Blankenberge: population and statistics
Blankenberge has a population of 20,741 (2026) across 19.0 km², or 1,092 people per km². It ranks 164 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 20,741 residents
- 19.0 km²
- 1,092 people/km²
- 4 m
Key points
Among the 62 municipalities in West Flanders, Blankenberge ranks No. 19 by population.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: 35.6% in Blankenberge, compared with an average of 25.3% in West Flanders and 20.7% nationally.
New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants: 12.16 ‰ inh. in Blankenberge, compared with an average of 7.30 ‰ inh. in West Flanders and 4.28 ‰ inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 17.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,117 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Cars per household”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 2,661 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.8 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Zuienkerke, 5.4 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Knokke-Heist (32,163 residents), 11 km away.
Blankenberge in numbers
All indicators for Blankenberge
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 | Blankenberge | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 35.6% | 25.3% | 21.7% | ranked 7 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 14.2% | 19.9% | 21.5% | ranked 558 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Blankenberge | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 30.2% | – | 34.6% | ranked 320 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 12.9% | – | 15.3% | ranked 373 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 57.7% | – | 79.9% | ranked 554 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 19,688 | 736,010 | 5,783,434 | ranked 50 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 12.16 ‰ inh. | 7.30 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 8 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Blankenberge | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 73.4% | – | 76.7% | ranked 353 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Blankenberge | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 1,652 | 148,653 | 1,170,010 | ranked 223 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 79.6 ‰ inh. | 120.3 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 455 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 23,581 € | 24,427 € | 24,247 € | ranked 329 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 27,998 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 469 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 308,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 267 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 230,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 193 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Blankenberge | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 0.75 | 1.11 | 1.25 | ranked 544 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 40.7% | 23.1% | 17.6% | ranked 23 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Blankenberge | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 9.2% | 7.6% | 6.4% | ranked 169 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 8.0% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 221 of 551 |
Population of Blankenberge over time
Blankenberge had 20,013 residents in 2016 and 20,741 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,479 |
| 2022 | 20,408 |
| 2023 | 20,511 |
| 2024 | 20,559 |
| 2025 | 20,654 |
| 2026 | 20,741 |
Where is Blankenberge?
Business sectors: Blankenberge
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade17.7% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services16.7% ×3.0
- Construction12.7% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical11.7% ×0.6
- Other service activities8.2% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services5.6% ×0.9
- Manufacturing4.7% ×1.0
- Arts, entertainment and recreation4.5% ×1.1
Sunshine and temperatures: Blankenberge
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Blankenberge?
Blankenberge has 20,741 residents (2026), ranking 164 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Blankenberge?
Blankenberge covers 19.0 km², with a density of 1,092 people per km².
Is the population of Blankenberge growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Blankenberge went from 20,013 to 20,741, a change of +3.6%.
Where is Blankenberge?
Blankenberge is in West Flanders. It belongs to Brugge (arrondissement). Latitude 51.311, longitude 3.132.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Blankenberge?
In Blankenberge, “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over” stands at 35.6% (2026), ranking 7 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.7%.
New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Blankenberge?
In Blankenberge, “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 12.16 ‰ inh. (2021-2025), ranking 8 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 4.39 ‰ inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Blankenberge?
In Blankenberge, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,117 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Blankenberge?
The nearest to Blankenberge are Zuienkerke (5.4 km), De Haan (8.1 km), Knokke-Heist (11 km), Damme (13 km), Bruges (13 km).
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