Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Belgium
Belgium: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 30.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Belgium, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Belgium is 30.5%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Belgium peaked at 30.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 24.5%, in 1975.
That places Belgium 143rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 24.8% | — |
| 1955 | 24.8% | -0.0% |
| 1960 | 24.8% | -0.0% |
| 1965 | 25.1% | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 24.7% | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 24.5% | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 26.3% | +7.0% |
| 1985 | 27.0% | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 27.8% | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 28.2% | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 28.7% | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 29.5% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 30.0% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 30.0% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 30.5% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 24.8% | 24.8% | 24.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 24.9% | 24.8% | 25.1% | 2 |
| 1970s | 24.6% | 24.5% | 24.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 26.6% | 26.3% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 28.0% | 27.8% | 28.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 29.1% | 28.7% | 29.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 30.0% | 30.0% | 30.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.5% | 30.5% | 30.5% | 1 |
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)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 365.29 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 461,216 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Belgium?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Belgium was 30.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 30.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.5% in 1975.
- How does Belgium rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Belgium ranks 143rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.