Lokeren: population and statistics
Lokeren has a population of 50,897 (2026) across 106.2 km², or 479 people per km². It ranks 32 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +8.4% between 2016 and 2026.
- 50,897 residents
- 106.2 km²
- 479 people/km²
- 3 m
Key points
Among the 55 municipalities in East Flanders, Lokeren ranks No. 5 by population.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 20.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,066 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “VAT-liable enterprises”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Number of dwellings”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 14,870 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Zele, 5.1 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Sint-Niklaas (83,400 residents), 13 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,264 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Lokeren in numbers
All indicators for Lokeren
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 | Lokeren | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 20.4% | 21.2% | 21.7% | ranked 385 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 22.8% | 21.3% | 21.5% | ranked 138 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Lokeren | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 27.8% | – | 34.6% | ranked 341 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 20.7% | – | 15.3% | ranked 75 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 81.9% | – | 79.9% | ranked 170 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 22,829 | 769,888 | 5,783,434 | ranked 39 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 7.01 ‰ inh. | 5.37 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 84 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Lokeren | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 74.0% | – | 76.7% | ranked 336 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Lokeren | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 5,113 | 171,424 | 1,170,010 | ranked 32 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 100.5 ‰ inh. | 106.4 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 302 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 24,220 € | 25,350 € | 24,247 € | ranked 287 of 564 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 329,750 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 216 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 249,500 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 151 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Lokeren | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.15 | 1.12 | 1.25 | ranked 414 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 21.3% | 23.8% | 17.6% | ranked 155 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Lokeren | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 8.8% | 9.2% | 6.4% | ranked 180 of 564 |
Population of Lokeren over time
Lokeren had 46,954 residents in 2016 and 50,897 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 48,764 |
| 2022 | 49,388 |
| 2023 | 49,788 |
| 2024 | 50,312 |
| 2025 | 50,606 |
| 2026 | 50,897 |
Where is Lokeren?
Business sectors: Lokeren
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction20.1% ×1.5
- Professional, scientific and technical17.1% ×0.8
- Wholesale and retail trade14.6% ×1.0
- Manufacturing6.4% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services6.1% ×0.9
- Other service activities6.1% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing5.5% ×1.3
- Information and communication5.1% ×0.9
Sunshine and temperatures: Lokeren
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lokeren?
Lokeren has 50,897 residents (2026), ranking 32 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Lokeren?
Lokeren covers 106.2 km², with a density of 479 people per km².
Is the population of Lokeren growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Lokeren went from 46,954 to 50,897, a change of +8.4%.
Where is Lokeren?
Lokeren is in East Flanders. It belongs to Sint-Niklaas (arrondissement). Latitude 51.100, longitude 3.983.
VAT-liable enterprises: what is the figure for Lokeren?
In Lokeren, “VAT-liable enterprises” stands at 5,113 (2024), ranking 32 of 565 municipalities; the national median is 1,324.
Number of dwellings: what is the figure for Lokeren?
In Lokeren, “Number of dwellings” stands at 22,829 (2024), ranking 39 of 565 municipalities; the national median is 6,052.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Lokeren?
In Lokeren, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,066 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Lokeren?
The nearest to Lokeren are Zele (5.1 km), Waasmunster (7.1 km), Berlare (8.4 km), Lochristi (11 km), Hamme (11 km).
Coat of arms: Stad Lokeren, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: Stad Lokeren (vectorized by Deltaspace42), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
