Bredene: population and statistics
Bredene has a population of 18,057 (2026) across 14.3 km², or 1,262 people per km². It ranks 202 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.0% between 2016 and 2026.
- 18,057 residents
- 14.3 km²
- 1,262 people/km²
- 2 m
Key points
Among the 62 municipalities in West Flanders, Bredene ranks No. 23 by population.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: 28.7% in Bredene, compared with an average of 25.3% in West Flanders and 20.7% nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 15.2% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,125 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Buildings built after 2001”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Cars per household”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 2,004 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.3 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Ostend (73,000 residents), 4.0 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,500 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Bredene in numbers
All indicators for Bredene
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 | Bredene | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 28.7% | 25.3% | 21.7% | ranked 11 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 17.9% | 19.9% | 21.5% | ranked 551 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Bredene | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 16.0% | – | 34.6% | ranked 499 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 23.1% | – | 15.3% | ranked 19 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 71.3% | – | 79.9% | ranked 494 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 17,185 | 736,010 | 5,783,434 | ranked 68 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 4.59 ‰ inh. | 7.30 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 264 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Bredene | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 81.6% | – | 76.7% | ranked 187 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Bredene | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 1,271 | 148,653 | 1,170,010 | ranked 297 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 70.4 ‰ inh. | 120.3 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 497 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 24,722 € | 24,427 € | 24,247 € | ranked 252 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 30,446 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 317 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 282,500 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 336 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 219,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 226 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Bredene | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.02 | 1.11 | 1.25 | ranked 506 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 25.2% | 23.1% | 17.6% | ranked 81 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Bredene | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 5.6% | 7.6% | 6.4% | ranked 325 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 5.7% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 384 of 551 |
Population of Bredene over time
Bredene had 17,360 residents in 2016 and 18,057 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,086 |
| 2022 | 18,167 |
| 2023 | 18,081 |
| 2024 | 18,180 |
| 2025 | 18,196 |
| 2026 | 18,057 |
Where is Bredene?
Business sectors: Bredene
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade15.2% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical15.1% ×0.7
- Construction13.6% ×1.0
- Other service activities9.5% ×1.4
- Accommodation and food services9.3% ×1.7
- Administrative and support services8.1% ×1.2
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.9% ×1.5
- Manufacturing4.7% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Bredene
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bredene?
Bredene has 18,057 residents (2026), ranking 202 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Bredene?
Bredene covers 14.3 km², with a density of 1,262 people per km².
Is the population of Bredene growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Bredene went from 17,360 to 18,057, a change of +4.0%.
Where is Bredene?
Bredene is in West Flanders. It belongs to Oostende (arrondissement). Latitude 51.234, longitude 2.976.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Bredene?
In Bredene, “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over” stands at 28.7% (2026), ranking 11 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.7%.
Buildings built after 2001: what is the figure for Bredene?
In Bredene, “Buildings built after 2001” stands at 23.1% (2024), ranking 19 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 15.3%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Bredene?
In Bredene, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,125 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Bredene?
The nearest to Bredene are Ostend (4.0 km), Oudenburg (5.8 km), De Haan (6.0 km), Gistel (8.6 km), Jabbeke (10 km).
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