📜 A long story
Belgium, 1800 → today
Belgium grew from 3.25 million in 1800 to 11.7 million; a newborn can expect 41.8 more years of life than in 1841, and output per person is 18× its 1812 level, adjusted for inflation.
Told with long-run reconstructions, not the yearly series used elsewhere on the site: each chapter names its source. Scroll to move through the years.
☺ Chapter 1 · Population
How many people live there?
1800
In 1800, about 3.25 million people lived in Belgium.
1900
6.71 million people.
2.1× the 1800 level
Reached twice the 1800 level in 1897.
1950
8.62 million people.
1.3× the 1900 level
2023
11.7 million people, the latest year in this series.
1.4× the 1950 level
Long-run series: before 1950, reconstructions by HYDE and Gapminder, filled in between benchmark years by those sources. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates.
✚ Chapter 2 · Life expectancy
How long do people live?
1841
In 1841, a newborn in Belgium could expect to live 40.3 years, on average.
1900
46.7 years.
+6.4 years since 1841
The sharpest fall in the data: down 13 years between 1860 and 1866 (45.1 years → 32.5 years).
1950
66.3 years.
+20 years since 1900
Passed 50 years in 1905.
Passed 60 years in 1934.
2023
82.1 years, the latest year in this series.
+16 years since 1950
Passed 70 years in 1959.
Passed 80 years in 2010.
Long-run series: before 1950, historical estimates (Riley, Clio Infra, Human Mortality Database), only for years they cover. Dashed stretches are years without data.
◎ Chapter 3 · GDP per person (PPP)
How much is produced per person?
1812
In 1812, Belgium produced about Int$2,360 per person, in 2011 prices.
1900
Int$5,950.
2.5× the 1812 level
Reached twice the 1812 level in 1880.
1950
Int$8,710.
1.5× the 1900 level
The sharpest fall in the data: down 32% between 1913 and 1918 (Int$6,730 → Int$4,560).
2022
Int$41,900, the latest year in this series.
4.8× the 1950 level
Reached 5 times the 1812 level in 1962.
Reached 10 times the 1812 level in 1984.
Long-run series (Maddison Project) in 2011 international dollars: adjusted for inflation, so not the same unit as today’s PPP figure. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates. Dashed stretches are years without data.
❦ Chapter 4 · CO₂ per person
How much CO₂ does each person emit?
1802
In 1802, fossil fuels and industry in Belgium emitted about 2 t of CO₂ per person.
1900
7.4 t.
3.8× the 1802 level
Reached twice the 1802 level in 1866.
1950
8.8 t.
1.2× the 1900 level
Reached 5 times the 1802 level in 1924.
The sharpest fall in the data: down 64% between 1937 and 1944 (11 t → 3.9 t).
2024
7.3 t, the latest year in this series.
18% lower than in 1950
Long-run series: fossil CO₂ emitted within each country’s borders (Global Carbon Budget); early estimates are less certain. Log scale: equal steps up mean equal growth rates. Dashed stretches are years without data.
☕ Chapter 5 · Years of schooling
How long do people go to school?
1870
In 1870, people aged 15–64 in Belgium had spent 2.4 years in school, on average.
1900
2.7 years.
+0.23 years since 1870
1950
6.9 years.
+4.2 years since 1900
Passed 4 years in 1930.
Passed 6 years in 1950.
2015
11.4 years, the latest year in this series.
+4.6 years since 1950
Passed 8 years in 1975.
Passed 10 years in 1990.
Long-run series (Lee & Lee, Barro & Lee) for people aged 15–64, every 5 years until 2015: a different age group than today’s figure (25 and older).