Willebroek: population and statistics
Willebroek has a population of 28,923 (2026) across 27.4 km², or 1,057 people per km². It ranks 98 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +12.3% between 2016 and 2026.
- 28,923 residents
- 27.4 km²
- 1,057 people/km²
- 3 m
Key points
Among the 67 municipalities in Antwerp, Willebroek ranks No. 12 by population.
Share of inhabitants under 20: 25.5% in Willebroek, compared with an average of 22.1% in Antwerp and 21.8% nationally.
VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: 79.3 ‰ inh. in Willebroek, compared with an average of 104.7 ‰ inh. in Antwerp and 98.6 ‰ inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 17.4% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,060 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants under 20”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 3,833 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.7 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Boom, 3.1 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Mechelen (90,355 residents), 9.2 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,240 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Willebroek in numbers
All indicators for Willebroek
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 | Willebroek | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 18.3% | 21.0% | 21.7% | ranked 497 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 25.5% | 22.1% | 21.5% | ranked 23 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Willebroek | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 28.5% | – | 34.6% | ranked 333 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 14.9% | – | 15.3% | ranked 299 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 79.2% | – | 79.9% | ranked 322 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 12,562 | 912,062 | 5,783,434 | ranked 114 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 5.41 ‰ inh. | 4.60 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 189 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Willebroek | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 70.7% | – | 76.7% | ranked 407 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Willebroek | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 2,295 | 202,193 | 1,170,010 | ranked 140 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 79.3 ‰ inh. | 104.7 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 458 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 23,321 € | 24,329 € | 24,247 € | ranked 347 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 29,569 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 393 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 325,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 219 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 247,500 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 158 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Willebroek | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.16 | 1.06 | 1.25 | ranked 402 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 21.5% | 26.8% | 17.6% | ranked 145 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Willebroek | Antwerp | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 10.7% | 13.7% | 6.4% | ranked 131 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 8.5% | 9.8% | 7.0% | ranked 187 of 551 |
Population of Willebroek over time
Willebroek had 25,745 residents in 2016 and 28,923 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,081 |
| 2022 | 27,436 |
| 2023 | 27,773 |
| 2024 | 28,248 |
| 2025 | 28,620 |
| 2026 | 28,923 |
Where is Willebroek?
Business sectors: Willebroek
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade17.4% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical16.6% ×0.8
- Construction14.0% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services7.2% ×1.1
- Information and communication7.1% ×1.3
- Other service activities6.5% ×1.0
- Manufacturing5.3% ×1.1
- Transport and storage5.2% ×2.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Willebroek
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Willebroek?
Willebroek has 28,923 residents (2026), ranking 98 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Willebroek?
Willebroek covers 27.4 km², with a density of 1,057 people per km².
Is the population of Willebroek growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Willebroek went from 25,745 to 28,923, a change of +12.3%.
Where is Willebroek?
Willebroek is in Antwerp. It belongs to Mechelen (arrondissement). Latitude 51.060, longitude 4.358.
Share of inhabitants under 20: what is the figure for Willebroek?
In Willebroek, “Share of inhabitants under 20” stands at 25.5% (2026), ranking 23 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.5%.
VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Willebroek?
In Willebroek, “VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 79.3 ‰ inh. (2024), ranking 458 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 102.2 ‰ inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Willebroek?
In Willebroek, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,060 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Willebroek?
The nearest to Willebroek are Boom (3.1 km), Kapelle-op-den-Bos (4.8 km), Rumst (4.9 km), Puurs-Sint-Amands (5.9 km), Niel (5.9 km).
Coat of arms: unknown, SVG = Own work, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: David Descamps, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
