Merchtem: population and statistics
Merchtem has a population of 18,467 (2026) across 36.9 km², or 500 people per km². It ranks 195 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +14.8% between 2016 and 2026.
- 18,467 residents
- 36.9 km²
- 500 people/km²
- 21 m
Key points
Among the 63 municipalities in Flemish Brabant, Merchtem ranks No. 23 by population.
Net taxable income per inhabitant: 27,270 € in Merchtem, compared with an average of 26,927 € in Flemish Brabant and 23,352 € nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 22.2% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,080 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning”: higher than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 5,168 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Opwijk, 3.5 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Asse (36,018 residents), 7.8 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,320 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Merchtem in numbers
All indicators for Merchtem
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 | Merchtem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 21.5% | 20.8% | 21.7% | ranked 297 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 22.5% | 22.6% | 21.5% | ranked 165 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Merchtem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 20.2% | – | 34.6% | ranked 447 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 17.2% | – | 15.3% | ranked 198 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 79.9% | – | 79.9% | ranked 278 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 8,184 | 542,504 | 5,783,434 | ranked 209 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 6.50 ‰ inh. | 4.02 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 117 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Merchtem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 89.4% | – | 76.7% | ranked 49 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Merchtem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 2,057 | 130,833 | 1,170,010 | ranked 162 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 111.4 ‰ inh. | 108.1 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 196 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 27,270 € | 26,927 € | 24,247 € | ranked 92 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 32,250 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 137 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 397,500 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 102 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 292,500 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 53 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Merchtem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.22 | 1.20 | 1.25 | ranked 325 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 18.7% | 21.3% | 17.6% | ranked 232 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Merchtem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 7.4% | 11.9% | 6.4% | ranked 231 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 6.3% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 329 of 551 |
Population of Merchtem over time
Merchtem had 16,083 residents in 2016 and 18,467 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 17,154 |
| 2022 | 17,507 |
| 2023 | 17,740 |
| 2024 | 18,029 |
| 2025 | 18,361 |
| 2026 | 18,467 |
Where is Merchtem?
Business sectors: Merchtem
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical22.2% ×1.1
- Wholesale and retail trade15.6% ×1.0
- Construction12.4% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services6.6% ×1.0
- Other service activities6.2% ×0.9
- Information and communication5.8% ×1.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing5.7% ×1.4
- Health and social work4.8% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Merchtem
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Merchtem?
Merchtem has 18,467 residents (2026), ranking 195 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Merchtem?
Merchtem covers 36.9 km², with a density of 500 people per km².
Is the population of Merchtem growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Merchtem went from 16,083 to 18,467, a change of +14.8%.
Where is Merchtem?
Merchtem is in Flemish Brabant. It belongs to Halle-Vilvoorde (arrondissement). Latitude 50.967, longitude 4.233.
Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning: what is the figure for Merchtem?
In Merchtem, “Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning” stands at 89.4% (2024), ranking 49 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 76.7%.
Net taxable income per inhabitant: what is the figure for Merchtem?
In Merchtem, “Net taxable income per inhabitant” stands at 27,270 € (2023), ranking 92 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 24,247 €.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Merchtem?
In Merchtem, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,080 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Merchtem?
The nearest to Merchtem are Opwijk (3.5 km), Buggenhout (5.8 km), Londerzeel (6.0 km), Asse (7.8 km), Meise (7.9 km).
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