Hechtel-Eksel: population and statistics
Hechtel-Eksel has a population of 13,089 (2026) across 76.7 km², or 171 people per km². It ranks 283 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.5% between 2016 and 2026.
- 13,089 residents
- 76.7 km²
- 171 people/km²
- 62 m
Key points
Among the 38 municipalities in Limburg, Hechtel-Eksel ranks No. 26 by population.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 19.4% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,044 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Buildings built before 1946”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 10,739 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.3 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Peer, 5.5 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Pelt (34,698 residents), 8.9 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,176 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Hechtel-Eksel in numbers
All indicators for Hechtel-Eksel
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 | Hechtel-Eksel | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 22.2% | 23.3% | 21.7% | ranked 229 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 21.6% | 20.0% | 21.5% | ranked 271 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Hechtel-Eksel | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 7.1% | – | 34.6% | ranked 560 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 20.9% | – | 15.3% | ranked 66 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 81.8% | – | 79.9% | ranked 174 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 5,942 | 419,438 | 5,783,434 | ranked 289 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 5.81 ‰ inh. | 6.04 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 151 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Hechtel-Eksel | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 88.0% | – | 76.7% | ranked 71 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Hechtel-Eksel | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 1,324 | 94,292 | 1,170,010 | ranked 283 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 101.2 ‰ inh. | 103.8 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 297 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 22,999 € | 23,642 € | 24,247 € | ranked 370 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 30,966 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 266 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 315,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 247 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 231,500 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 192 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Hechtel-Eksel | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.33 | 1.26 | 1.25 | ranked 131 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 15.7% | 18.1% | 17.6% | ranked 395 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Hechtel-Eksel | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 11.4% | 12.3% | 6.4% | ranked 116 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 5.9% | 6.9% | 7.0% | ranked 367 of 551 |
Population of Hechtel-Eksel over time
Hechtel-Eksel had 12,294 residents in 2016 and 13,089 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,543 |
| 2022 | 12,760 |
| 2023 | 12,914 |
| 2024 | 12,965 |
| 2025 | 13,105 |
| 2026 | 13,089 |
Where is Hechtel-Eksel?
Business sectors: Hechtel-Eksel
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction19.4% ×1.4
- Professional, scientific and technical15.2% ×0.8
- Wholesale and retail trade13.5% ×0.9
- Other service activities9.9% ×1.5
- Health and social work5.7% ×1.2
- Manufacturing5.7% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services4.9% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services4.9% ×0.8
Sunshine and temperatures: Hechtel-Eksel
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Hechtel-Eksel?
Hechtel-Eksel has 13,089 residents (2026), ranking 283 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Hechtel-Eksel?
Hechtel-Eksel covers 76.7 km², with a density of 171 people per km².
Is the population of Hechtel-Eksel growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Hechtel-Eksel went from 12,294 to 13,089, a change of +6.5%.
Where is Hechtel-Eksel?
Hechtel-Eksel is in Limburg. It belongs to Maaseik (arrondissement). Latitude 51.141, longitude 5.376.
Buildings built before 1946: what is the figure for Hechtel-Eksel?
In Hechtel-Eksel, “Buildings built before 1946” stands at 7.1% (2024), ranking 560 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 34.6%.
Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning: what is the figure for Hechtel-Eksel?
In Hechtel-Eksel, “Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning” stands at 88.0% (2024), ranking 71 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 76.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Hechtel-Eksel?
In Hechtel-Eksel, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,044 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Hechtel-Eksel?
The nearest to Hechtel-Eksel are Peer (5.5 km), Leopoldsburg (8.8 km), Pelt (8.9 km), Lommel (11 km), Houthalen-Helchteren (12 km).
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