Kelmis: population and statistics
Kelmis has a population of 11,332 (2026) across 18.0 km², or 628 people per km². It ranks 331 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.8% between 2016 and 2026.
- 11,332 residents
- 18.0 km²
- 628 people/km²
- 201 m
Key points
Among the 84 municipalities in Liège, Kelmis ranks No. 29 by population.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: 38.5% in Kelmis, compared with an average of 11.6% in Liège and 13.8% nationally.
VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: 39.1 ‰ inh. in Kelmis, compared with an average of 79.4 ‰ inh. in Liège and 98.6 ‰ inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 17.2% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 38° generates about 1,030 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 2,527 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Lontzen, 1.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Eupen (20,145 residents), 7.8 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,120 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Kelmis in numbers
All indicators for Kelmis
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 | Kelmis | Liège | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 22.8% | 20.6% | 21.7% | ranked 185 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 22.4% | 22.2% | 21.5% | ranked 177 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Kelmis | Liège | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 23.4% | – | 34.6% | ranked 398 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 14.4% | – | 15.3% | ranked 322 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 84.7% | – | 79.9% | ranked 68 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 5,510 | 549,948 | 5,783,434 | ranked 312 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 0.71 ‰ inh. | 2.72 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 558 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Kelmis | Liège | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 87.7% | – | 76.7% | ranked 78 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Kelmis | Liège | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 443 | 89,330 | 1,170,010 | ranked 501 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 39.1 ‰ inh. | 79.4 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 561 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 20,566 € | 21,639 € | 24,247 € | ranked 501 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 27,294 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 485 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 260,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 395 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 167,500 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 282 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Kelmis | Liège | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.05 | 1.11 | 1.25 | ranked 490 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 25.5% | 25.4% | 17.6% | ranked 74 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Kelmis | Liège | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 38.5% | 11.6% | 6.4% | ranked 9 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 15.1% | 14.1% | 7.0% | ranked 42 of 551 |
Population of Kelmis over time
Kelmis had 10,917 residents in 2016 and 11,332 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,086 |
| 2022 | 11,229 |
| 2023 | 11,333 |
| 2024 | 11,352 |
| 2025 | 11,338 |
| 2026 | 11,332 |
Where is Kelmis?
Business sectors: Kelmis
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade17.2% ×1.1
- Construction14.0% ×1.0
- Other service activities12.9% ×1.9
- Professional, scientific and technical11.1% ×0.5
- Accommodation and food services7.9% ×1.4
- Administrative and support services6.1% ×0.9
- Health and social work5.9% ×1.3
- Manufacturing5.6% ×1.2
Sunshine and temperatures: Kelmis
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kelmis?
Kelmis has 11,332 residents (2026), ranking 331 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Kelmis?
Kelmis covers 18.0 km², with a density of 628 people per km².
Is the population of Kelmis growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Kelmis went from 10,917 to 11,332, a change of +3.8%.
Where is Kelmis?
Kelmis is in Liège. It belongs to Verviers (arrondissement). Latitude 50.700, longitude 6.000.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: what is the figure for Kelmis?
In Kelmis, “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality” stands at 38.5% (2026), ranking 9 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 6.4%.
VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Kelmis?
In Kelmis, “VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 39.1 ‰ inh. (2024), ranking 561 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 102.2 ‰ inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Kelmis?
In Kelmis, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 38° produces about 1,030 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Kelmis?
The nearest to Kelmis are Lontzen (1.9 km), Welkenraedt (4.8 km), Plombières (5.1 km), Eupen (7.8 km), Baelen (8.0 km).
Coat of arms: CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: Jürgen Krause, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
