Maasmechelen: population and statistics
Maasmechelen has a population of 40,653 (2026) across 76.8 km², or 529 people per km². It ranks 53 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +7.8% between 2016 and 2026.
- 40,653 residents
- 76.8 km²
- 529 people/km²
- 36 m
Key points
Among the 38 municipalities in Limburg, Maasmechelen ranks No. 7 by population.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: 21.7% in Maasmechelen, compared with an average of 12.3% in Limburg and 13.8% nationally.
Net taxable income per inhabitant: 20,262 € in Maasmechelen, compared with an average of 23,642 € in Limburg and 23,352 € nationally.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 19.1% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,060 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- “Net taxable income per inhabitant”: lower than in 91% of municipalities.
- “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 10,763 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Dilsen-Stokkem, 4.0 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Genk (68,101 residents), 14 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,240 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Maasmechelen in numbers
All indicators for Maasmechelen
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 | Maasmechelen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 21.0% | 23.3% | 21.7% | ranked 339 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 21.5% | 20.0% | 21.5% | ranked 282 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Maasmechelen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 18.1% | – | 34.6% | ranked 475 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 15.7% | – | 15.3% | ranked 264 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 83.0% | – | 79.9% | ranked 121 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 17,939 | 419,438 | 5,783,434 | ranked 62 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 7.85 ‰ inh. | 6.04 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 58 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Maasmechelen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 85.8% | – | 76.7% | ranked 110 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Maasmechelen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 3,113 | 94,292 | 1,170,010 | ranked 92 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 76.6 ‰ inh. | 103.8 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 472 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 20,262 € | 23,642 € | 24,247 € | ranked 514 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 28,169 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 463 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 286,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 322 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 226,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 202 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Maasmechelen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.24 | 1.26 | 1.25 | ranked 291 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 19.4% | 18.1% | 17.6% | ranked 210 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Maasmechelen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 21.7% | 12.3% | 6.4% | ranked 41 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 9.3% | 6.9% | 7.0% | ranked 151 of 551 |
Population of Maasmechelen over time
Maasmechelen had 37,696 residents in 2016 and 40,653 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 39,161 |
| 2022 | 39,409 |
| 2023 | 39,914 |
| 2024 | 40,219 |
| 2025 | 40,486 |
| 2026 | 40,653 |
Where is Maasmechelen?
Business sectors: Maasmechelen
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction19.1% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade18.7% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical14.5% ×0.7
- Other service activities8.3% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services7.4% ×1.4
- Manufacturing5.5% ×1.1
- Administrative and support services5.4% ×0.8
- Information and communication3.9% ×0.7
Sunshine and temperatures: Maasmechelen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Maasmechelen?
Maasmechelen has 40,653 residents (2026), ranking 53 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Maasmechelen?
Maasmechelen covers 76.8 km², with a density of 529 people per km².
Is the population of Maasmechelen growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Maasmechelen went from 37,696 to 40,653, a change of +7.8%.
Where is Maasmechelen?
Maasmechelen is in Limburg. It belongs to Tongeren (arrondissement). Latitude 50.997, longitude 5.702.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: what is the figure for Maasmechelen?
In Maasmechelen, “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality” stands at 21.7% (2026), ranking 41 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 6.4%.
Net taxable income per inhabitant: what is the figure for Maasmechelen?
In Maasmechelen, “Net taxable income per inhabitant” stands at 20,262 € (2023), ranking 514 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 24,247 €.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Maasmechelen?
In Maasmechelen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,060 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Maasmechelen?
The nearest to Maasmechelen are Dilsen-Stokkem (4.0 km), As (8.3 km), Oudsbergen (9.3 km), Zutendaal (12 km), Lanaken (12 km).
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