Zulte: population and statistics
Zulte has a population of 16,260 (2026) across 32.8 km², or 496 people per km². It ranks 227 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.3% between 2016 and 2026.
- 16,260 residents
- 32.8 km²
- 496 people/km²
- 13 m
Key points
Among the 55 municipalities in East Flanders, Zulte ranks No. 34 by population.
New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants: 7.43 ‰ inh. in Zulte, compared with an average of 5.37 ‰ inh. in East Flanders and 4.28 ‰ inh. nationally.
Administrative poverty risk: 4.9% in Zulte, compared with an average of 7.7% in East Flanders and 11.0% 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 1,067 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 4,588 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Waregem (40,737 residents), 4.8 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,268 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Zulte in numbers
All indicators for Zulte
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 | Zulte | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 20.1% | 21.2% | 21.7% | ranked 411 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 21.4% | 21.3% | 21.5% | ranked 291 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Zulte | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 20.2% | – | 34.6% | ranked 447 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 19.9% | – | 15.3% | ranked 92 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 82.6% | – | 79.9% | ranked 139 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 7,679 | 769,888 | 5,783,434 | ranked 221 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 7.43 ‰ inh. | 5.37 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 70 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Zulte | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 78.0% | – | 76.7% | ranked 254 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Zulte | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 2,055 | 171,424 | 1,170,010 | ranked 163 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 126.4 ‰ inh. | 106.4 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 92 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 25,301 € | 25,350 € | 24,247 € | ranked 217 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 32,045 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 155 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 302,500 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 277 of 554 |
Transport
| Indicator | Zulte | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.30 | 1.12 | 1.25 | ranked 184 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 16.3% | 23.8% | 17.6% | ranked 354 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Zulte | East Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 6.6% | 9.2% | 6.4% | ranked 271 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 4.9% | 7.7% | 7.0% | ranked 463 of 551 |
Population of Zulte over time
Zulte had 15,589 residents in 2016 and 16,260 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,843 |
| 2022 | 15,943 |
| 2023 | 16,000 |
| 2024 | 16,095 |
| 2025 | 16,233 |
| 2026 | 16,260 |
Where is Zulte?
Business sectors: Zulte
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
- Construction18.5% ×1.3
- Wholesale and retail trade14.1% ×0.9
- Manufacturing7.1% ×1.5
- Administrative and support services7.0% ×1.1
- Other service activities6.0% ×0.9
- Health and social work4.4% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing4.3% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Zulte
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Zulte?
Zulte has 16,260 residents (2026), ranking 227 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Zulte?
Zulte covers 32.8 km², with a density of 496 people per km².
Is the population of Zulte growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Zulte went from 15,589 to 16,260, a change of +4.3%.
Where is Zulte?
Zulte is in East Flanders. It belongs to Gent (arrondissement). Latitude 50.914, longitude 3.442.
New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Zulte?
In Zulte, “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 7.43 ‰ inh. (2021-2025), ranking 70 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 4.39 ‰ inh..
Administrative poverty risk: what is the figure for Zulte?
In Zulte, “Administrative poverty risk” stands at 4.9% (2023), ranking 463 of 551 municipalities; the national median is 7.0%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Zulte?
In Zulte, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,067 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Zulte?
The nearest to Zulte are Waregem (4.8 km), Wielsbeke (5.1 km), Dentergem (5.8 km), Oostrozebeke (7.7 km), Wortegem-Petegem (8.6 km).
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