Population of Belgium

As of August 2026, the population of Belgium is 11.8 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 15 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.14%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 40.5 years in 2016 to 42.1 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 82.6 years and population density is 388.9 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Belgium peaked in 2010, reaching around 1.18% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.12% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 128.62 thousand in 2010 to nearly 14.56 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Belgium, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 79.4 years in 2006 to 82.6 years in 2026, representing an increase of more than 3 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Belgium

The cities of Belgium are mostly small, but 10 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Brussels, Brussels Capital, with approximately 1 million inhabitants. It is followed by Antwerp, Flanders with 529.2 thousand and Gent, Flanders with 265.1 thousand.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Belgium: