Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Belgium
Belgium: Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents was 12.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Belgium, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Belgium is 12.0%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Belgium peaked at 12.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
Belgium ranks 108th of 180 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 0.0% | — |
| 1980 | 0.0% | — |
| 1985 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 10.1% | — |
| 1995 | 10.6% | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 10.9% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 11.2% | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 11.6% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 11.8% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | +1.5% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 12.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 15.3%, 78% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 12.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 11.6%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 10.3% | 10.1% | 10.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.1% | 10.9% | 11.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.7% | 11.6% | 11.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More reference data data for Belgium
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9298 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.291 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1382 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.09 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.12 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.93 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.61 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7526 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Belgium?
- Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents in Belgium was 12.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 12.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Belgium rank for share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents?
- Belgium ranks 108th out of 180 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities with more than 1 million residents. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the total population living in cities with 1 million or more people. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.