Belgium Population Live (2026)
The live population of Belgium, updated every second — with births today, deaths today, growth rate and key facts about one of the most interesting countries on Earth.
Belgium has an estimated population of about 11.6 million people in 2026 — 0.14% of the roughly 8.25 billion people on Earth, and the 53rd largest of the 72 countries tracked on LiveHumans. The counter above starts from our 1 January 2026 estimate and adds births and subtracts deaths every second, using Belgium's latest birth rate (9.7 per 1,000 people a year) and death rate (9.8 per 1,000).
Is the population of Belgium growing?
Not from births alone. Around 308 babies are born in Belgium every day, but about 311 people die — so deaths outnumber births by roughly 3 a day (about 1,159 a year). Belgium is one of 17 countries among the 72 we track where this has already happened. It is usually the result of two things at once: a birth rate that has been low for decades, and a large older generation.
A birth rate of 9.7 per 1,000 people is among the lowest in the world — fewer than 10 births per 1,000 people each year — which is the main reason Belgium's population is getting older. It ranks 51st of 72 for birth rate on LiveHumans.
Migration matters a lot here. Belgium attracts large numbers of people from abroad, so its real population change is noticeably bigger than the natural increase shown on this page. Our counter shows births minus deaths only, which is why official figures that include migration can be higher.
Births and deaths in Belgium
| Period | Births | Deaths | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per minute | 0.2 | 0.2 | -0.0 |
| Per hour | 13 | 13 | -0 |
| Per day | 308 | 311 | -3 |
| Per week | 2,156 | 2,178 | -22 |
| Per year | 112,423 | 113,582 | -1,159 |
How crowded is Belgium?
With about 11.6 million people living on 30,528 km², Belgium has roughly 379.7 people per square kilometre. That is around 6.2 times the world average of about 61 per km², making it the 6th most densely populated of the 72 countries we track. High density puts pressure on housing, transport and farmland, but it also makes cities and services cheaper to run per person.
Life expectancy in Belgium
A baby born in Belgium today can expect to live about 81.4 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3. That is above the global average and ranks 20th of the 72 countries we track. Want a personal estimate? Try our life expectancy calculator.
Income and population
Belgium is a high-income country, with GDP of about $46,724 per person (18th of 72). Richer countries usually have low birth rates — people marry later, have fewer children, and live longer — and Belgium fits that pattern.
Belgium at a glance
| Fact | Value | Rank (of 72) |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026 est.) | 11,590,000 | 53 |
| Births per day | 308 | 55 |
| Deaths per day | 311 | 54 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 9.7 | 51 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 9.8 | 17 |
| Natural growth rate | -0.01% / year | 57 |
| Life expectancy | 81.4 years | 20 |
| Population density | 379.7 / km² | 6 |
| GDP per person | $46,724 | 18 |
| Area | 30,528 km² | — |
| Capital | Brussels | — |
| Languages | Dutch, French, German | — |
| Currency | Euro (€) | — |
Compare with other countries
See all countries on our population by country page, or watch the whole planet on the live world population counter.
How we calculate Belgium's live population
No country counts its people every second, so this page is an estimate. We start from a population figure for 1 January 2026 based on United Nations and World Bank data, then use Belgium's crude birth rate and crude death rate — the number of births and deaths per 1,000 people per year — to work out how many people are born and die each second. The counter simply adds those up in real time. Because migration is not included, and because rates change from year to year, treat the figure as a close estimate rather than an exact count.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Belgium in 2026?
The population of Belgium in 2026 is estimated at about 11.6 million people, which is around 0.14% of the world's population. The live counter on this page adds births and subtracts deaths every second.
How many babies are born in Belgium every day?
About 308 babies are born in Belgium every day — roughly 13 per hour, or 112,423 per year — based on a birth rate of 9.7 per 1,000 people.
How many people die in Belgium every day?
About 311 people die in Belgium every day — roughly 13 per hour, or 113,582 per year — based on a death rate of 9.8 per 1,000 people.
Is the population of Belgium growing or shrinking?
Shrinking from natural change: deaths exceed births by about 3 people a day. Migration can offset part of this.
What is the life expectancy in Belgium?
Life expectancy at birth in Belgium is about 81.4 years, compared with a world average of about 73.3 years.
How accurate is this Belgium population counter?
It is a statistical estimate, not a live headcount. We start from a 1 January 2026 population estimate based on UN and World Bank data and apply Belgium's annual birth and death rates second by second. Migration is not included, so official figures may differ slightly.
Last updated: 26 September 2026 · Estimates based on UN World Population Prospects and World Bank data.