Houthulst: population and statistics
Houthulst has a population of 10,543 (2026) across 56.0 km², or 188 people per km². It ranks 349 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.0% between 2016 and 2026.
- 10,543 residents
- 56.0 km²
- 188 people/km²
- 17 m
Key points
Among the 62 municipalities in West Flanders, Houthulst ranks No. 42 by population.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 20.9% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,092 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Buildings built after 2001”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 7,846 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.1 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Staden, 4.5 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Diksmuide (17,386 residents), 8.6 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,368 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Houthulst in numbers
All indicators for Houthulst
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 | Houthulst | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 19.6% | 25.3% | 21.7% | ranked 436 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 22.7% | 19.9% | 21.5% | ranked 148 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Houthulst | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 32.5% | – | 34.6% | ranked 303 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 25.6% | – | 15.3% | ranked 6 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 80.9% | – | 79.9% | ranked 223 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 4,629 | 736,010 | 5,783,434 | ranked 358 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 9.37 ‰ inh. | 7.30 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 22 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Houthulst | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 68.1% | – | 76.7% | ranked 441 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Houthulst | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 1,268 | 148,653 | 1,170,010 | ranked 299 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 120.3 ‰ inh. | 120.3 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 126 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 22,057 € | 24,427 € | 24,247 € | ranked 431 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 30,479 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 313 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 255,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 411 of 554 |
Transport
| Indicator | Houthulst | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.24 | 1.11 | 1.25 | ranked 291 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 19.0% | 23.1% | 17.6% | ranked 219 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Houthulst | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 5.2% | 7.6% | 6.4% | ranked 353 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 5.9% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 367 of 551 |
Population of Houthulst over time
Houthulst had 10,037 residents in 2016 and 10,543 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,214 |
| 2022 | 10,267 |
| 2023 | 10,332 |
| 2024 | 10,464 |
| 2025 | 10,525 |
| 2026 | 10,543 |
Where is Houthulst?
Business sectors: Houthulst
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction20.9% ×1.5
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing15.7% ×3.8
- Wholesale and retail trade15.4% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical10.2% ×0.5
- Other service activities7.7% ×1.2
- Manufacturing6.1% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services5.9% ×0.9
- Health and social work4.0% ×0.9
Sunshine and temperatures: Houthulst
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Houthulst?
Houthulst has 10,543 residents (2026), ranking 349 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Houthulst?
Houthulst covers 56.0 km², with a density of 188 people per km².
Is the population of Houthulst growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Houthulst went from 10,037 to 10,543, a change of +5.0%.
Where is Houthulst?
Houthulst is in West Flanders. It belongs to Diksmuide (arrondissement). Latitude 50.978, longitude 2.951.
Buildings built after 2001: what is the figure for Houthulst?
In Houthulst, “Buildings built after 2001” stands at 25.6% (2024), ranking 6 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 15.3%.
Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning: what is the figure for Houthulst?
In Houthulst, “Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning” stands at 68.1% (2024), ranking 441 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 76.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Houthulst?
In Houthulst, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,092 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Houthulst?
The nearest to Houthulst are Staden (4.5 km), Langemark-Poelkapelle (7.6 km), Diksmuide (8.6 km), Kortemark (8.6 km), Hooglede (9.2 km).
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