Aarschot: population and statistics
Aarschot has a population of 31,948 (2026) across 63.0 km², or 507 people per km². It ranks 79 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +8.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 31,948 residents
- 63.0 km²
- 507 people/km²
- 23 m
Key points
Among the 63 municipalities in Flemish Brabant, Aarschot ranks No. 10 by population.
Share of inhabitants under 20: 18.5% in Aarschot, compared with an average of 22.6% in Flemish Brabant and 21.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 16.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,059 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants under 20”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 8,829 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Begijnendijk, 5.1 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Leuven (105,357 residents), 15 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,236 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Aarschot in numbers
All indicators for Aarschot
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 | Aarschot | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 24.2% | 20.8% | 21.7% | ranked 95 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 18.5% | 22.6% | 21.5% | ranked 534 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Aarschot | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 18.1% | – | 34.6% | ranked 475 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 15.1% | – | 15.3% | ranked 290 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 79.7% | – | 79.9% | ranked 292 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 15,630 | 542,504 | 5,783,434 | ranked 81 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 5.93 ‰ inh. | 4.02 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 141 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Aarschot | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 81.6% | – | 76.7% | ranked 187 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Aarschot | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 3,290 | 130,833 | 1,170,010 | ranked 82 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 103.0 ‰ inh. | 108.1 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 278 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 26,622 € | 26,927 € | 24,247 € | ranked 124 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 31,724 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 186 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 336,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 190 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 303,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 37 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Aarschot | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.17 | 1.20 | 1.25 | ranked 394 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 21.6% | 21.3% | 17.6% | ranked 144 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Aarschot | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 6.5% | 11.9% | 6.4% | ranked 276 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 5.5% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 403 of 551 |
Population of Aarschot over time
Aarschot had 29,529 residents in 2016 and 31,948 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,281 |
| 2022 | 30,594 |
| 2023 | 30,854 |
| 2024 | 31,138 |
| 2025 | 31,514 |
| 2026 | 31,948 |
Where is Aarschot?
Business sectors: Aarschot
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade16.1% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical16.1% ×0.8
- Construction14.8% ×1.1
- Other service activities8.7% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services6.6% ×1.0
- Information and communication6.4% ×1.2
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.9% ×1.5
- Accommodation and food services5.4% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Aarschot
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Aarschot?
Aarschot has 31,948 residents (2026), ranking 79 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Aarschot?
Aarschot covers 63.0 km², with a density of 507 people per km².
Is the population of Aarschot growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Aarschot went from 29,529 to 31,948, a change of +8.2%.
Where is Aarschot?
Aarschot is in Flemish Brabant. It belongs to Leuven (arrondissement). Latitude 50.984, longitude 4.833.
Share of inhabitants under 20: what is the figure for Aarschot?
In Aarschot, “Share of inhabitants under 20” stands at 18.5% (2026), ranking 534 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.5%.
Median selling price of apartments: what is the figure for Aarschot?
In Aarschot, “Median selling price of apartments” stands at 303,000 € (2025), ranking 37 of 299 municipalities; the national median is 249,900 €.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Aarschot?
In Aarschot, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,059 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Aarschot?
The nearest to Aarschot are Begijnendijk (5.1 km), Tielt-Winge (7.6 km), Herselt (8.5 km), Holsbeek (8.8 km), Tremelo (9.1 km).
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