Brakel: population and statistics
Brakel has a population of 15,169 (2026) across 57.0 km², or 266 people per km². It ranks 243 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 15,169 residents
- 57.0 km²
- 266 people/km²
- 39 m
Key points
Among the 55 municipalities in East Flanders, Brakel ranks No. 38 by population.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: 3.2% in Brakel, compared with an average of 9.2% in East Flanders and 13.8% nationally.
Share of inhabitants under 20: 19.9% in Brakel, compared with an average of 21.3% in East Flanders and 21.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 15.9% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,079 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality”: lower than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 7,978 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Lierde, 6.5 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Geraardsbergen (35,338 residents), 8.1 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,316 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Brakel in numbers
All indicators for Brakel
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 | Brakel | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 24.0% | 21.2% | 21.7% | ranked 107 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 19.9% | 21.3% | 21.5% | ranked 463 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Brakel | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 37.7% | – | 34.6% | ranked 248 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 15.2% | – | 15.3% | ranked 286 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 82.0% | – | 79.9% | ranked 167 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 7,045 | 769,888 | 5,783,434 | ranked 242 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 4.67 ‰ inh. | 5.37 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 255 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Brakel | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 68.0% | – | 76.7% | ranked 444 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Brakel | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 1,647 | 171,424 | 1,170,010 | ranked 224 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 108.6 ‰ inh. | 106.4 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 226 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 25,918 € | 25,350 € | 24,247 € | ranked 168 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 31,781 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 181 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 305,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 271 of 554 |
Transport
| Indicator | Brakel | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.27 | 1.12 | 1.25 | ranked 241 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 17.6% | 23.8% | 17.6% | ranked 282 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Brakel | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 3.2% | 9.2% | 6.4% | ranked 518 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 4.6% | 7.7% | 7.0% | ranked 498 of 551 |
Population of Brakel over time
Brakel had 14,787 residents in 2016 and 15,169 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,762 |
| 2022 | 14,850 |
| 2023 | 15,007 |
| 2024 | 15,073 |
| 2025 | 15,127 |
| 2026 | 15,169 |
Where is Brakel?
Business sectors: Brakel
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction15.9% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical14.6% ×0.7
- Wholesale and retail trade11.7% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services8.9% ×1.4
- Other service activities8.3% ×1.2
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing8.0% ×1.9
- Manufacturing7.9% ×1.6
- Accommodation and food services5.6% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Brakel
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Brakel?
Brakel has 15,169 residents (2026), ranking 243 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Brakel?
Brakel covers 57.0 km², with a density of 266 people per km².
Is the population of Brakel growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Brakel went from 14,787 to 15,169, a change of +2.6%.
Where is Brakel?
Brakel is in East Flanders. It belongs to Oudenaarde (arrondissement). Latitude 50.798, longitude 3.763.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: what is the figure for Brakel?
In Brakel, “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality” stands at 3.2% (2026), ranking 518 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 6.4%.
Share of inhabitants under 20: what is the figure for Brakel?
In Brakel, “Share of inhabitants under 20” stands at 19.9% (2026), ranking 463 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Brakel?
In Brakel, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,079 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Brakel?
The nearest to Brakel are Lierde (6.5 km), Horebeke (6.8 km), Flobecq (7.5 km), Geraardsbergen (8.1 km), Zottegem (8.5 km).
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