ProvinceCoat of arms of East FlandersFlag of East Flanders

East Flanders: municipalities in numbers

East Flanders (province) has 55 municipalities and 1,611,409 residents across 3,027 km², or 532 people per km². Population: +7.0% between 2016 and 2026.

  • 1,611,409 residents
  • 55 municipalities
  • 3,027 km²
  • 532 people/km²
Location map: East Flanders

Map and records: East Flanders

All municipalities in East Flanders

Click a column heading to sort the table.

MunicipalityPopulationPopulation change over 10 yearsPopulation densityAreaShare of inhabitants aged 65 and overShare of inhabitants under 20
Ghent274,042+6.6%1,737 people/km²157.8 km²16.7%20.4%
Aalst93,094+10.4%1,184 people/km²78.7 km²20.7%22.5%
Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht88,344+6.3%427.9 people/km²206.5 km²22.6%21.9%
Sint-Niklaas83,400+10.9%990.5 people/km²84.2 km²20.0%24.8%
Lokeren50,897+8.4%479.4 people/km²106.2 km²20.4%22.8%
Dendermonde47,828+5.4%846.7 people/km²56.5 km²22.7%21.0%
Deinze46,380+8.5%362.3 people/km²128.0 km²22.7%20.5%
Ninove40,879+7.4%559.1 people/km²73.1 km²22.5%22.1%
Merelbeke-Melle37,675+6.2%719.8 people/km²52.3 km²21.7%21.3%
Evergem37,371+7.7%495.8 people/km²75.4 km²22.4%20.9%
Geraardsbergen35,338+6.6%441.4 people/km²80.1 km²21.9%21.4%
Oudenaarde33,105+6.8%480.3 people/km²68.9 km²22.9%20.3%
Temse31,814+9.0%793.4 people/km²40.1 km²20.6%22.7%
Lochristi30,982+4.3%325.1 people/km²95.3 km²23.5%20.1%
Aalter29,862+5.0%249.2 people/km²119.8 km²23.8%19.4%
Zottegem28,343+9.4%493.3 people/km²57.5 km²23.7%20.0%
Ronse27,731+7.0%799.2 people/km²34.7 km²20.0%25.4%
Lievegem27,502+6.4%340.5 people/km²80.8 km²24.9%20.4%
Wetteren27,071+9.1%731.3 people/km²37.0 km²21.7%21.0%
Hamme25,763+4.3%635.7 people/km²40.5 km²21.1%21.7%
Maldegem24,927+6.3%260.7 people/km²95.6 km²23.4%19.3%
Nazareth-De Pinte23,633+7.7%444.1 people/km²53.2 km²24.2%20.9%
Eeklo22,911+11.4%752.4 people/km²30.4 km²23.4%20.1%
Zele21,587+3.9%648.6 people/km²33.3 km²20.8%22.2%
Denderleeuw21,402+8.7%1,544 people/km²13.9 km²18.4%24.8%
Erpe-Mere21,211+7.6%616.4 people/km²34.4 km²23.4%20.8%
Lebbeke20,380+8.2%745.4 people/km²27.3 km²20.9%21.8%
Sint-Gillis-Waas20,272+5.6%365.3 people/km²55.5 km²21.9%21.0%
Stekene19,955+11.6%440.9 people/km²45.3 km²22.9%20.6%
Haaltert19,667+8.6%644.4 people/km²30.5 km²22.3%21.4%
Lede19,528+6.1%653.3 people/km²29.9 km²23.0%20.5%
Herzele19,291+9.9%402.7 people/km²47.9 km²21.3%20.9%
Destelbergen19,223+7.6%719.7 people/km²26.7 km²24.5%21.2%
Zulte16,260+4.3%496.3 people/km²32.8 km²20.1%21.4%
Kruisem16,035+2.4%224.0 people/km²71.6 km²21.5%20.8%
Berlare15,480+4.9%404.9 people/km²38.2 km²23.2%19.2%
Buggenhout15,203+5.1%592.9 people/km²25.6 km²22.9%21.3%
Brakel15,169+2.6%266.3 people/km²57.0 km²24.0%19.9%
Assenede14,626+3.9%167.2 people/km²87.5 km²23.7%19.6%
Oosterzele14,150+4.5%324.8 people/km²43.6 km²21.6%21.7%
Zelzate13,745+10.0%998.2 people/km²13.8 km²20.5%22.8%
Gavere13,437+6.0%425.2 people/km²31.6 km²22.9%19.9%
Laarne12,525+0.1%384.4 people/km²32.6 km²24.7%20.3%
Wichelen12,171+5.8%524.6 people/km²23.2 km²22.1%20.1%
Waasmunster11,532+7.4%357.4 people/km²32.3 km²21.9%22.2%
Sint-Lievens-Houtem10,750+5.9%397.4 people/km²27.1 km²21.4%20.4%
Zwalm8,374+4.2%247.2 people/km²33.9 km²22.3%20.2%
Sint-Martens-Latem8,157−4.2%564.5 people/km²14.4 km²29.4%20.0%
Sint-Laureins7,007+5.1%94.0 people/km²74.5 km²24.3%19.7%
Kluisbergen6,939+7.7%226.5 people/km²30.6 km²21.0%22.1%
Lierde6,880+5.0%261.4 people/km²26.3 km²23.7%20.9%
Kaprijke6,710+6.2%199.5 people/km²33.6 km²23.5%20.3%
Wortegem-Petegem6,542+3.4%154.0 people/km²42.5 km²21.9%21.5%
Maarkedal6,289+0.1%136.3 people/km²46.1 km²25.2%19.3%
Horebeke2,020+1.0%179.6 people/km²11.2 km²27.5%19.4%

East Flanders compared with the national figures

Population-weighted averages for rates; totals for counts.

IndicatorEast FlandersBelgium
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over21.2%20.7%
Share of inhabitants under 2021.3%21.8%
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality9.2%13.8%
Number of dwellings769,8885,783,434
VAT-liable enterprises171,4241,170,010
VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants106.4 ‰ inh.98.6 ‰ inh.
Net taxable income per inhabitant25,350 €23,352 €
Administrative poverty risk7.7%11.0%
Cars per household1.121.07
Households without a car23.8%27.1%
New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants5.37 ‰ inh.4.28 ‰ inh.

Frequently asked questions

How many municipalities are there in East Flanders?

East Flanders has 55 municipalities. The most populous is Ghent, with 274,042 residents.

What is the population of East Flanders?

East Flanders has 1,611,409 residents (2026), or 532 people per km².

Which municipality in East Flanders is growing fastest?

Stekene has the fastest growth in East Flanders over 10 years: +11.6%.

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