Machelen: population and statistics
Machelen has a population of 17,115 (2026) across 11.5 km², or 1,488 people per km². It ranks 215 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +15.9% between 2016 and 2026.
- 17,115 residents
- 11.5 km²
- 1,488 people/km²
- 28 m
Key points
Among the 63 municipalities in Flemish Brabant, Machelen ranks No. 26 by population.
Share of inhabitants under 20: 27.2% in Machelen, compared with an average of 22.6% in Flemish Brabant and 21.8% nationally.
Net taxable income per inhabitant: 20,500 € in Machelen, compared with an average of 26,927 € in Flemish Brabant and 23,352 € nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 17.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,067 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Flemish Brabant for “Population change over 10 years”.
- “Share of inhabitants under 20”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Net taxable income per inhabitant”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 1,611 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.8 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Vilvoorde (48,413 residents), 2.2 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,268 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Machelen in numbers
All indicators for Machelen
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 | Machelen | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 14.2% | 20.8% | 21.7% | ranked 550 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 27.2% | 22.6% | 21.5% | ranked 7 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Machelen | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 37.2% | – | 34.6% | ranked 257 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 13.0% | – | 15.3% | ranked 369 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 79.7% | – | 79.9% | ranked 292 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 6,728 | 542,504 | 5,783,434 | ranked 258 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 5.42 ‰ inh. | 4.02 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 186 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Machelen | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 70.6% | – | 76.7% | ranked 408 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Machelen | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 1,969 | 130,833 | 1,170,010 | ranked 173 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 115.0 ‰ inh. | 108.1 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 162 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 20,500 € | 26,927 € | 24,247 € | ranked 505 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 28,776 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 433 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 377,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 125 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 265,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 112 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Machelen | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.13 | 1.20 | 1.25 | ranked 438 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 22.5% | 21.3% | 17.6% | ranked 125 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Machelen | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 15.6% | 11.9% | 6.4% | ranked 74 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 9.2% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 158 of 551 |
Population of Machelen over time
Machelen had 14,764 residents in 2016 and 17,115 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,895 |
| 2022 | 16,108 |
| 2023 | 16,486 |
| 2024 | 16,576 |
| 2025 | 16,784 |
| 2026 | 17,115 |
Where is Machelen?
Business sectors: Machelen
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical17.1% ×0.8
- Wholesale and retail trade17.0% ×1.1
- Construction15.0% ×1.1
- Transport and storage12.2% ×4.8
- Information and communication8.6% ×1.6
- Administrative and support services8.2% ×1.3
- Accommodation and food services5.0% ×0.9
- Other service activities4.8% ×0.7
Sunshine and temperatures: Machelen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Machelen?
Machelen has 17,115 residents (2026), ranking 215 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Machelen?
Machelen covers 11.5 km², with a density of 1,488 people per km².
Is the population of Machelen growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Machelen went from 14,764 to 17,115, a change of +15.9%.
Where is Machelen?
Machelen is in Flemish Brabant. It belongs to Halle-Vilvoorde (arrondissement). Latitude 50.910, longitude 4.437.
Share of inhabitants under 20: what is the figure for Machelen?
In Machelen, “Share of inhabitants under 20” stands at 27.2% (2026), ranking 7 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.5%.
Net taxable income per inhabitant: what is the figure for Machelen?
In Machelen, “Net taxable income per inhabitant” stands at 20,500 € (2023), ranking 505 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 24,247 €.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Machelen?
In Machelen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,067 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Machelen?
The nearest to Machelen are Vilvoorde (2.2 km), Zaventem (3.7 km), Grimbergen (4.5 km), Evere (4.9 km), Steenokkerzeel (5.1 km).
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