Belgium vs Switzerland
Belgium vs Switzerland: Population growth
Population growth in 2023: 0.25% a year in Belgium and 0.62% a year in Switzerland, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Switzerland, by 0.37 percentage points, or 2.45 times that in Belgium.
% a year · UN
What the numbers say
- Switzerland has been higher since 2010, when it overtook Belgium.
- In 2023, Belgium ranked 158 and Switzerland ranked 132 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Belgium at -0.17% a year and Switzerland at 0.05% a year in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 0.87% a year in 2023.
Every year
% a year · UN
| Year | Belgium | Switzerland | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0.25 | 0.62 | 0.87 |
| 2022 | 0.97 | 1.16 | 0.88 |
| 2021 | 0.25 | 0.79 | 0.8 |
| 2020 | 0.28 | 0.74 | 0.9 |
| 2019 | 0.58 | 0.72 | 1.03 |
| 2018 | 0.5 | 0.71 | 1.07 |
| 2017 | 0.41 | 0.77 | 1.13 |
| 2016 | 0.36 | 1.11 | 1.17 |
| 2015 | 0.66 | 1.08 | 1.18 |
| 2014 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.22 |
| 2013 | 0.39 | 1.24 | 1.23 |
| 2012 | 0.56 | 1.06 | 1.27 |
| 2011 | 0.68 | 1.07 | 1.26 |
| 2010 | 1.18 | 1.18 | 1.27 |
| 2009 | 1.1 | 1.08 | 1.28 |
| 2008 | 0.82 | 1.42 | 1.28 |
| 2007 | 0.76 | 1.12 | 1.28 |
| 2006 | 0.7 | 0.66 | 1.28 |
| 2005 | 0.63 | 0.59 | 1.27 |
| 2004 | 0.47 | 0.69 | 1.28 |
| 2003 | 0.39 | 0.69 | 1.29 |
| 2002 | 0.45 | 0.81 | 1.3 |
| 2001 | 0.45 | 0.63 | 1.33 |
| 2000 | 0.24 | 0.55 | 1.35 |
| 1999 | 0.25 | 0.57 | 1.35 |
| 1998 | 0.21 | 0.38 | 1.37 |
| 1997 | 0.22 | 0.22 | 1.39 |
| 1996 | 0.27 | 0.27 | 1.42 |
| 1995 | 0.12 | 0.62 | 1.45 |
| 1994 | 0.3 | 0.72 | 1.47 |
| 1993 | 0.32 | 0.87 | 1.52 |
| 1992 | 0.46 | 0.95 | 1.57 |
| 1991 | 0.48 | 1.34 | 1.63 |
| 1990 | 0.28 | 1.14 | 1.76 |
| 1989 | 0.21 | 0.81 | 1.78 |
| 1988 | 0.19 | 0.81 | 1.79 |
| 1987 | 0.16 | 0.66 | 1.84 |
| 1986 | 0.09 | 0.59 | 1.83 |
| 1985 | 0.05 | 0.45 | 1.8 |
| 1984 | 0.07 | 0.44 | 1.8 |
| 1983 | 0.04 | 0.28 | 1.78 |
| 1982 | 0.1 | 0.58 | 1.86 |
| 1981 | 0.14 | 0.59 | 1.82 |
| 1980 | 0.22 | 0.5 | 1.8 |
| 1979 | 0.23 | 0.29 | 1.79 |
| 1978 | 0.17 | 0.11 | 1.74 |
| 1977 | 0.19 | -0.09 | 1.75 |
| 1976 | 0.12 | -0.59 | 1.78 |
| 1975 | 0.1 | -0.56 | 1.8 |
| 1974 | 0.17 | 0.47 | 1.88 |
| 1973 | 0.2 | 0.61 | 1.94 |
| 1972 | 0.28 | 0.87 | 1.97 |
| 1971 | 0.31 | 0.66 | 1.97 |
| 1970 | 0.44 | 0.4 | 2.06 |
| 1969 | 0.42 | 1.05 | 2.06 |
| 1968 | 0.41 | 1.2 | 2.09 |
| 1967 | 0.52 | 1.32 | 2 |
| 1966 | 0.56 | 1.16 | 2.04 |
| 1965 | 0.61 | 0.93 | 2.09 |
| 1964 | 0.72 | 1.38 | 2.16 |
| 1963 | 0.63 | 1.93 | 2.28 |
| 1962 | 0.62 | 2.35 | 2.11 |
| 1961 | 0.68 | 2.73 | 1.67 |
| 1960 | 0.55 | 1.21 | 1.58 |
| 1959 | 0.69 | 1.25 | 1.73 |
| 1958 | 0.63 | 1.29 | 2 |
| 1957 | 0.58 | 1.28 | 2.07 |
| 1956 | 0.53 | 1.26 | 1.98 |
| 1955 | 0.52 | 1.27 | 2.01 |
| 1954 | 0.55 | 1.28 | 1.99 |
| 1953 | 0.51 | 1.29 | 1.9 |
| 1952 | 0.53 | 1.36 | 1.94 |
| 1951 | 0.42 | 1.3 | 1.75 |
| 1950 | 0.47 | 1.05 | 1.74 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Belgium | Switzerland | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0.19-4.7–4.86 | 0.54-0.03–1.14 | 0.86 |
| 2025 | 0.15-0.26–0.58 | 0.48-0.34–1.21 | 0.84 |
| 2026 | 0.12-0.34–0.6 | 0.42-0.49–1.26 | 0.83 |
| 2027 | 0.11-0.39–0.65 | 0.38-0.6–1.31 | 0.81 |
| 2028 | 0.11-0.44–0.66 | 0.34-0.73–1.39 | 0.8 |
| 2029 | 0.1-0.48–0.69 | 0.29-0.75–1.35 | 0.78 |
| 2030 | 0.08-0.52–0.7 | 0.27-0.81–1.41 | 0.76 |
| 2031 | 0.07-0.54–0.68 | 0.25-0.96–1.39 | 0.75 |
| 2032 | 0.07-0.56–0.7 | 0.2-1.02–1.36 | 0.73 |
| 2033 | 0.07-0.57–0.74 | 0.19-1.02–1.35 | 0.72 |
| 2034 | 0.06-0.61–0.73 | 0.18-1.07–1.35 | 0.7 |
| 2035 | 0.05-0.62–0.77 | 0.15-1.15–1.35 | 0.69 |
| 2036 | 0.05-0.63–0.76 | 0.13-1.18–1.35 | 0.67 |
| 2037 | 0.06-0.59–0.72 | 0.12-1.25–1.37 | 0.65 |
| 2038 | 0.05-0.61–0.75 | 0.1-1.3–1.32 | 0.64 |
| 2039 | 0.04-0.63–0.73 | 0.09-1.39–1.38 | 0.62 |
| 2040 | 0.03-0.65–0.76 | 0.12-1.37–1.38 | 0.61 |
| 2041 | 0.03-0.68–0.73 | 0.07-1.44–1.37 | 0.59 |
| 2042 | 0.02-0.69–0.73 | 0.11-1.4–1.47 | 0.57 |
| 2043 | 0.01-0.71–0.71 | 0.08-1.41–1.43 | 0.56 |
| 2044 | 0.01-0.71–0.69 | 0.07-1.51–1.44 | 0.54 |
| 2045 | -0.01-0.76–0.67 | 0.06-1.52–1.33 | 0.52 |
| 2046 | -0.03-0.75–0.68 | 0.07-1.56–1.42 | 0.5 |
| 2047 | -0.04-0.8–0.71 | 0.07-1.65–1.37 | 0.48 |
| 2048 | -0.06-0.83–0.68 | 0.07-1.51–1.46 | 0.46 |
| 2049 | -0.08-0.85–0.68 | 0.04-1.64–1.41 | 0.44 |
| 2050 | -0.09-0.9–0.66 | 0.02-1.73–1.44 | 0.42 |
| 2051 | -0.11-0.89–0.64 | 0-1.69–1.41 | 0.4 |
| 2052 | -0.14-0.92–0.63 | 0-1.66–1.39 | 0.38 |
| 2053 | -0.15-0.98–0.64 | -0.05-1.8–1.36 | 0.36 |
| 2054 | -0.16-0.97–0.62 | -0.08-1.81–1.43 | 0.34 |
| 2055 | -0.17-1–0.6 | -0.09-1.83–1.37 | 0.33 |
| 2056 | -0.18-1.02–0.6 | -0.08-1.75–1.37 | 0.31 |
| 2057 | -0.19-1.03–0.56 | -0.06-1.86–1.4 | 0.3 |
| 2058 | -0.17-1.01–0.61 | -0.09-1.83–1.38 | 0.28 |
| 2059 | -0.18-1–0.59 | -0.11-1.91–1.42 | 0.27 |
| 2060 | -0.18-0.96–0.62 | -0.1-1.93–1.41 | 0.25 |
| 2061 | -0.2-1.04–0.61 | -0.13-1.94–1.31 | 0.24 |
| 2062 | -0.19-1.02–0.61 | -0.12-2.04–1.3 | 0.23 |
| 2063 | -0.19-1.04–0.59 | -0.11-2.05–1.3 | 0.22 |
| 2064 | -0.18-1.07–0.62 | -0.12-2.12–1.26 | 0.21 |
| 2065 | -0.17-1.05–0.62 | -0.13-2.16–1.3 | 0.2 |
| 2066 | -0.16-1.06–0.65 | -0.13-2.13–1.3 | 0.19 |
| 2067 | -0.15-1.05–0.7 | -0.08-2.09–1.4 | 0.18 |
| 2068 | -0.15-1.06–0.72 | -0.09-2.27–1.39 | 0.17 |
| 2069 | -0.14-1.06–0.71 | -0.09-2.26–1.34 | 0.16 |
| 2070 | -0.14-1.1–0.71 | -0.12-2.38–1.36 | 0.15 |
| 2071 | -0.12-1.03–0.72 | -0.11-2.42–1.37 | 0.14 |
| 2072 | -0.11-1.1–0.75 | -0.08-2.32–1.43 | 0.13 |
| 2073 | -0.11-1.05–0.76 | -0.1-2.36–1.4 | 0.12 |
| 2074 | -0.11-1.14–0.79 | -0.12-2.47–1.37 | 0.1 |
| 2075 | -0.1-1.12–0.79 | -0.06-2.4–1.4 | 0.09 |
| 2076 | -0.1-1.11–0.78 | -0.05-2.47–1.45 | 0.08 |
| 2077 | -0.11-1.14–0.73 | -0.08-2.33–1.46 | 0.07 |
| 2078 | -0.12-1.19–0.74 | -0.07-2.51–1.46 | 0.06 |
| 2079 | -0.11-1.22–0.79 | -0.08-2.53–1.5 | 0.05 |
| 2080 | -0.12-1.16–0.79 | -0.07-2.61–1.53 | 0.04 |
| 2081 | -0.11-1.14–0.82 | -0.07-2.63–1.49 | 0.03 |
| 2082 | -0.13-1.2–0.8 | -0.06-2.62–1.52 | 0.02 |
| 2083 | -0.12-1.14–0.83 | -0.05-2.61–1.55 | 0.01 |
| 2084 | -0.12-1.17–0.83 | -0.05-2.71–1.49 | -0 |
| 2085 | -0.12-1.13–0.86 | -0.05-2.77–1.47 | -0.01 |
| 2086 | -0.13-1.19–0.86 | -0.02-2.74–1.47 | -0.02 |
| 2087 | -0.14-1.21–0.86 | 0-2.7–1.55 | -0.03 |
| 2088 | -0.13-1.21–0.86 | -0.02-2.66–1.46 | -0.04 |
| 2089 | -0.13-1.2–0.87 | 0-2.56–1.55 | -0.05 |
| 2090 | -0.13-1.23–0.84 | 0.02-2.68–1.56 | -0.05 |
| 2091 | -0.13-1.28–0.85 | 0.03-2.7–1.62 | -0.06 |
| 2092 | -0.14-1.33–0.84 | 0.03-2.75–1.62 | -0.07 |
| 2093 | -0.14-1.29–0.9 | 0.03-2.68–1.58 | -0.07 |
| 2094 | -0.15-1.31–0.93 | 0.05-2.76–1.65 | -0.08 |
| 2095 | -0.14-1.35–0.87 | 0.06-2.68–1.72 | -0.09 |
| 2096 | -0.14-1.38–0.85 | 0.04-2.67–1.63 | -0.1 |
| 2097 | -0.14-1.41–0.88 | 0.08-2.69–1.78 | -0.11 |
| 2098 | -0.16-1.37–0.82 | 0.07-2.89–1.75 | -0.11 |
| 2099 | -0.16-1.34–0.84 | 0.09-2.92–1.65 | -0.12 |
| 2100 | -0.17-1.39–0.8 | 0.05-2.97–1.65 | -0.13 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How fast the population grew or shrank in a year: births minus deaths, plus people moving in minus people moving out.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast; the band is its 95% prediction interval.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Belgium vs Switzerland
Health
- Life expectancyBelgium: 82.1 years in 2023Switzerland: 84 years in 2023
- Child mortalityBelgium: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024Switzerland: 0.4 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityBelgium: 3.3 per 1,000 live births in 2023Switzerland: 3.2 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterBelgium: 99.7% in 2022Switzerland: 96.7% in 2022
- DepressionBelgium: 4.11% in 2017Switzerland: 3.71% in 2017
- Suicide rateBelgium: 14.3 per 100,000 people in 2017Switzerland: 9.3 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationBelgium: 11.7 million people in 2023Switzerland: 8.87 million people in 2023
- Fertility rateBelgium: 1.38 births per woman in 2023Switzerland: 1.43 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationBelgium: 87.7% in 2025Switzerland: 85.7% in 2025
- Median ageBelgium: 41.4 years in 2023Switzerland: 42.3 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overBelgium: 20.2% in 2023Switzerland: 19.6% in 2023
- Net migration rateBelgium: 3.6 per 1,000 people in 2023Switzerland: 5.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingBelgium: 2.01% of GDP in 2025Switzerland: 0.76% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsBelgium: $13.6B in 2025Switzerland: $7.15B in 2025
- Military spending per personBelgium: $1,237 in 2025Switzerland: $849 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingBelgium: 3.7% of government spending in 2025Switzerland: 2.4% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelBelgium: 24,000 people in 2020Switzerland: 20,000 people in 2020
- National powerBelgium: 0.22% of world capability in 2022Switzerland: 0.12% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersBelgium: 0.47% of the labour force in 2020Switzerland: 0.4% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsBelgium: 430 million TIV in 2025Switzerland: 33 million TIV in 2023
- Arms exportsBelgium: 86 million TIV in 2025Switzerland: 129 million TIV in 2025