Riemst: population and statistics
Riemst has a population of 16,890 (2026) across 58.1 km², or 291 people per km². It ranks 219 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +1.9% between 2016 and 2026.
- 16,890 residents
- 58.1 km²
- 291 people/km²
- 104 m
Key points
Among the 38 municipalities in Limburg, Riemst ranks No. 21 by population.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: 21.6% in Riemst, compared with an average of 12.3% in Limburg and 13.8% nationally.
Share of inhabitants under 20: 20.1% in Riemst, compared with an average of 20.0% in Limburg and 21.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 17.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,070 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 8,132 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Bassenge, 5.6 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Bilzen-Hoeselt (43,228 residents), 9.1 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,280 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Riemst in numbers
All indicators for Riemst
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 | Riemst | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.3% | 23.3% | 21.7% | ranked 149 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 20.1% | 20.0% | 21.5% | ranked 445 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Riemst | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 24.0% | – | 34.6% | ranked 387 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 16.4% | – | 15.3% | ranked 226 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 80.0% | – | 79.9% | ranked 272 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 7,678 | 419,438 | 5,783,434 | ranked 222 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 5.34 ‰ inh. | 6.04 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 196 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Riemst | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 77.6% | – | 76.7% | ranked 264 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Riemst | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 1,758 | 94,292 | 1,170,010 | ranked 204 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 104.1 ‰ inh. | 103.8 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 264 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 23,790 € | 23,642 € | 24,247 € | ranked 318 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 31,641 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 192 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 299,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 299 of 554 |
Transport
| Indicator | Riemst | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.31 | 1.26 | 1.25 | ranked 167 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 16.1% | 18.1% | 17.6% | ranked 367 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Riemst | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 21.6% | 12.3% | 6.4% | ranked 42 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 6.2% | 6.9% | 7.0% | ranked 339 of 551 |
Population of Riemst over time
Riemst had 16,572 residents in 2016 and 16,890 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,709 |
| 2022 | 16,779 |
| 2023 | 16,850 |
| 2024 | 16,896 |
| 2025 | 16,938 |
| 2026 | 16,890 |
Where is Riemst?
Business sectors: Riemst
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction17.7% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical15.6% ×0.8
- Wholesale and retail trade13.3% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing11.1% ×2.7
- Other service activities8.6% ×1.3
- Accommodation and food services5.6% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services5.5% ×0.8
- Manufacturing5.0% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Riemst
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Riemst?
Riemst has 16,890 residents (2026), ranking 219 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Riemst?
Riemst covers 58.1 km², with a density of 291 people per km².
Is the population of Riemst growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Riemst went from 16,572 to 16,890, a change of +1.9%.
Where is Riemst?
Riemst is in Limburg. It belongs to Tongeren (arrondissement). Latitude 50.809, longitude 5.602.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: what is the figure for Riemst?
In Riemst, “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality” stands at 21.6% (2026), ranking 42 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 6.4%.
Share of inhabitants under 20: what is the figure for Riemst?
In Riemst, “Share of inhabitants under 20” stands at 20.1% (2026), ranking 445 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Riemst?
In Riemst, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,070 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Riemst?
The nearest to Riemst are Bassenge (5.6 km), Bilzen-Hoeselt (9.1 km), Lanaken (9.9 km), Visé (10 km), Juprelle (11 km).
Coat of arms: unknown, SVG = Own work, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: Johannes Rössel (talk), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
