Boussu: population and statistics
Boussu has a population of 20,516 (2026) across 20.1 km², or 1,022 people per km². It ranks 167 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.9% between 2016 and 2026.
- 20,516 residents
- 20.1 km²
- 1,022 people/km²
- 36 m
Key points
Among the 69 municipalities in Hainaut, Boussu ranks No. 17 by population.
VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: 41.2 ‰ inh. in Boussu, compared with an average of 66.2 ‰ inh. in Hainaut and 98.6 ‰ inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 19.4% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,075 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Administrative poverty risk”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 2,812 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.6 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Saint-Ghislain, 2.4 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Mons (97,745 residents), 11 km away.
Boussu in numbers
All indicators for Boussu
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 | Boussu | Hainaut | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 20.4% | 20.4% | 21.7% | ranked 385 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 23.0% | 22.3% | 21.5% | ranked 116 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Boussu | Hainaut | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 57.6% | – | 34.6% | ranked 39 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 5.6% | – | 15.3% | ranked 534 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 78.8% | – | 79.9% | ranked 341 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 9,813 | 659,990 | 5,783,434 | ranked 164 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 1.36 ‰ inh. | 2.06 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 530 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Boussu | Hainaut | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 46.4% | – | 76.7% | ranked 561 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Boussu | Hainaut | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 845 | 90,576 | 1,170,010 | ranked 401 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 41.2 ‰ inh. | 66.2 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 560 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 17,922 € | 20,382 € | 24,247 € | ranked 546 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 24,722 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 531 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 150,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 544 of 554 |
Transport
| Indicator | Boussu | Hainaut | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.00 | 1.08 | 1.25 | ranked 514 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 28.7% | 26.4% | 17.6% | ranked 50 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Boussu | Hainaut | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 12.4% | 12.7% | 6.4% | ranked 106 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 18.3% | 14.8% | 7.0% | ranked 24 of 551 |
Population of Boussu over time
Boussu had 19,748 residents in 2016 and 20,516 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,842 |
| 2022 | 19,913 |
| 2023 | 20,096 |
| 2024 | 20,283 |
| 2025 | 20,401 |
| 2026 | 20,516 |
Where is Boussu?
Business sectors: Boussu
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade19.4% ×1.3
- Other service activities14.2% ×2.1
- Construction11.8% ×0.9
- Accommodation and food services10.5% ×1.9
- Professional, scientific and technical10.5% ×0.5
- Health and social work6.3% ×1.4
- Administrative and support services6.2% ×0.9
- Information and communication4.5% ×0.8
Sunshine and temperatures: Boussu
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Boussu?
Boussu has 20,516 residents (2026), ranking 167 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Boussu?
Boussu covers 20.1 km², with a density of 1,022 people per km².
Is the population of Boussu growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Boussu went from 19,748 to 20,516, a change of +3.9%.
Where is Boussu?
Boussu is in Hainaut. It belongs to Mons (arrondissement). Latitude 50.433, longitude 3.796.
Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning: what is the figure for Boussu?
In Boussu, “Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning” stands at 46.4% (2024), ranking 561 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 76.7%.
VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Boussu?
In Boussu, “VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 41.2 ‰ inh. (2024), ranking 560 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 102.2 ‰ inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Boussu?
In Boussu, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,075 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Boussu?
The nearest to Boussu are Saint-Ghislain (2.4 km), Dour (4.1 km), Colfontaine (5.0 km), Quaregnon (5.0 km), Frameries (7.2 km).
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