Share of population living in the capital city in Belgium
Belgium: Share of population living in the capital city was 12.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in the capital city in Belgium, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in the capital city in Belgium is 12.0%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Belgium peaked at 12.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9.1%, in 1960.
That places Belgium 116th out of 170 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 the capital city in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 9.5% | — |
| 1955 | 9.2% | -3.1% |
| 1960 | 9.1% | -0.8% |
| 1965 | 9.3% | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 9.3% | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 9.4% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 9.7% | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 9.9% | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 10.1% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 10.6% | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 10.9% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 11.2% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 11.6% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 11.8% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9.3% | 9.2% | 9.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 9.2% | 9.1% | 9.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 9.4% | 9.3% | 9.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 9.8% | 9.7% | 9.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 10.3% | 10.1% | 10.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 10.9% | 11.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.7% | 11.6% | 11.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More population data for Belgium
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0945 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0085 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2011 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in the capital city in Belgium?
- Share of population living in the capital city in Belgium was 12.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.1% in 1960.
- How does Belgium rank for share of population living in the capital city?
- Belgium ranks 116th out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. 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 minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.