Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Belgium
Belgium: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 10.31 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Belgium, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Belgium stood at 10.31 million people. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 6.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Belgium peaked at 10.31 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5.42 million people, in 1950.
Belgium ranks 66th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.65 million people | 5.42 million people | 5.93 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.35 million people | 6.00 million people | 6.73 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.06 million people | 6.80 million people | 7.29 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.56 million people | 7.35 million people | 7.77 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.10 million people | 7.82 million people | 8.35 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.74 million people | 8.41 million people | 9.16 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.67 million people | 9.29 million people | 10.01 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.20 million people | 10.07 million people | 10.31 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More population data for Belgium
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.44 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.44 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 183,551 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.44 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.38 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.37 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Belgium?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Belgium was 10.31 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 10.31 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.42 million people in 1950.
- How does Belgium rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Belgium ranks 66th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.0%. 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, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.