Share of the population born in another country in Belgium

Belgium: Share of the population born in another country was 20.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
20.0%
World rank
54th
of 231 countries
All-time high
20.0%
in 2024
All-time low
9.5%
in 1990
Years of data
8
1990–2024

Share of the population born in another country in Belgium, 1990–2024

051015201990200720241990: 9.5 %1995: 9.9 %2000: 10.5 %2005: 11.9 %2010: 14.3 %2015: 16.1 %2020: 17.7 %2024: 20 %

Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 20.0% for share of the population born in another country in 2024. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of the population born in another country in Belgium peaked at 20.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 9.5%, in 1990.

That places Belgium 54th out of 231 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

Share of the population born in another country in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population born in another country in Belgium, 1990 to 2024.
Year % Change
1990 9.5%
1995 9.9% +4.5%
2000 10.5% +6.1%
2005 11.9% +13.0%
2010 14.3% +20.8%
2015 16.1% +12.3%
2020 17.7% +10.2%
2024 20.0% +12.8%

Belgium compared with similar countries

  • Belgium's 20.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 19.9%, 1.0× the median. (84 countries reporting)
  • Belgium's 20.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.6%, 1.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 9.7% 9.5% 9.9% 2
2000s 11.2% 10.5% 11.9% 2
2010s 15.2% 14.3% 16.1% 2
2020s 18.9% 17.7% 20.0% 2

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 51 Canada 22.2% compare
  2. 52 Sweden 21.4% compare
  3. 53 Nauru 21.3% compare
  4. 55 Martinique 19.9% compare
  5. 56 Germany 19.8% compare
  6. 57 Spain 18.5% compare

See the full ranking of 231 places →

More population data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of the population born in another country in Belgium?
Share of the population born in another country in Belgium was 20.0% in 2024, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of the population born in another country recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 20.0% in 2024.
What is the lowest share of the population born in another country recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 9.5% in 1990.
How does Belgium rank for share of the population born in another country?
Belgium ranks 54th out of 231 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of the population born in another country rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is up 24.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population born in another country. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of the population born in another country in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/migrant-stock-share/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population born in another country
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
231 places, 1,848 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed

Immigrants as a share of the total population.