people
Median age
Median age of the population.
Select comparisons
Data insight
Global perspective
The world estimate was 30.8 years in 2023, up 7.9% from 2013. Across the longer period from 2003, the global estimate changed by +4.57 years (+17.4%). Latest country observations range from 14.3 years in Central African Republic (2023) to 59.6 years in Vatican (2023), with the middle country observation at 32.4 years; observation years may differ. Across the derived regional aggregates, Europe reports 42.3 years, while Africa reports 19.4 years. Over roughly a decade, Europe changed by +2.33 years; Africa changed by +1.23 years. Among countries with sufficient history, the largest absolute decade increase was +8.06 years in Saint Martin (French part), while the largest decrease was -1.76 years in Vatican. Coverage includes 226 countries; their latest observation years span 2023-2023, with a median latest year of 2023.
Belgium over time
Belgium reports 41.44 years in 2023. From 2013 to 2023, Belgium increased by 1.23 years (3.1%). From 2003 to 2023, Belgium increased by 2.74 years (7.1%). The latest decade changed by +1.23 years, versus +1.51 years in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Europe and world context
This is 0.87 years below Europe (2023). This is 10.64 years above the world estimate (2023). From 2013 to 2023, Europe increased by 2.33 years (5.8%). The latest decade changed by +2.33 years, versus +2.56 years in the preceding decade, indicating a smaller absolute movement.
Belgium has the 43rd-highest latest observation among 226 countries and 30th among 49 countries in Europe. Latest observation years span 2023-2023, so ranks are descriptive rather than perfectly synchronized.
- Regional spread: Europe is at 42.3 years (2023), compared with 19.4 years in Africa (2023).
- Largest observed decade increase: Saint Martin (French part) changed by +8.06 years.
- Largest observed decade decrease: Vatican changed by -1.76 years.
- Coverage: 226 countries; the median latest observation is 2023, with latest country observations spanning 2023-2023.
Source
Our World in Data
Source series median-age. World and continent values are derived from available countries using population-weighted averages.