Europe, a part of Europe, and covers an area of 30,528 km². With a population of 11,858,610, the country has a population density of 386.3 inhabitants per square kilometer, which is above the global average of approximately 60 people per km².

The demographic structure of Belgium reveals an aging population. The median age of 41.8 years means that half of the population is younger and half is older than this age. This aging population structure poses challenges for pension systems, healthcare provision, and the labor market, as the ratio of working-age to retired individuals continues to decline.

Health and Longevity

Life expectancy in Belgium stands at 82.4 years overall — 80.3 years for men and 84.6 years for women. This places the country among those with high life expectancy globally, reflecting well-developed healthcare systems and living standards. The infant mortality rate is 3.0 per 1,000 live births, which is considered very low and indicates excellent maternal and infant healthcare.

Fertility and Population Growth

The total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.47 children per woman is below the replacement level of 2.1, which without immigration leads to population decline over time. The population is growing at a rate of 0.67% per year. This moderate growth rate reflects a balance between natural increase and migration patterns.

Migration

Net migration in Belgium is 36,243 people, meaning more people are moving into the country than leaving. The country serves as a destination for migrants, which helps offset low natural population growth and fills labor market needs.

Outlook

Based on current demographic trends, Belgium's population dynamics reflect broader patterns seen across Western Europe. As the population ages, adapting social security systems and healthcare to serve a growing elderly population will be a key challenge.

Year Reviews

2024

In 2024, Belgium had a population of 11,858,610. Located in Europe (Western Europe), the country experienced a population growth rate of 0.67%.

The total fertility rate stood at 1.47 children per woman. Life expectancy was 82.4 years overall, with men averaging 80.3 years and women 84.6 years. The median age of the population was 41.8 years.

The crude birth rate was 9.4 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 9.4 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 36,243 people. The infant mortality rate was 3.0 per 1,000 live births.

2000

In 2000, Belgium had a population of 10,251,250. Located in Europe (Western Europe), the country experienced a population growth rate of 0.24%.

The total fertility rate stood at 1.67 children per woman. Life expectancy was 77.7 years overall, with men averaging 74.6 years and women 81.0 years. The median age of the population was 39.7 years.

The crude birth rate was 11.4 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 10.2 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 13,952 people. The infant mortality rate was 4.8 per 1,000 live births.

1974

In 1974, Belgium had a population of 9,772,419. Located in Europe (Western Europe), the country experienced a population growth rate of 0.31%.

The total fertility rate stood at 1.83 children per woman. Life expectancy was 72.0 years overall, with men averaging 68.8 years and women 75.3 years. The median age of the population was 36.6 years.

The crude birth rate was 12.7 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 11.9 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 8,924 people. The infant mortality rate was 16.6 per 1,000 live births.

1964

In 1964, Belgium had a population of 9,378,113. Located in Europe (Western Europe), the country experienced a population growth rate of 0.95%.

The total fertility rate stood at 2.71 children per woman. Life expectancy was 70.8 years overall, with men averaging 67.8 years and women 73.9 years. The median age of the population was 35.5 years.

The crude birth rate was 17.2 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 11.7 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 17,687 people. The infant mortality rate was 25.0 per 1,000 live births.

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