Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Belgium
Belgium: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception was 1.44 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Belgium, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
In 2024, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Belgium stood at 1.44 births per woman. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Belgium peaked at 2.71 births per woman in 1964 and was at its lowest, 1.44 births per woman, in 2024.
Belgium ranks 165th of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.53 births per woman | 2.27 births per woman | 2.71 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.89 births per woman | 1.69 births per woman | 2.25 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.58 births per woman | 1.51 births per woman | 1.68 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.61 births per woman | 1.56 births per woman | 1.66 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.74 births per woman | 1.65 births per woman | 1.85 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.72 births per woman | 1.6 births per woman | 1.86 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.52 births per woman | 1.44 births per woman | 1.6 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 162 Norway 1.45 births per woman compare
- 163 Bhutan 1.45 births per woman compare
- 164 Cuba 1.45 births per woman compare
- 165 Mauritius 1.44 births per woman compare
- 165 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 1.44 births per woman compare
- 168 Azerbaijan 1.43 births per woman compare
- 168 Netherlands 1.43 births per woman compare
- 168 Sweden 1.43 births per woman compare
More population data for Belgium
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 461,216 people (2100)
- Population density 365.29 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.44 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 183,551 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.44 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate -0.1% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.38 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. GDP per capita 1.38 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Belgium?
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Belgium was 1.44 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 2.71 births per woman in 1964.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.44 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Belgium rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
- Belgium ranks 165th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.