**Belgium’s population as of January 1, 2026 is officially recorded at **11,867,634 people**, according to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. This represents a modest increase of about 42,000 compared to 2025. [Statbel](https://statbel.fgov.be/en/news/1-january-2026-belgium-had-11867634-inhabitants) [Statbel](https://statbel.fgov.be/en/news/structure-population-1-january-2026)**
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## 🇧🇪 Belgium Population Overview (2026)
- **Total population:** 11,867,634
- **Growth rate (2025 → 2026):** +0.36% (42,083 people)
- **Natural balance:** Negative (-4,890) → more deaths than births
- **Migration balance:** Positive (+47,562) → immigration offset natural decline
- **Capital city:** Brussels
- **Regions:** Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels-Capital
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## 📊 Demographic Structure
- **Ageing population:**
- **20.67% of Belgians are 65+ years old** (about 1 in 5 people).
- Nearly **one-third of seniors are 80+ years old**.
- **Old-age dependency ratio:** 35.9 seniors per 100 working-age adults (20–64).
- **Trend:** Belgium’s population pyramid is shifting upward, showing fewer births and longer lifespans. [Statbel](https://statbel.fgov.be/en/news/structure-population-1-january-2026)
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## 🌍 Regional Differences
- **Flemish Region:** Fastest growth (+0.49% in 2025), driven by positive migration and internal movement.
- **Walloon Region:** Growth slower, also affected by ageing.
- **Brussels-Capital Region:** Unique trend with a relatively younger population compared to Flanders and Wallonia. [Statbel](https://statbel.fgov.be/en/news/1-january-2026-belgium-had-11867634-inhabitants)
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## ⚖️ Key Takeaways
- Belgium’s **population growth is modest and mainly driven by immigration**, not births.
- The **ageing trend is strong**, with increasing pressure on healthcare and pensions.
- Regional variation shows **Flanders growing fastest**, while Brussels remains demographically younger.
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✅ **In summary:** Belgium has **11.87 million people in 2026**, with growth sustained by immigration rather than natural increase. The country faces significant demographic ageing, with one in five citizens aged 65 or older.
Would you like me to also show you a **comparison of Belgium’s population with its neighbors (France, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg)** so you can see how it fits into the region?
**Belgium’s population as of January 1, 2026 is officially recorded at **11,867,634 people**, according to Statbel, the Belgian statistical ...
