Scherpenheuvel-Zichem: population and statistics
Scherpenheuvel-Zichem has a population of 24,537 (2026) across 51.1 km², or 480 people per km². It ranks 125 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +7.5% between 2016 and 2026.
- 24,537 residents
- 51.1 km²
- 480 people/km²
- 57 m
Key points
Among the 63 municipalities in Flemish Brabant, Scherpenheuvel-Zichem ranks No. 15 by population.
Share of inhabitants under 20: 18.4% in Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, compared with an average of 22.6% in Flemish Brabant and 21.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 16.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,076 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants under 20”: lower than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Share of houses in the building stock”: higher than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 7,164 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Bekkevoort, 3.4 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Beringen (49,034 residents), 18 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,304 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Scherpenheuvel-Zichem in numbers
All indicators for Scherpenheuvel-Zichem
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 | Scherpenheuvel-Zichem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 25.6% | 20.8% | 21.7% | ranked 39 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 18.4% | 22.6% | 21.5% | ranked 537 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Scherpenheuvel-Zichem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 19.5% | – | 34.6% | ranked 456 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 14.8% | – | 15.3% | ranked 305 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 85.4% | – | 79.9% | ranked 51 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 11,332 | 542,504 | 5,783,434 | ranked 128 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 8.08 ‰ inh. | 4.02 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 51 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Scherpenheuvel-Zichem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 84.4% | – | 76.7% | ranked 137 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Scherpenheuvel-Zichem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 2,143 | 130,833 | 1,170,010 | ranked 153 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 87.3 ‰ inh. | 108.1 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 413 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 25,764 € | 26,927 € | 24,247 € | ranked 179 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 31,472 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 213 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 295,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 304 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 290,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 54 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Scherpenheuvel-Zichem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.28 | 1.20 | 1.25 | ranked 217 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 17.2% | 21.3% | 17.6% | ranked 302 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Scherpenheuvel-Zichem | Flemish Brabant | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 5.3% | 11.9% | 6.4% | ranked 348 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 5.0% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 450 of 551 |
Population of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem over time
Scherpenheuvel-Zichem had 22,833 residents in 2016 and 24,537 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,135 |
| 2022 | 23,375 |
| 2023 | 23,705 |
| 2024 | 24,001 |
| 2025 | 24,200 |
| 2026 | 24,537 |
Where is Scherpenheuvel-Zichem?
Business sectors: Scherpenheuvel-Zichem
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction16.1% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical15.5% ×0.8
- Wholesale and retail trade14.0% ×0.9
- Other service activities10.2% ×1.5
- Administrative and support services7.7% ×1.2
- Information and communication5.8% ×1.0
- Health and social work5.7% ×1.2
- Manufacturing5.1% ×1.1
Sunshine and temperatures: Scherpenheuvel-Zichem
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem?
Scherpenheuvel-Zichem has 24,537 residents (2026), ranking 125 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Scherpenheuvel-Zichem?
Scherpenheuvel-Zichem covers 51.1 km², with a density of 480 people per km².
Is the population of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem went from 22,833 to 24,537, a change of +7.5%.
Where is Scherpenheuvel-Zichem?
Scherpenheuvel-Zichem is in Flemish Brabant. It belongs to Leuven (arrondissement). Latitude 50.980, longitude 4.974.
Share of inhabitants under 20: what is the figure for Scherpenheuvel-Zichem?
In Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, “Share of inhabitants under 20” stands at 18.4% (2026), ranking 537 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.5%.
Share of houses in the building stock: what is the figure for Scherpenheuvel-Zichem?
In Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, “Share of houses in the building stock” stands at 85.4% (2024), ranking 51 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 79.9%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Scherpenheuvel-Zichem?
In Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,076 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Scherpenheuvel-Zichem?
The nearest to Scherpenheuvel-Zichem are Bekkevoort (3.4 km), Diest (5.4 km), Tielt-Winge (6.7 km), Aarschot (9.9 km), Herselt (10 km).
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