Essen: population and statistics
Essen has a population of 19,671 (2026) across 47.6 km², or 414 people per km². It ranks 180 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.7% between 2016 and 2026.
- 19,671 residents
- 47.6 km²
- 414 people/km²
- 11 m
Key points
Among the 67 municipalities in Antwerp, Essen ranks No. 31 by population.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: 22.1% in Essen, compared with an average of 13.7% in Antwerp and 13.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 19.8% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,048 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 6,662 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Kalmthout, 9.4 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Brecht (30,755 residents), 18 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,192 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Essen in numbers
All indicators for Essen
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Essen | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 21.7% | 21.0% | 21.7% | ranked 277 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 22.3% | 22.1% | 21.5% | ranked 185 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Essen | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 17.6% | – | 34.6% | ranked 482 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 18.4% | – | 15.3% | ranked 155 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 80.2% | – | 79.9% | ranked 259 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 8,686 | 912,062 | 5,783,434 | ranked 194 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 3.63 ‰ inh. | 4.60 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 358 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Essen | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 81.5% | – | 76.7% | ranked 192 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Essen | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 1,936 | 202,193 | 1,170,010 | ranked 180 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 98.4 ‰ inh. | 104.7 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 323 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 23,880 € | 24,329 € | 24,247 € | ranked 312 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 30,752 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 284 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 378,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 124 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 270,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 91 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Essen | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.25 | 1.06 | 1.25 | ranked 276 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 16.2% | 26.8% | 17.6% | ranked 363 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Essen | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 22.1% | 13.7% | 6.4% | ranked 40 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 7.6% | 9.8% | 7.0% | ranked 243 of 551 |
Population of Essen over time
Essen had 18,615 residents in 2016 and 19,671 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,196 |
| 2022 | 19,341 |
| 2023 | 19,629 |
| 2024 | 19,630 |
| 2025 | 19,606 |
| 2026 | 19,671 |
Where is Essen?
Business sectors: Essen
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical19.8% ×1.0
- Construction15.8% ×1.1
- Wholesale and retail trade12.9% ×0.9
- Other service activities7.9% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services7.6% ×1.2
- Manufacturing6.1% ×1.3
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing6.0% ×1.4
- Accommodation and food services4.1% ×0.8
Sunshine and temperatures: Essen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Essen?
Essen has 19,671 residents (2026), ranking 180 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Essen?
Essen covers 47.6 km², with a density of 414 people per km².
Is the population of Essen growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Essen went from 18,615 to 19,671, a change of +5.7%.
Where is Essen?
Essen is in Antwerp. It belongs to Antwerpen (arrondissement). Latitude 51.468, longitude 4.470.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: what is the figure for Essen?
In Essen, “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality” stands at 22.1% (2026), ranking 40 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 6.4%.
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Essen?
In Essen, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 17.6% (2024), ranking 482 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 34.6%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Essen?
In Essen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,048 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Essen?
The nearest to Essen are Kalmthout (9.4 km), Wuustwezel (12 km), Stabroek (17 km), Kapellen (17 km), Brecht (18 km).
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