# Demographics of Belgium

Demographic features of the population of Belgium include ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects. All figures are from the National Institute for Statistics unless otherwise indicated.

## Population

As of January 1, 2024, Belgium had a population of 11,763,650 and is the 81st most populous country in the world. The population of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels on January 1, 2024 was 6,821,770 (58.0% of Belgium), 3,692,283 (31.4% of Belgium) and 1,249,597 (10.6% of Belgium), respectively. The population density of Belgium is 383/km$^2$ (990/sq mi) as of January 1, 2024, making it the 38th most densely populated country in the world, and the 7th most densely populated country in Europe. The most densely populated province is Antwerp, the least densely populated province is Luxembourg.
As of January 1, 2020, Belgium had a population of 11,492,641, as compared to 2010 (10,839,905 people) an increase of about 653,000. 2010 compared to 2000 (10,239,085 people), an increase of about 601,000 people. 2000 compared to 1990 (9,947,782 people), an increase of about 291,000 people.
The following demographic statistics are from the World Population Review in 2019.
* One birth every 4 minutes
* One death every 5 minutes
* One net migrant every 12 minutes
* Net gain of one person every 9 minutes

### Life expectancy

Sources: Our World In Data and the United Nations.
1841–1950
| Years | 1841 | 1842 | 1843 | 1844 | 1845 | 1846 | 1847 | 1848 | 1849 | 1850 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 40.3 | 38.6 | 40.4 | 41.9 | 41.0 | 37.8 | 35.1 | 38.0 | 35.0 | 42.3 |
| Years | 1851 | 1852 | 1853 | 1854 | 1855 | 1856 | 1857 | 1858 | 1859 | 1860 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 41.9 | 41.8 | 41.3 | 39.7 | 37.4 | 40.9 | 40.4 | 40.1 | 38.9 | 45.1 |
| Years | 1861 | 1862 | 1863 | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 | 1870 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 41.2 | 43.1 | 41.3 | 39.8 | 37.7 | 32.4 | 43.0 | 42.5 | 42.6 | 40.9 |
| Years | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 | 1880 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 34.3 | 40.0 | 43.5 | 44.7 | 42.1 | 43.7 | 44.5 | 44.2 | 43.8 | 42.4 |
| Years | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 | 1890 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 44.4 | 45.5 | 44.9 | 44.2 | 45.4 | 43.3 | 46.0 | 44.9 | 45.0 | 44.1 |
| Years | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 | 1900 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 44.0 | 43.1 | 44.4 | 46.6 | 45.4 | 48.0 | 48.8 | 48.1 | 46.5 | 46.5 |
| Years | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904 | 1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909 | 1910 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 49.4 | 49.1 | 49.2 | 49.3 | 49.9 | 49.6 | 51.0 | 49.6 | 50.6 | 51.3 |
| Years | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1919 | 1920 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 49.2 | 52.3 | 52.4 | 49.8 | 53.6 |
| Years | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 54.7 | 55.1 | 56.7 | 57.4 | 57.1 | 56.9 | 57.1 | 57.4 | 55.0 | 57.1 |
| Years | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 58.4 | 58.5 | 58.7 | 60.3 | 59.9 | 59.9 | 60.0 | 60.1 | 60.0 | 55.9 |
| Years | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 |
| Life expectancy in Belgium | 58.9 | 59.1 | 60.3 | 56.9 | 58.4 | 61.9 | 63.4 | 64.9 | 65.4 | 66.3 |
1950–2015
| Period | Life expectancy in Years | Period | Life expectancy in Years |
| 1950–1955 | 67.8 | 1985–1990 | 75.3 |
| 1955–1960 | 69.5 | 1990–1995 | 76.4 |
| 1960–1965 | 70.3 | 1995–2000 | 77.4 |
| 1965–1970 | 70.7 | 2000–2005 | 78.4 |
| 1970–1975 | 71.5 | 2005–2010 | 79.6 |
| 1975–1980 | 72.7 | 2010–2015 | 80.5 |
| 1980–1985 | 73.9 | 2015–2020 | 81.44 |
Source: UN World Population Prospects
Life expectancy at birth; total population: 81.65 years. Country comparison to the world: 32nd
    male: 79.02 years
    female: 84.4 years (2021 est.)

### Fertility

The total fertility rate (TFR) gradually increased during the last decade from 1.60 in 1997, 1.65 in 2002 and 1.82 in 2007. The rates in Brussels are higher than the national average (1.79 in 1997, 1.93 in 2002 and 2.09 in 2007), while they are below the average in Flanders (1.54 in 1997, 1.56 in 2002 and 1.77 in 2007), due to the higher percentage of non-European immigrants with higher birth rates in Brussels.
The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is based on fairly good data for the entire period. Sources: Our World In Data and Gapminder Foundation.
| Years | 1830 | 1831 | 1832 | 1833 | 1834 | 1835 | 1836 | 1837 | 1838 | 1839 | 1840 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Belgium | 4.72 | 4.77 | 4.82 | 4.87 | 4.92 | 4.97 | 4.97 | 4.98 | 4.98 | 4.99 | 5 |
| Years | 1841 | 1842 | 1843 | 1844 | 1845 | 1846 | 1847 | 1848 | 1849 | 1850 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Belgium | 4.94 | 4.88 | 4.82 | 4.76 | 4.7 | 4.64 | 4.58 | 4.51 | 4.45 | 4.38 |
| Years | 1851 | 1852 | 1853 | 1854 | 1855 | 1856 | 1857 | 1858 | 1859 | 1860 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Belgium | 4.32 | 4.25 | 4.18 | 4.25 | 4.31 | 4.38 | 4.44 | 4.51 | 4.53 | 4.56 |
| Years | 1861 | 1862 | 1863 | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 | 1870 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Belgium | 4.58 | 4.61 | 4.63 | 4.66 | 4.68 | 4.71 | 4.73 | 4.76 | 4.78 | 4.8 |
| Years | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 | 1875 | 1876 | 1877 | 1878 | 1879 | 1880 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Belgium | 4.83 | 4.85 | 4.87 | 4.85 | 4.83 | 4.82 | 4.8 | 4.78 | 4.75 | 4.71 |
| Years | 1881 | 1882 | 1883 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1888 | 1889 | 1890 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Belgium | 4.68 | 4.64 | 4.61 | 4.55 | 4.49 | 4.42 | 4.36 | 4.3 | 4.27 | 4.25 |
| Years | 1891 | 1892 | 1893 | 1894 | 1895 | 1896 | 1897 | 1898 | 1899 |
| Total Fertility Rate in Belgium | 4.22 | 4.2 | 4.17 | 4.13 | 4.09 | 4.06 | 4.02 | 3.98 | 3.91 |
Total fertility rate; 1.71 children born/woman (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 160st
Birth rate; 11.03 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 175st
Mother's mean age at first birth; 29 years (2018 est.)

### Age structure

    0–14 years: 17.22% (male 1,033,383/female 984,624)
    15–24 years: 11.2% (male 670,724/female 642,145)
    25–54 years: 39.23% (male 2,319,777/female 2,278,450)
    55–64 years: 13.14% (male 764,902/female 775,454)
    65 years and over: 19.21% (male 988,148/female 1,263,109)
Median age in 2020 (estimation); total: 41.6 years.
    male: 40.4 years
    female: 42.8 years

### Density

Urbanization; urban population: 98.1% of total population (2020)
    rate of urbanization: 0.62% annual rate of change (2015–20 est.)

## Vital statistics

Note: Territorial changes in East-Belgium occurred in 1925, 1940 and 1944.
| | Average population (January 1) | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1,000) | Crude death rate (per 1,000) | Natural change (per 1,000) | Crude migration change (per 1,000) | Total fertility rates |
| 1900 | 6,719,000 | 193,230 | 126,633 | 66,597 | 28.8 | 18.8 | 9.9 | −5.7 | 3.84 |
| 1901 | 6,747,000 | 199,068 | 113,136 | 85,932 | 29.5 | 16.8 | 12.7 | 2.3 | 3.79 |
| 1902 | 6,848,000 | 195,076 | 116,075 | 79,001 | 28.5 | 17.0 | 11.5 | 2.1 | 3.73 |
| 1903 | 6,941,000 | 191,563 | 115,884 | 75,679 | 27.6 | 16.7 | 10.9 | 1.9 | 3.68 |
| 1904 | 7,030,000 | 191,067 | 117,097 | 73,970 | 27.2 | 16.7 | 10.5 | 2.0 | 3.63 |
| 1905 | 7,118,000 | 186,665 | 115,486 | 71,179 | 26.2 | 16.2 | 10.0 | 1.5 | 3.57 |
| 1906 | 7,200,000 | 185,508 | 115,514 | 69,994 | 25.8 | 16.0 | 9.7 | 1.1 | 3.52 |
| 1907 | 7,278,000 | 184,371 | 112,656 | 71,715 | 25.3 | 15.5 | 9.9 | 0.3 | 3.47 |
| 1908 | 7,352,000 | 183,046 | 118,997 | 64,049 | 24.9 | 16.2 | 8.7 | 0.4 | 3.42 |
| 1909 | 7,419,000 | 175,714 | 115,027 | 60,687 | 23.7 | 15.5 | 8.2 | −5.6 | 3.95 |
| 1910 | 7,438,000 | 175,768 | 110,403 | 65,365 | 23.6 | 14.8 | 8.8 | −6.2 | 3.31 |
| 1911 | 7,457,000 | 171,029 | 119,896 | 51,133 | 22.9 | 16.1 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 3.26 |
| 1912 | 7,531,000 | 170,465 | 109,405 | 61,060 | 22.6 | 14.5 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 3.2 |
| 1913 | 7,605,000 | 170,102 | 108,296 | 61,806 | 22.4 | 14.2 | 8.1 | -0.6 | 3.15 |
| 1914 | 7,662,000 | 156,389 | 108,720 | 47,669 | 20.4 | 14.2 | 6.2 | −1.6 | 3.22 |
| 1915 | 7,697,000 | 124,291 | 100,674 | 23,617 | 16.1 | 13.1 | 3.1 | −2.6 | 3.04 |
| 1916 | 7,701,000 | 99,360 | 101,044 | −1,684 | 12.9 | 13.1 | −0.2 | −4.2 | 2.99 |
| 1917 | 7,667,000 | 86,675 | 124,824 | −38,149 | 11.3 | 16.3 | −5.0 | −3.9 | 2.94 |
| 1918 | 7,599,000 | 85,056 | 157,340 | −72,284 | 11.2 | 20.7 | −9.5 | 5.2 | 2.89 |
| 1919 | 7,566,000 | 128,236 | 112,986 | 15,250 | 16.9 | 14.9 | 2.0 | −11.9 | 2.87 |
| 1920 | 7,491,000 | 164,257 | 102,706 | 61,551 | 21.9 | 13.7 | 8.2 | −14.5 | 2.78 |
| 1921 | 7,444,000 | 162,401 | 100,468 | 61,933 | 21.8 | 13.5 | 8.3 | 0.7 | 2.73 |
| 1922 | 7,511,000 | 152,779 | 104,155 | 48,624 | 20.3 | 13.9 | 6.5 | 1.8 | 2.67 |
| 1923 | 7,573,000 | 156,005 | 99,113 | 56,892 | 20.6 | 13.1 | 7.5 | 2.1 | 2.62 |
| 1924 | 7,646,000 | 153,387 | 98,332 | 55,055 | 20.1 | 12.9 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 2.57 |
| 1925 | 7,748,000 | 153,190 | 99,569 | 53,621 | 19.8 | 12.9 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 2.51 |
| 1926 | 7,843,000 | 148,840 | 101,018 | 47,822 | 19.0 | 12.9 | 6.1 | 1.6 | 2.46 |
| 1927 | 7,903,000 | 144,211 | 103,007 | 41,204 | 18.2 | 13.0 | 5.2 | 3.0 | 2.41 |
| 1928 | 7,968,000 | 145,953 | 102,270 | 43,683 | 18.3 | 12.8 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 2.36 |
| 1929 | 8,032,000 | 145,542 | 115,901 | 29,641 | 18.1 | 14.4 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| 1930 | 8,076,000 | 150,271 | 103,397 | 46,874 | 18.6 | 12.8 | 5.8 | 0.4 | 2.25 |
| 1931 | 8,126,000 | 147,489 | 103,773 | 43,716 | 18.2 | 12.8 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 2.22 |
| 1932 | 8,186,000 | 143,824 | 104,221 | 39,603 | 17.6 | 12.7 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 2.19 |
| 1933 | 8,231,000 | 134,754 | 104,640 | 30,114 | 16.4 | 12.7 | 3.7 | 0.1 | 2.08 |
| 1934 | 8,262,000 | 131,736 | 96,851 | 34,885 | 15.9 | 11.7 | 4.2 | −1.1 | 2.04 |
| 1935 | 8,288,000 | 126,304 | 102,132 | 24,172 | 15.2 | 12.3 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 1.94 |
| 1936 | 8,315,000 | 125,511 | 101,595 | 23,916 | 15.1 | 12.2 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.95 |
| 1937 | 8,346,000 | 125,495 | 104,163 | 21,332 | 15.0 | 12.5 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 1.99 |
| 1938 | 8,374,000 | 130,133 | 104,684 | 25,449 | 15.5 | 12.5 | 3.0 | −1.0 | 2.11 |
| 1939 | 8,391,000 | 126,257 | 110,393 | 15,864 | 15.0 | 13.2 | 1.9 | −12.6 | 2.1 |
| 1940 | 8,301,000 | 110,323 | 125,083 | −14,760 | 13.3 | 15.1 | −1.8 | −1.2 | 1.84 |
| 1941 | 8,276,000 | 98,417 | 118,670 | −20,253 | 11.9 | 14.3 | −2.4 | −1.2 | 1.66 |
| 1942 | 8,246,000 | 105,749 | 117,291 | −11,542 | 12.8 | 14.2 | −1.4 | 0.8 | 1.81 |
| 1943 | 8,241,000 | 120,665 | 107,767 | 12,898 | 14.6 | 13.1 | 1.6 | 4.5 | 2.06 |
| 1944 | 8,291,000 | 124,075 | 124,861 | −786 | 15.0 | 15.1 | −0.1 | 5.9 | 2.12 |
| 1945 | 8,339,000 | 127,245 | 121,155 | 6,090 | 15.3 | 14.5 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 2.17 |
| 1946 | 8,367,000 | 146,731 | 110,413 | 36,318 | 17.5 | 13.2 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 2.53 |
| 1947 | 8,450,000 | 144,979 | 108,136 | 36,843 | 17.2 | 12.8 | 4.4 | 8.3 | 2.47 |
| 1948 | 8,557,000 | 148,210 | 103,576 | 44,634 | 17.3 | 12.1 | 5.2 | 1.5 | 2.45 |
| 1949 | 8,614,000 | 144,670 | 106,704 | 37,966 | 16.8 | 12.4 | 4.4 | −1.5 | 2.39 |
| 1950 | 8,639,000 | 142,970 | 104,039 | 38,931 | 16.5 | 12.0 | 4.5 | 0 | 2.33 |
| 1951 | 8,678,000 | 142,524 | 107,688 | 34,836 | 16.4 | 12.4 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.34 |
| 1952 | 8,730,000 | 146,142 | 103,624 | 42,518 | 16.7 | 11.9 | 4.9 | 0.6 | 2.35 |
| 1953 | 8,778,000 | 146,522 | 106,024 | 40,498 | 16.7 | 12.1 | 4.6 | 0.1 | 2.37 |
| 1954 | 8,819,000 | 148,128 | 104,795 | 43,333 | 16.8 | 11.9 | 4.9 | 0.7 | 2.4 |
| 1955 | 8,868,000 | 148,798 | 108,316 | 40,482 | 16.8 | 12.2 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 2.42 |
| 1956 | 8,924,000 | 150,181 | 108,016 | 42,165 | 16.8 | 12.1 | 4.7 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
| 1957 | 8,989,000 | 152,388 | 107,236 | 45,152 | 17.0 | 11.9 | 5.0 | 2.1 | 2.49 |
| 1958 | 9,053,000 | 155,694 | 105,746 | 49,948 | 17.2 | 11.7 | 5.5 | 0.1 | 2.53 |
| 1959 | 9,104,000 | 160,662 | 103,513 | 57,149 | 17.6 | 11.4 | 6.3 | −0.9 | 2.57 |
| 1960 | 9,153,000 | 155,520 | 113,106 | 42,414 | 17.0 | 12.4 | 4.6 | −1.2 | 2.6 |
| 1961 | 9,184,000 | 158,262 | 106,259 | 52,003 | 17.2 | 11.6 | 5.7 | 1.6 | 2.64 |
| 1962 | 9,251,000 | 154,338 | 111,545 | 42,793 | 16.7 | 12.1 | 4.6 | 3.7 | 2.59 |
| 1963 | 9,328,000 | 158,196 | 115,618 | 42,578 | 17.0 | 12.4 | 4.6 | 6.1 | 2.68 |
| 1964 | 9,428,000 | 160,371 | 109,342 | 51,029 | 17.0 | 11.6 | 5.4 | 2.1 | 2.71 |
| 1965 | 9,499,000 | 154,856 | 114,507 | 40,349 | 16.3 | 12.1 | 4.2 | −1.1 | 2.62 |
| 1966 | 9,528,000 | 150,636 | 114,557 | 36,079 | 15.8 | 12.0 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 2.52 |
| 1967 | 9,581,000 | 145,899 | 114,509 | 31,390 | 15.2 | 12.0 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 2.41 |
| 1968 | 9,619,000 | 141,242 | 121,275 | 19,967 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.31 |
| 1969 | 9,660,000 | 140,834 | 119,375 | 21,459 | 14.6 | 12.4 | 2.2 | −2.6 | 2.27 |
| 1970 | 9,656,000 | 141,119 | 119,623 | 21,496 | 14.6 | 12.4 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.25 |
| 1971 | 9,695,000 | 139,104 | 118,853 | 20,251 | 14.3 | 12.3 | 2.1 | −0.4 | 2.21 |
| 1972 | 9,711,000 | 134,437 | 116,743 | 17,694 | 13.8 | 12.0 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 2.09 |
| 1973 | 9,742,000 | 129,425 | 118,313 | 11,112 | 13.3 | 12.1 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 1.95 |
| 1974 | 9,772,000 | 123,155 | 116,039 | 7,116 | 12.6 | 11.9 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 1.83 |
| 1975 | 9,801,000 | 119,273 | 119,273 | 0 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.74 |
| 1976 | 9,818,000 | 120,472 | 118,765 | 1,707 | 12.3 | 12.1 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.72 |
| 1977 | 9,830,000 | 121,523 | 112,208 | 9,315 | 12.4 | 11.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.71 |
| 1978 | 9,840,000 | 121,983 | 115,060 | 6,923 | 12.4 | 11.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.69 |
| 1979 | 9,848,000 | 123,658 | 112,156 | 11,502 | 12.6 | 11.4 | 1.2 | −1.1 | 1.69 |
| 1980 | 9,849,000 | 124,794 | 114,364 | 10,430 | 12.7 | 11.6 | 1.1 | −0.1 | 1.69 |
| 1981 | 9,859,000 | 124,827 | 113,308 | 11,519 | 12.7 | 11.5 | 1.2 | −1.5 | 1.67 |
| 1982 | 9,856,000 | 120,382 | 112,506 | 7,876 | 12.2 | 11.4 | 0.8 | −0.8 | 1.61 |
| 1983 | 9,856,000 | 117,395 | 114,814 | 2,581 | 11.9 | 11.6 | 0.3 | −0.4 | 1.56 |
| 1984 | 9,855,000 | 115,790 | 110,577 | 5,213 | 11.7 | 11.2 | 0.5 | −0.2 | 1.53 |
| 1985 | 9,858,000 | 114,283 | 112,691 | 1,592 | 11.6 | 11.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.51 |
| 1986 | 9,862,000 | 117,271 | 111,671 | 5,600 | 11.9 | 11.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.54 |
| 1987 | 9,870,000 | 117,448 | 105,840 | 11,608 | 11.9 | 10.7 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.57 |
| 1988 | 9,902,000 | 118,764 | 104,551 | 14,213 | 12.0 | 10.6 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 1.57 |
| 1989 | 9,938,000 | 120,550 | 107,332 | 13,218 | 12.1 | 10.8 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.58 |
| 1990 | 9,967,000 | 123,554 | 104,545 | 19,009 | 12.4 | 10.5 | 1.9 | −0.7 | 1.62 |
| 1991 | 9,978,681 | 125,412 | 104,223 | 21,189 | 12.5 | 10.4 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 1.66 |
| 1992 | 10,021,997 | 125,322 | 103,858 | 21,464 | 12.5 | 10.3 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 1.65 |
| 1993 | 10,068,319 | 120,835 | 106,715 | 14,120 | 12.0 | 10.6 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.61 |
| 1994 | 10,100,341 | 116,408 | 103,688 | 12,720 | 11.5 | 10.2 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.56 |
| 1995 | 10,130,398 | 115,327 | 104,710 | 10,617 | 11.4 | 10.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.56 |
| 1996 | 10,142,776 | 116,262 | 104,228 | 12,034 | 11.4 | 10.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.59 |
| 1997 | 10,170,226 | 116,125 | 103,822 | 12,303 | 11.4 | 10.2 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.60 |
| 1998 | 10.192.264 | 114,561 | 104,607 | 9,954 | 11.2 | 10.3 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.60 |
| 1999 | 10,213,752 | 113,710 | 104,933 | 8,777 | 11.1 | 10.3 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 1.62 |
| 2000 | 10,239,085 | 115,157 | 104,921 | 10,236 | 11.2 | 10.2 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.67 |
| 2001 | 10,263,414 | 114,428 | 103,474 | 10,954 | 11.1 | 10.1 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 1.67 |
| 2002 | 10,309,725 | 111,484 | 105,667 | 5,817 | 10.8 | 10.2 | 0.6 | 3.9 | 1.65 |
| 2003 | 10,355,844 | 112,388 | 107,068 | 5,320 | 10.8 | 10.3 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 1.67 |
| 2004 | 10,396,421 | 115,908 | 101,964 | 13,944 | 11.1 | 9.8 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 1.72 |
| 2005 | 10,445,852 | 118,290 | 103,305 | 14,985 | 11.3 | 9.9 | 1.4 | 4.9 | 1.76 |
| 2006 | 10,511,382 | 121,695 | 101,614 | 20,081 | 11.5 | 9.6 | 1.9 | 5.1 | 1.80 |
| 2007 | 10,584,534 | 125,228 | 102,060 | 23,168 | 11.8 | 9.6 | 2.2 | 5.4 | 1.82 |
| 2008 | 10,665,140 | 128,049 | 104,587 | 23,462 | 12.0 | 9.8 | 2.2 | 6.0 | 1.85 |
| 2009 | 10,753,080 | 127,297 | 104,509 | 22,788 | 11.8 | 9.7 | 2.1 | 6.0 | 1.84 |
| 2010 | 10,839,905 | 129,173 | 105,094 | 24,079 | 11.9 | 9.7 | 2.2 | 8.1 | 1.85 |
| 2011 | 10,951,266 | 127,655 | 104,247 | 23,408 | 11.7 | 9.5 | 2.1 | 5.6 | 1.81 |
| 2012 | 11,035,948 | 126,993 | 109,034 | 17,959 | 11.5 | 9.9 | 1.6 | 4.2 | 1.79 |
| 2013 | 11,099,554 | 124,862 | 109,295 | 15,567 | 11.2 | 9.8 | 1.4 | 3.2 | 1.75 |
| 2014 | 11,150,516 | 124,415 | 104,723 | 19,692 | 11.2 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 1.74 |
| 2015 | 11,209,044 | 121,713 | 110,508 | 11,205 | 10.9 | 9.9 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 1.69 |
| 2016 | 11,267,910 | 121,161 | 108,056 | 13,105 | 10.8 | 9.6 | 1.2 | 3.6 | 1.68 |
| 2017 | 11,322,088 | 119,102 | 109,629 | 9,473 | 10.5 | 9.7 | 0.8 | 4.0 | 1.64 |
| 2018 | 11,376,070 | 117,800 | 110,645 | 7,155 | 10.4 | 9.7 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 1.61 |
| 2019 | 11,431,406 | 117,103 | 108,745 | 8,358 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 0.7 | 4.6 | 1.60 |
| 2020 | 11,492,641 | 113,739 | 126,850 | −13,111 | 9.9 | 11.0 | −1.1 | 3.6 | 1.55 |
| 2021 | 11,521,238 | 117,914 | 112,291 | 5,623 | 10.3 | 9.8 | 0.5 | 5.0 | 1.60 |
| 2022 | 11,584,008 | 113,593 | 116,380 | −2,787 | 9.8 | 10.0 | −0.3 | 10.1 | 1.53 |
| 2023 | 11,697,557 | 110,198 | 111,255 | −1,057 | 9.5 | 9.6 | −0.1 | 5.7 | 1.47 |
| 2024 | 11,763,650 | 108,680 | 112,131 | –3,451 | 9.2 | 9.5 | –0.3 | | |

### Current vital statistics

| Period | Live births | Deaths | Natural increase |
| January 2024 | 9,250 | 11,259 | -2,009 |
| January 2025 | 9,496 | 12,361 | −2,865 |
| Difference | +246 (+2.67%) | +1,102 (+9.79%) | -856 |

### Structure of the population

| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 5 401 718 | 5 598 920 | 11 000 638 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 330 184 | 315 328 | 645 512 | 5.87 |
| 5–9 | 310 560 | 296 765 | 607 325 | 5.52 |
| 10–14 | 313 738 | 300 722 | 614 460 | 5.59 |
| 15–19 | 331 790 | 317 228 | 649 018 | 5.90 |
| 20–24 | 344 647 | 339 446 | 684 093 | 6.22 |
| 25–29 | 351 045 | 349 328 | 700 373 | 6.37 |
| 30–34 | 364 728 | 358 208 | 722 936 | 6.57 |
| 35–39 | 375 815 | 365 389 | 741 204 | 6.74 |
| 40–44 | 401 530 | 388 365 | 789 895 | 7.18 |
| 45–49 | 418 827 | 409 340 | 828 167 | 7.53 |
| 50–54 | 391 809 | 389 431 | 781 240 | 7.10 |
| 55–59 | 349 489 | 352 842 | 702 331 | 6.38 |
| 60–64 | 320 714 | 330 190 | 650 904 | 5.92 |
| 65−69 | 230 217 | 249 982 | 480 199 | 4.37 |
| 70−74 | 205 382 | 242 992 | 448 374 | 4.08 |
| 75−79 | 171 538 | 230 056 | 401 594 | 3.65 |
| 80−84 | 115 591 | 189 197 | 304 788 | 2.77 |
| 85−89 | 57 963 | 122 532 | 180 495 | 1.64 |
| 90−94 | 13 541 | 39 167 | 52 708 | 0.48 |
| 95−99 | 2 412 | 10 980 | 13 392 | 0.12 |
| 100+ | 198 | 1 432 | 1 630 | 0.01 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 954 482 | 912 815 | 1 867 297 | 16.97 |
| 15–64 | 3 650 394 | 3 599 767 | 7 250 161 | 65.91 |
| 65+ | 796 842 | 1 086 338 | 1 883 180 | 17.12 |
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total | % |
| Total | 5 644 826 | 5 810 693 | 11 455 519 | 100 |
| 0–4 | 315 177 | 300 999 | 616 176 | 5.38 |
| 5–9 | 340 923 | 325 662 | 666 585 | 5.82 |
| 10–14 | 336 284 | 320 521 | 656 805 | 5.73 |
| 15–19 | 323 790 | 307 712 | 631 502 | 5.51 |
| 20–24 | 341 598 | 328 722 | 670 320 | 5.85 |
| 25–29 | 374 924 | 371 623 | 746 547 | 6.52 |
| 30–34 | 368 166 | 368 614 | 736 780 | 6.43 |
| 35–39 | 377 157 | 374 627 | 751 784 | 6.56 |
| 40–44 | 368 567 | 362 807 | 731 374 | 6.38 |
| 45–49 | 393 483 | 384 045 | 777 528 | 6.79 |
| 50–54 | 406 309 | 396 620 | 802 929 | 7.01 |
| 55–59 | 395 854 | 395 473 | 791 327 | 6.91 |
| 60–64 | 349 994 | 360 409 | 710 403 | 6.20 |
| 65−69 | 298 587 | 317 045 | 615 632 | 5.37 |
| 70−74 | 249 942 | 281 596 | 531 538 | 4.64 |
| 75−79 | 165 281 | 206 039 | 371 320 | 3.24 |
| 80−84 | 131 154 | 188 231 | 319 385 | 2.79 |
| 85−89 | 76 742 | 138 520 | 215 262 | 1.88 |
| 90−94 | 26 044 | 63 743 | 89 787 | 0.78 |
| 95−99 | 4 640 | 16 410 | 21 050 | 0.18 |
| 100−104 | 201 | 1 188 | 1 389 | 0.01 |
| 105−109 | 9 | 84 | 93 | <0.01 |
| 110+ | 0 | 3 | 3 | <0.01 |
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
| 0–14 | 992 384 | 947 182 | 1 939 566 | 16.93 |
| 15–64 | 3 699 842 | 3 650 652 | 7 350 494 | 64.17 |
| 65+ | 952 600 | 1 212 859 | 2 165 459 | 18.90 |

## Immigration

Since the relaxation of the Belgian nationality law more than 1.3 million migrants have acquired Belgian citizenship and are now considered new Belgians. 89.2% of inhabitants of Turkish origin have been naturalized, as have 88.4% of people of Moroccan background, 75.4% of Italians, 56.2% of the French and 47.8% of Dutch people.
In 2007, there were 1.38 million foreign-born residents in Belgium, corresponding to 12.9% of the total population. Of these, 685 000 (6.4%) were born outside the EU and 695 000 (6.5%) were born in another EU Member State.
Net migration rate; 4.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

### Belgium migration data

Belgium migration data, 1948–present :
| Year | Immigration | Emigration | Net migration |
| 1948 | 89,924 | 60,061 | 29,863 |
| 1949 | 31,795 | 63,801 | −32,006 |
| 1950 | 27,922 | 46,569 | −18,647 |
| 1951 | 59,954 | 51,620 | 8,334 |
| 1952 | 52,150 | 46,566 | 5,584 |
| 1953 | 39,964 | 45,613 | −5,649 |
| 1954 | 34,604 | 41,834 | −7,230 |
| 1955 | 51,106 | 39,037 | 12,069 |
| 1956 | 52,593 | 43,724 | 8,869 |
| 1957 | 68,794 | 43,221 | 25,573 |
| 1958 | 47,124 | 49,322 | −2,198 |
| 1959 | 32,315 | 43,215 | −10,900 |
| 1960 | 42,248 | 39,127 | 3,121 |
| 1961 | 36,088 | 42,646 | −6,558 |
| 1962 | 52,744 | 39,084 | 13,660 |
| 1963 | 72,586 | 43,161 | 29,425 |
| 1964 | 92,334 | 48,511 | 43,823 |
| 1965 | 80,761 | 54,167 | 26,594 |
| 1966 | 71,078 | 53,887 | 17,191 |
| 1967 | 63,713 | 52,967 | 10,746 |
| 1968 | 57,122 | 56,628 | 494 |
| 1969 | 55,243 | 50,988 | 4,255 |
| 1970 | 62,143 | 56,371 | 5,772 |
| 1971 | 62,708 | 43,341 | 19,367 |
| 1972 | 62,474 | 54,791 | 7,683 |
| 1973 | 64,250 | 52,603 | 11,647 |
| 1974 | 71,866 | 52,670 | 19,196 |
| 1975 | 69,886 | 53,739 | 16,147 |
| 1976 | 58,724 | 56,921 | 1,803 |
| 1977 | 55,298 | 55,076 | 222 |
| 1978 | 52,594 | 58,495 | −5,901 |
| 1979 | 54,854 | 59,552 | −4,698 |
| 1980 | 54,694 | 58,212 | −3,518 |
| 1981 | 49,298 | 60,194 | −10,896 |
| 1982 | 44,659 | 61,931 | −17,272 |
| 1983 | 43,657 | 61,339 | −17,682 |
| 1984 | 47,002 | 56,447 | −9,445 |
| 1985 | 47,042 | 54,021 | −6,979 |
| 1986 | 48,959 | 53,793 | −4,834 |
| 1987 | 49,750 | 57,033 | −7,283 |
| 1988 | 54,048 | 54,082 | −34 |
| 1989 | 60,067 | 49,439 | 10,628 |
| 1990 | 68,929 | 49,246 | 19,683 |
| 1991 | 74,617 | 60,471 | 14,146 |
| 1992 | 80,191 | 55,411 | 24,780 |
| 1993 | 78,376 | 59,843 | 18,533 |
| 1994 | 81,865 | 64,234 | 17,631 |
| 1995 | 78,459 | 64,822 | 13,637 |
| 1996 | 78,046 | 65,167 | 12,879 |
| 1997 | 76,449 | 69,716 | 6,733 |
| 1998 | 80,194 | 73,199 | 6,995 |
| 1999 | 87,915 | 75,866 | 12,049 |
| 2000 | 90,412 | 76,848 | 13,564 |
| 2001 | 111,866 | 76,566 | 35,300 |
| 2002 | 115,542 | 77,121 | 38,421 |
| 2003 | 113,794 | 80,764 | 33,030 |
| 2004 | 119,143 | 85,474 | 33,669 |
| 2005 | 135,289 | 88,216 | 47,073 |
| 2006 | 139,595 | 89,576 | 50,019 |
| 2007 | 151,069 | 93,952 | 57,117 |
| 2008 | 164,152 | 100,275 | 63,877 |
| 2009 | 166,479 | 103,718 | 62,761 |
| 2010 | 166,188 | 86,719 | 79,469 |
| 2011 | 161,508 | 99,422 | 62,086 |
| 2012 | 149,095 | 104,697 | 44,398 |
| 2013 | 146,645 | 111,814 | 34,831 |
| 2014 | 153,926 | 113,975 | 39,951 |
| 2015 | 158,032 | 110,360 | 47,672 |
| 2016 | 160,480 | 118,245 | 42,235 |
| 2017 | 163,918 | 119,382 | 44,536 |
| 2018 | 166,894 | 116,714 | 50,180 |
| 2019 | 174,591 | 119,560 | 55,031 |
| 2020 | 144,169 | 102,413 | 41,756 |
| 2021 | 165,534 | 107,416 | 58,118 |
| 2022 | 233,629 | 117,085 | 116,544 |
| 2023 | 194,887 | 128,538 | 66,349 |

## Employment and income

Unemployment, youth ages 15–24; total: 15.8%.
    male: 16.2%
    female: 15.3% (2018 est.)

## Education

Literacy; Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2003 est.)
    Total population: 99%
    Male: 99%
    Female: 99%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education); total: 20 years
    male: 19 years
    female: 21 years (2018)

## Origin groups

Belgium does not collect data on ethnicity or race, but does collect data on the country of origin of citizens.
The largest group of immigrants and their descendants in Belgium are Italian Belgians, with more than 450,000 people, which is well over 4% of Belgium's total population. The Moroccan Belgians are the third-largest group, and the largest Muslim ethnic group, numbering 340,359. According to Michèle Tribalat in the beginning of 2020, people of foreign background and their descendants were estimated to have formed 32.1% of the total population. According to Statbel, 65.5% of the Belgian population was Belgian with a Belgian background in 2024. The Belgian background by age group was 51.8% among those under 18, 62.1% among 18-64-year-olds and 85.5% among those aged 65 and over.
Of these 'New Belgians', 55.1% are of non-Belgian European ancestry and 44.9% are from non-Western countries.
The rest consists mostly of French-speaking people from Brussels, Turks, Kurds, Dutch, French, Portuguese, Spaniards, Greeks, Bosniaks, Algerians, Congolese, Vietnamese, Poles, Indians, and Guineans (around 23% of Belgium's population is of non-Belgian origin). Approximately 30,000 Roma live in Belgium.
The exact number of French-speakers in Brussels is hard to determine, but it is estimated that 85% of the people living in Brussels use French and 10% use Dutch in their households, as the sole language or secondary language, while Arabic is also largely spoken. See the Brussels article for more details.
In the table are the top 30 countries by origin of the population of Belgium in 2020
| Group of origin | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | | |
| Group of origin | 2001 | 2001 | 2006 | 2006 | 2011 | 2011 | 2016 | 2016 | 2023 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 |
| Group of origin | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | | |
| Belgians with Belgian background | 8,394,413 | 81.8% | 8,252,547 | 78.5% | 8,132,782 | 74.3% | 7,966,385 | 70.7% | 7,665,100 | 65.5% | 7,618,446 | 64.8% |
| Belgians with foreign background | 1,007,316 | 9.8% | 1,358,362 | 12.9% | 1,699,228 | 15.5% | 2,005,865 | 17.8% | 2,459,184 | 21.0% | 2,537,497 | 21.6% |
| Neighbouring country | 265,422 | 2.6% | 299,651 | | 334,500 | | 362,196 | | 398,149 | 3.4% | | |
| Other EU | 319,180 | 3.1% | 375,091 | | 429,945 | | 481,977 | | 547,298 | 4.7% | | |
| Other Europe | 100,019 | 1% | 160,650 | | 215,141 | | 260,067 | | 316,125 | 2.7% | | |
| Africa | 210,601 | 2.1% | 363,476 | | 505,113 | | 639,146 | | 823,402 | 7% | | |
| Asia and Oceania | 54,409 | 0.5% | 77,410 | | 106,973 | | 133,603 | | 199,302 | 1.7% | | |
| Other | 19,655 | 0.2% | 29,446 | | 40,386 | | 49,113 | | 65,623 | 0.6% | | |
| Not classified | 38,030 | 0.4% | 52,638 | | 67,170 | | 79,763 | | 109,285 | 0.9% | | |
| Non-Belgians | 861,685 | 8.4% | 900,473 | 8.6% | 1,119,256 | 10.2% | 1,295,660 | 11.5% | 1,573,273 | 13.4% | 1,607,707 | 13.7% |
| Neighbouring country | 257,981 | 2.5% | 289,826 | | 336,102 | | 360,731 | | 383,151 | 3.3% | | |
| Other EU | 313,827 | 3.1% | 314,549 | | 387,389 | | 481,218 | | 569,989 | 4.9% | | |
| Other Europe | 68,323 | 0.7% | 67,277 | | 87,645 | | 83,783 | | 144,633 | 1.2% | | |
| Africa | 153,603 | 1.5% | 139,458 | | 182,605 | | 207,957 | | 234,162 | 2% | | |
| Asia and Oceania | 30,609 | 0.3% | 44,866 | | 64,238 | | 93,839 | | 149,313 | 1.3% | | |
| Other | 23,155 | 0.2% | 26,355 | | 33,904 | | 39,605 | | 47,547 | 0.4% | | |
| Not classified | 14,187 | 0.1% | 18,142 | | 27,373 | | 28,527 | | 44,478 | 0.4% | | |
| Total | 10,263,414 | 100% | 10,511,382 | 100% | 10,951,266 | 100% | 11,267,910 | 100% | 11,697,557 | 100% | 11,763,650 | 100% |
| Place of Birth | Year | Year |
| 2011 ||
| Place of Birth | Number | % |
| Place of Birth in Reporting Country | 9,371,282 | |
| Place of Birth Not in Reporting Country | 1,517,608 | |
| Other EU Member State | 765,523 | |
| Outside EU but within Europe | 25,764 | |
| Outside Europe/ Non-European | 752,085 | |
| Africa | 418,576 | |
| Asia | 239,474 | |
| North America | 20,488 | |
| Caribbean, South or Central America | 45,650 | |
| Total | 11,000,638 | 100% |
Countries of origin of Belgian population (2020) :
| Country | Number (2020) | % of population of foreign origin | % of total population |
| Morocco | 340,359 | 13.3% | 3.0% |
| Italy | 278,877 | 11.1% | 2.4% |
| France | 217,200 | 8.7% | 1.9% |
| Netherlands | 190,271 | 7.3% | 1.7% |
| Turkey | 161,581 | 6.2% | 1.4% |
| Romania | 120,929 | 4.8% | 1.1% |
| Poland | 97,183 | 3.9% | 0.8% |
| Spain | 78,745 | 3.1% | 0.7% |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 65,687 | 2.7% | 0.6% |
| Russia | 62,059 | 2.5% | 0.5% |
| Portugal | 54,719 | 2.1% | 0.5% |
| Germany | 50,772 | 2.0% | 0.4% |
| Bulgaria | 46,876 | 1.9% | 0.4% |
| Syria | 35,626 | 1.4% | 0.3% |
| Algeria | 31,956 | 1.2% | 0.3% |
| United Kingdom | 29,504 | 1.1% | 0.3% |
| Greece | 28,643 | 1.1% | 0.2% |
| India | 27,267 | 1.0% | 0.2% |
| Afghanistan | 25,727 | 1.0% | 0.2% |
| Cameroon | 24,267 | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| China | 22,283 | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| Tunisia | 20,921 | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Iraq | 20,882 | 0.8% | 0.2% |
| Guinea | 19,244 | 0.7% | 0.2% |
| Brazil | 15,158 | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Rwanda | 14,729 | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| Pakistan | 14,580 | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| United States | 13,820 | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Iran | 12,891 | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Albania | 12,641 | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Senegal | 11,876 | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Other countries | 414,327 | 16.2% | 3.6% |
| Total | 2,549,724 | 100% | 22.2% |

## Languages

Belgium's three official languages are Dutch, spoken by about 60% of the population, French, spoken by about 40%, and German, spoken by less than 1%. The vast majority of Belgium's population, 99%, is literate as defined by the Belgian government, i.e. capable of reading and writing in an official language by the time a citizen has reached the age of 15. English is the official (meetings) language of the European Commission, 10% of the job market in Brussels.

## Religion

As of 2012, 58% of Belgians identify as Roman Catholic. Other Christians comprise 7% of the population. Muslims comprise 5%. 27% of Belgians are agnostics, atheists or otherwise irreligious.