UNVERIFIED

Hi there! I've analyzed the sources to check those Belgian population statistics for you. While the figures for 2025 are supported by the data, we hit a bit of a snag with the historical numbers. According to official records, Belgium's population reached 11,825,551 in early 2025 1. By the end of that year, the foreign-born population was recorded at 2,399,622 3. When you calculate the ratio using the 2025 population figures, this represents approximately 20.29%, which aligns very closely with the 20.2% mentioned in the claim 1 3. Other reports mention that over one-third of the population has a 'foreign background' (36%), but this is a broader category that includes non-Belgian citizens and those with roots in another country 2 6. Unfortunately, the provided sources do not contain any information regarding the population in January 2001, so we cannot confirm if the starting point was 8.4% 4 5. Because we are missing that historical data, the claim remains unverified based on the current evidence.