Saint-Gilles: population and statistics
Saint-Gilles has a population of 48,756 (2026) across 2.5 km², or 19,271 people per km². It ranks 35 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −3.8% between 2016 and 2026.
- 48,756 residents
- 2.5 km²
- 19,271 people/km²
- 71 m
Key points
Among the 19 municipalities in Brussels-Capital, Saint-Gilles ranks No. 11 by population.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: 10.5% in Saint-Gilles, compared with an average of 13.4% in Brussels-Capital and 20.7% nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 30.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,042 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Brussels-Capital for “Buildings built before 1946”.
- “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Buildings built before 1946”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Cars per household”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 354 football pitches.
- Its population density is 49.8 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Ixelles (89,162 residents), 1.7 km away.
Saint-Gilles in numbers
All indicators for Saint-Gilles
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 | Saint-Gilles | Brussels-Capital | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 10.5% | 13.4% | 21.7% | ranked 563 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 17.6% | 23.5% | 21.5% | ranked 555 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Saint-Gilles | Brussels-Capital | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 93.8% | – | 34.6% | ranked 1 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 0.9% | – | 15.3% | ranked 564 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 53.9% | – | 79.9% | ranked 556 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 27,452 | 606,437 | 5,783,434 | ranked 33 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 0.36 ‰ inh. | 2.67 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 563 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Saint-Gilles | Brussels-Capital | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 66.6% | – | 76.7% | ranked 462 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Saint-Gilles | Brussels-Capital | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 5,448 | 122,725 | 1,170,010 | ranked 30 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 111.7 ‰ inh. | 97.7 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 192 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 17,920 € | 18,524 € | 24,247 € | ranked 547 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 24,340 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 539 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 550,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 18 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 297,500 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 45 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Saint-Gilles | Brussels-Capital | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 0.32 | 0.54 | 1.25 | ranked 563 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 72.6% | 56.4% | 17.6% | ranked 2 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Saint-Gilles | Brussels-Capital | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 49.4% | 36.7% | 6.4% | ranked 3 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 23.7% | 21.7% | 7.0% | ranked 9 of 551 |
Population of Saint-Gilles over time
Saint-Gilles had 50,659 residents in 2016 and 48,756 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 49,196 |
| 2022 | 48,837 |
| 2023 | 49,323 |
| 2024 | 49,293 |
| 2025 | 48,827 |
| 2026 | 48,756 |
Where is Saint-Gilles?
Business sectors: Saint-Gilles
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical30.7% ×1.5
- Wholesale and retail trade13.0% ×0.9
- Construction9.6% ×0.7
- Accommodation and food services9.1% ×1.7
- Information and communication8.4% ×1.5
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.2% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services5.1% ×0.8
- Other service activities4.0% ×0.6
Sunshine and temperatures: Saint-Gilles
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Saint-Gilles?
Saint-Gilles has 48,756 residents (2026), ranking 35 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Saint-Gilles?
Saint-Gilles covers 2.5 km², with a density of 19,271 people per km².
Is the population of Saint-Gilles growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Saint-Gilles went from 50,659 to 48,756, a change of −3.8%.
Where is Saint-Gilles?
Saint-Gilles is in Brussels-Capital. It belongs to Bruxelles-Capitale (arrondissement). Latitude 50.827, longitude 4.346.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Saint-Gilles?
In Saint-Gilles, “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over” stands at 10.5% (2026), ranking 563 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.7%.
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Saint-Gilles?
In Saint-Gilles, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 93.8% (2024), ranking 1 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 34.6%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Saint-Gilles?
In Saint-Gilles, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,042 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Saint-Gilles?
The nearest to Saint-Gilles are Ixelles (1.7 km), Anderlecht (1.8 km), Brussels (2.3 km), Forest (2.6 km), Uccle (2.7 km).
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