Knokke-Heist: population and statistics
Knokke-Heist has a population of 32,163 (2026) across 61.7 km², or 521 people per km². It ranks 76 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −3.4% between 2016 and 2026.
- 32,163 residents
- 61.7 km²
- 521 people/km²
- 7 m
Key points
Among the 62 municipalities in West Flanders, Knokke-Heist ranks No. 8 by population.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: 39.5% in Knokke-Heist, compared with an average of 25.3% in West Flanders and 20.7% nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 24.2% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,121 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in West Flanders for “Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning”.
- Number 1 in West Flanders for “Net taxable income per inhabitant”.
- “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Median selling price of apartments”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 8,644 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Damme, 10.2 km away.
Knokke-Heist in numbers
All indicators for Knokke-Heist
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 | Knokke-Heist | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 39.5% | 25.3% | 21.7% | ranked 3 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 12.0% | 19.9% | 21.5% | ranked 563 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Knokke-Heist | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 18.6% | – | 34.6% | ranked 469 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 20.9% | – | 15.3% | ranked 66 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 64.2% | – | 79.9% | ranked 536 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 42,019 | 736,010 | 5,783,434 | ranked 18 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 16.01 ‰ inh. | 7.30 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 4 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Knokke-Heist | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 85.7% | – | 76.7% | ranked 114 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Knokke-Heist | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 5,599 | 148,653 | 1,170,010 | ranked 27 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 174.1 ‰ inh. | 120.3 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 6 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 33,730 € | 24,427 € | 24,247 € | ranked 4 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 29,871 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 370 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 732,500 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 4 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 570,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 1 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Knokke-Heist | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.05 | 1.11 | 1.25 | ranked 490 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 28.8% | 23.1% | 17.6% | ranked 49 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Knokke-Heist | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 9.8% | 7.6% | 6.4% | ranked 148 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 8.3% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 198 of 551 |
Population of Knokke-Heist over time
Knokke-Heist had 33,311 residents in 2016 and 32,163 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 33,086 |
| 2022 | 32,875 |
| 2023 | 32,645 |
| 2024 | 32,514 |
| 2025 | 32,415 |
| 2026 | 32,163 |
Where is Knokke-Heist?
Business sectors: Knokke-Heist
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical24.2% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade16.1% ×1.1
- Construction14.5% ×1.1
- Real estate9.0% ×2.9
- Accommodation and food services7.5% ×1.4
- Administrative and support services6.4% ×1.0
- Other service activities4.8% ×0.7
- Health and social work3.1% ×0.7
Sunshine and temperatures: Knokke-Heist
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Knokke-Heist?
Knokke-Heist has 32,163 residents (2026), ranking 76 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Knokke-Heist?
Knokke-Heist covers 61.7 km², with a density of 521 people per km².
Is the population of Knokke-Heist growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Knokke-Heist went from 33,311 to 32,163, a change of −3.4%.
Where is Knokke-Heist?
Knokke-Heist is in West Flanders. It belongs to Brugge (arrondissement). Latitude 51.341, longitude 3.287.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Knokke-Heist?
In Knokke-Heist, “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over” stands at 39.5% (2026), ranking 3 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.7%.
Median selling price of apartments: what is the figure for Knokke-Heist?
In Knokke-Heist, “Median selling price of apartments” stands at 570,000 € (2025), ranking 1 of 299 municipalities; the national median is 249,900 €.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Knokke-Heist?
In Knokke-Heist, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,121 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Knokke-Heist?
The nearest to Knokke-Heist are Damme (10 km), Blankenberge (11 km), Zuienkerke (12 km), Bruges (15 km), Maldegem (18 km).
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