Aalter: population and statistics
Aalter has a population of 29,862 (2026) across 119.8 km², or 249 people per km². It ranks 91 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.0% between 2016 and 2026.
- 29,862 residents
- 119.8 km²
- 249 people/km²
- 17 m
Key points
Among the 55 municipalities in East Flanders, Aalter ranks No. 15 by population.
VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: 149.0 ‰ inh. in Aalter, compared with an average of 106.4 ‰ inh. in East Flanders and 98.6 ‰ inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 20.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,071 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Buildings built after 2001”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- “Administrative poverty risk”: lower than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 16,786 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Beernem, 10.1 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Deinze (46,380 residents), 12 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,284 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Aalter in numbers
All indicators for Aalter
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 | Aalter | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.8% | 21.2% | 21.7% | ranked 113 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 19.4% | 21.3% | 21.5% | ranked 496 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Aalter | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 19.0% | – | 34.6% | ranked 467 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 21.7% | – | 15.3% | ranked 40 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 81.8% | – | 79.9% | ranked 174 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 14,099 | 769,888 | 5,783,434 | ranked 95 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 7.37 ‰ inh. | 5.37 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 72 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Aalter | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 80.8% | – | 76.7% | ranked 204 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Aalter | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 4,449 | 171,424 | 1,170,010 | ranked 46 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 149.0 ‰ inh. | 106.4 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 23 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 27,103 € | 25,350 € | 24,247 € | ranked 98 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 32,530 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 106 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 367,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 137 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 248,250 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 154 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Aalter | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.25 | 1.12 | 1.25 | ranked 276 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 17.2% | 23.8% | 17.6% | ranked 302 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Aalter | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 5.0% | 9.2% | 6.4% | ranked 368 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 4.6% | 7.7% | 7.0% | ranked 498 of 551 |
Population of Aalter over time
Aalter had 28,435 residents in 2016 and 29,862 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 29,242 |
| 2022 | 29,340 |
| 2023 | 29,529 |
| 2024 | 29,787 |
| 2025 | 29,830 |
| 2026 | 29,862 |
Where is Aalter?
Business sectors: Aalter
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical20.1% ×1.0
- Construction16.5% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade14.9% ×1.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing8.3% ×2.0
- Other service activities6.1% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services5.7% ×0.9
- Manufacturing5.7% ×1.2
- Information and communication4.7% ×0.9
Sunshine and temperatures: Aalter
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Aalter?
Aalter has 29,862 residents (2026), ranking 91 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Aalter?
Aalter covers 119.8 km², with a density of 249 people per km².
Is the population of Aalter growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Aalter went from 28,435 to 29,862, a change of +5.0%.
Where is Aalter?
Aalter is in East Flanders. It belongs to Gent (arrondissement). Latitude 51.083, longitude 3.450.
VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Aalter?
In Aalter, “VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 149.0 ‰ inh. (2024), ranking 23 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 102.2 ‰ inh..
Buildings built after 2001: what is the figure for Aalter?
In Aalter, “Buildings built after 2001” stands at 21.7% (2024), ranking 40 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 15.3%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Aalter?
In Aalter, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,071 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Aalter?
The nearest to Aalter are Beernem (10 km), Lievegem (11 km), Deinze (12 km), Tielt (13 km), Wingene (13 km).
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