Wellen: population and statistics
Wellen has a population of 7,556 (2026) across 26.8 km², or 282 people per km². It ranks 423 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +2.5% between 2016 and 2026.
- 7,556 residents
- 26.8 km²
- 282 people/km²
- 46 m
Key points
Among the 38 municipalities in Limburg, Wellen ranks No. 34 by population.
Share of inhabitants under 20: 17.9% in Wellen, compared with an average of 20.0% in Limburg and 21.8% nationally.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: 3.0% in Wellen, compared with an average of 12.3% in Limburg and 13.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 16.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 39° generates about 1,083 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants under 20”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 3,754 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Alken (11,943 residents), 4.6 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,332 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Wellen in numbers
All indicators for Wellen
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 | Wellen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 25.4% | 23.3% | 21.7% | ranked 43 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 17.9% | 20.0% | 21.5% | ranked 551 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Wellen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 20.9% | – | 34.6% | ranked 437 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 18.5% | – | 15.3% | ranked 149 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 84.0% | – | 79.9% | ranked 79 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 3,445 | 419,438 | 5,783,434 | ranked 427 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 6.54 ‰ inh. | 6.04 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 115 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Wellen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 80.1% | – | 76.7% | ranked 216 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Wellen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 848 | 94,292 | 1,170,010 | ranked 400 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 112.2 ‰ inh. | 103.8 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 188 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 25,576 € | 23,642 € | 24,247 € | ranked 195 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 31,566 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 204 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 297,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 302 of 554 |
Transport
| Indicator | Wellen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.36 | 1.26 | 1.25 | ranked 81 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 14.7% | 18.1% | 17.6% | ranked 458 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Wellen | Limburg | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 3.0% | 12.3% | 6.4% | ranked 531 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 4.8% | 6.9% | 7.0% | ranked 469 of 551 |
Population of Wellen over time
Wellen had 7,374 residents in 2016 and 7,556 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 7,413 |
| 2022 | 7,459 |
| 2023 | 7,473 |
| 2024 | 7,490 |
| 2025 | 7,479 |
| 2026 | 7,556 |
Where is Wellen?
Business sectors: Wellen
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical16.7% ×0.8
- Wholesale and retail trade15.4% ×1.0
- Construction13.3% ×1.0
- Other service activities10.3% ×1.5
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.9% ×1.9
- Administrative and support services6.8% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services5.3% ×1.0
- Health and social work4.7% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Wellen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Wellen?
Wellen has 7,556 residents (2026), ranking 423 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Wellen?
Wellen covers 26.8 km², with a density of 282 people per km².
Is the population of Wellen growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Wellen went from 7,374 to 7,556, a change of +2.5%.
Where is Wellen?
Wellen is in Limburg. It belongs to Tongeren (arrondissement). Latitude 50.839, longitude 5.339.
Share of inhabitants under 20: what is the figure for Wellen?
In Wellen, “Share of inhabitants under 20” stands at 17.9% (2026), ranking 551 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.5%.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: what is the figure for Wellen?
In Wellen, “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality” stands at 3.0% (2026), ranking 531 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 6.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Wellen?
In Wellen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 39° produces about 1,083 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Wellen?
The nearest to Wellen are Alken (4.6 km), Tongeren-Borgloon (6.8 km), Diepenbeek (9.3 km), Hasselt (10 km), Heers (10 km).
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