Lanaken: population and statistics
Lanaken has a population of 26,513 (2026) across 59.0 km², or 450 people per km². It ranks 112 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.8% between 2016 and 2026.
- 26,513 residents
- 59.0 km²
- 450 people/km²
- 60 m
Key points
Among the 38 municipalities in Limburg, Lanaken ranks No. 13 by population.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: 33.8% in Lanaken, compared with an average of 12.3% in Limburg and 13.8% nationally.
Share of inhabitants under 20: 18.4% in Lanaken, compared with an average of 20.0% in Limburg and 21.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 18.2% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,065 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Share of inhabitants under 20”: lower than in 96% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 8,256 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Zutendaal, 7.4 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Bilzen-Hoeselt (43,228 residents), 11 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,260 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Lanaken in numbers
All indicators for Lanaken
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 | Lanaken | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 25.2% | 23.3% | 21.7% | ranked 52 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 18.4% | 20.0% | 21.5% | ranked 537 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Lanaken | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 15.7% | – | 34.6% | ranked 501 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 15.1% | – | 15.3% | ranked 290 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 76.2% | – | 79.9% | ranked 422 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 13,511 | 419,438 | 5,783,434 | ranked 102 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 4.90 ‰ inh. | 6.04 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 233 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Lanaken | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 84.3% | – | 76.7% | ranked 139 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Lanaken | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 2,301 | 94,292 | 1,170,010 | ranked 139 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 86.8 ‰ inh. | 103.8 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 415 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 23,900 € | 23,642 € | 24,247 € | ranked 310 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 30,462 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 314 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 359,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 152 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 235,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 186 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Lanaken | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.26 | 1.26 | 1.25 | ranked 258 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 18.4% | 18.1% | 17.6% | ranked 245 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Lanaken | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 33.8% | 12.3% | 6.4% | ranked 19 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 7.7% | 6.9% | 7.0% | ranked 235 of 551 |
Population of Lanaken over time
Lanaken had 25,793 residents in 2016 and 26,513 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 25,922 |
| 2022 | 26,172 |
| 2023 | 26,270 |
| 2024 | 26,366 |
| 2025 | 26,457 |
| 2026 | 26,513 |
Where is Lanaken?
Business sectors: Lanaken
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical18.2% ×0.9
- Wholesale and retail trade15.9% ×1.1
- Construction14.0% ×1.0
- Other service activities9.3% ×1.4
- Accommodation and food services6.6% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services5.7% ×0.9
- Manufacturing5.3% ×1.1
- Health and social work4.8% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Lanaken
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lanaken?
Lanaken has 26,513 residents (2026), ranking 112 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Lanaken?
Lanaken covers 59.0 km², with a density of 450 people per km².
Is the population of Lanaken growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Lanaken went from 25,793 to 26,513, a change of +2.8%.
Where is Lanaken?
Lanaken is in Limburg. It belongs to Tongeren (arrondissement). Latitude 50.892, longitude 5.650.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: what is the figure for Lanaken?
In Lanaken, “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality” stands at 33.8% (2026), ranking 19 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 6.4%.
Share of inhabitants under 20: what is the figure for Lanaken?
In Lanaken, “Share of inhabitants under 20” stands at 18.4% (2026), ranking 537 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Lanaken?
In Lanaken, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,065 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Lanaken?
The nearest to Lanaken are Zutendaal (7.4 km), Riemst (9.9 km), Bilzen-Hoeselt (11 km), Maasmechelen (12 km), As (13 km).
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