Long run birth rate in Belgium
Belgium: Long run birth rate was 8.68 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
8.68
Change on year
down 11.2%
World rank
196th
of 236 countries
All-time high
33.81
in 1874
All-time low
8.68
in 2023
Years of data
179
1841–2023
Long run birth rate in Belgium, 1841–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for long run birth rate in Belgium is 8.68, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 179 years on record.
The figure is down 11.2% on the previous year and down 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run birth rate in Belgium peaked at 33.81 in 1874 and was at its lowest, 8.68, in 2023.
That places Belgium 196th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 179 years of available data.
Long run birth rate in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 33.18 | — |
| 1842 | 32.13 | -3.2% |
| 1843 | 31.39 | -2.3% |
| 1844 | 31.4 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 31.83 | +1.4% |
| 1846 | 27.59 | -13.3% |
| 1847 | 27.24 | -1.3% |
| 1848 | 27.79 | +2.0% |
| 1849 | 30.65 | +10.3% |
| 1850 | 30.19 | -1.5% |
| 1851 | 30.58 | +1.3% |
| 1852 | 30.36 | -0.7% |
| 1853 | 28.63 | -5.7% |
| 1854 | 29.4 | +2.7% |
| 1855 | 27.97 | -4.9% |
| 1856 | 29.83 | +6.7% |
| 1857 | 31.66 | +6.1% |
| 1858 | 31.82 | +0.5% |
| 1859 | 32.64 | +2.6% |
| 1860 | 31.3 | -4.1% |
| 1861 | 31.59 | +0.9% |
| 1862 | 30.96 | -2.0% |
| 1863 | 32.81 | +6.0% |
| 1864 | 32.6 | -0.7% |
| 1865 | 32.47 | -0.4% |
| 1866 | 32.65 | +0.6% |
| 1867 | 32.55 | -0.3% |
| 1868 | 31.99 | -1.7% |
| 1869 | 32.19 | +0.6% |
| 1870 | 33.05 | +2.7% |
| 1871 | 31.59 | -4.4% |
| 1872 | 33.22 | +5.1% |
| 1873 | 33.56 | +1.0% |
| 1874 | 33.81 | +0.8% |
| 1875 | 33.69 | -0.4% |
| 1876 | 33.61 | -0.3% |
| 1877 | 32.89 | -2.1% |
| 1878 | 32.09 | -2.4% |
| 1879 | 32.14 | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 31.34 | -2.5% |
| 1881 | 31.77 | +1.4% |
| 1882 | 31.61 | -0.5% |
| 1883 | 30.94 | -2.1% |
| 1884 | 31.03 | +0.3% |
| 1885 | 30.44 | -1.9% |
| 1886 | 30.15 | -1.0% |
| 1887 | 29.97 | -0.6% |
| 1888 | 29.69 | -0.9% |
| 1889 | 29.76 | +0.2% |
| 1890 | 29.32 | -1.5% |
| 1891 | 29.97 | +2.2% |
| 1892 | 28.99 | -3.2% |
| 1893 | 29.7 | +2.4% |
| 1894 | 29.18 | -1.8% |
| 1895 | 29.36 | +0.6% |
| 1896 | 29.98 | +2.1% |
| 1897 | 30.02 | +0.2% |
| 1898 | 29.64 | -1.3% |
| 1899 | 29.82 | +0.6% |
| 1900 | 29.45 | -1.2% |
| 1901 | 30.12 | +2.2% |
| 1902 | 29.1 | -3.4% |
| 1903 | 28.23 | -3.0% |
| 1904 | 27.84 | -1.4% |
| 1905 | 26.92 | -3.3% |
| 1906 | 26.49 | -1.6% |
| 1907 | 26.07 | -1.6% |
| 1908 | 25.64 | -1.7% |
| 1909 | 24.38 | -4.9% |
| 1910 | 24.18 | -0.8% |
| 1911 | 23.33 | -3.5% |
| 1912 | 23.1 | -1.0% |
| 1913 | 22.9 | -0.9% |
| 1914 | 20.61 | -10.0% |
| 1919 | 16.96 | -17.7% |
| 1920 | 22.47 | +32.5% |
| 1921 | 22.24 | -1.0% |
| 1922 | 20.7 | -6.9% |
| 1923 | 20.77 | +0.3% |
| 1924 | 20.25 | -2.5% |
| 1925 | 20.06 | -0.9% |
| 1926 | 19.33 | -3.6% |
| 1927 | 18.58 | -3.9% |
| 1928 | 18.67 | +0.5% |
| 1929 | 18.44 | -1.2% |
| 1930 | 18.99 | +3.0% |
| 1931 | 18.49 | -2.6% |
| 1932 | 17.91 | -3.1% |
| 1933 | 16.71 | -6.7% |
| 1934 | 16.24 | -2.8% |
| 1935 | 15.55 | -4.3% |
| 1936 | 15.41 | -0.9% |
| 1937 | 15.47 | +0.4% |
| 1938 | 16.01 | +3.5% |
| 1939 | 15.52 | -3.0% |
| 1940 | 13.49 | -13.1% |
| 1941 | 12.09 | -10.4% |
| 1942 | 13.07 | +8.1% |
| 1943 | 14.85 | +13.7% |
| 1944 | 15.15 | +2.0% |
| 1945 | 15.55 | +2.6% |
| 1946 | 18.18 | +16.9% |
| 1947 | 17.75 | -2.4% |
| 1948 | 17.67 | -0.4% |
| 1949 | 17.28 | -2.2% |
| 1950 | 16.7 | -3.3% |
| 1951 | 16.31 | -2.4% |
| 1952 | 16.59 | +1.7% |
| 1953 | 16.62 | +0.1% |
| 1954 | 16.76 | +0.9% |
| 1955 | 16.76 | -0.0% |
| 1956 | 16.85 | +0.5% |
| 1957 | 17.03 | +1.1% |
| 1958 | 17.17 | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 17.37 | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 16.94 | -2.5% |
| 1961 | 17.27 | +2.0% |
| 1962 | 16.81 | -2.7% |
| 1963 | 17.09 | +1.6% |
| 1964 | 17.07 | -0.1% |
| 1965 | 16.4 | -3.9% |
| 1966 | 15.81 | -3.6% |
| 1967 | 15.2 | -3.9% |
| 1968 | 14.71 | -3.2% |
| 1969 | 14.67 | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 14.7 | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 14.6 | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 14 | -4.1% |
| 1973 | 13.26 | -5.3% |
| 1974 | 12.64 | -4.6% |
| 1975 | 12.2 | -3.5% |
| 1976 | 12.29 | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 12.35 | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 12.41 | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 12.52 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 12.56 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 12.51 | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 12.2 | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 11.9 | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 11.73 | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 11.57 | -1.3% |
| 1986 | 11.86 | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 11.89 | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 12.09 | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 12.19 | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 12.43 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 12.54 | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 12.38 | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 11.95 | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 11.51 | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 11.4 | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 11.44 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 11.37 | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 11.16 | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 11.12 | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 11.3 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 11.16 | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 10.88 | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 10.92 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 11.17 | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 11.31 | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 11.51 | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 11.58 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 11.76 | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 11.67 | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 11.76 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 11.52 | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 11.38 | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 11.16 | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 11.05 | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 10.75 | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 10.67 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 10.44 | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 10.26 | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 10.22 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 10.01 | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 10.17 | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 9.78 | -3.9% |
| 2023 | 8.68 | -11.2% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 8.68 is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.6, 90% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 8.68 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9.31, 93% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Long run birth rate in Belgium changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | +32.5% | 16.96 | 22.47 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 30.36 | 27.24 | 33.18 | 9 |
| 1850s | 30.31 | 27.97 | 32.64 | 10 |
| 1860s | 32.11 | 30.96 | 32.81 | 10 |
| 1870s | 32.96 | 31.59 | 33.81 | 10 |
| 1880s | 30.67 | 29.69 | 31.77 | 10 |
| 1890s | 29.6 | 28.99 | 30.02 | 10 |
| 1900s | 27.42 | 24.38 | 30.12 | 10 |
| 1910s | 21.84 | 16.96 | 24.18 | 6 |
| 1920s | 20.15 | 18.44 | 22.47 | 10 |
| 1930s | 16.63 | 15.41 | 18.99 | 10 |
| 1940s | 15.51 | 12.09 | 18.18 | 10 |
| 1950s | 16.82 | 16.31 | 17.37 | 10 |
| 1960s | 16.2 | 14.67 | 17.27 | 10 |
| 1970s | 13.1 | 12.2 | 14.7 | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.05 | 11.57 | 12.56 | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.73 | 11.12 | 12.54 | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.33 | 10.88 | 11.76 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.92 | 10.22 | 11.76 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.66 | 8.68 | 10.17 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More population data for Belgium
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.1094 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0945 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 12,091 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2011 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0085 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.166 (2100)
- Population density 365.29 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 461,216 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run birth rate in Belgium?
- Long run birth rate in Belgium was 8.68 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run birth rate recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 33.81 in 1874.
- What is the lowest long run birth rate recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.68 in 2023.
- How does Belgium rank for long run birth rate?
- Belgium ranks 196th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is long run birth rate rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Long run birth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 179 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).