Middelkerke: population and statistics
Middelkerke has a population of 20,069 (2026) across 79.0 km², or 254 people per km². It ranks 172 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 20,069 residents
- 79.0 km²
- 254 people/km²
- 3 m
Key points
Among the 62 municipalities in West Flanders, Middelkerke ranks No. 20 by population.
New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants: 19.66 ‰ inh. in Middelkerke, compared with an average of 7.30 ‰ inh. in West Flanders and 4.28 ‰ inh. nationally.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: 37.5% in Middelkerke, compared with an average of 25.3% in West Flanders and 20.7% nationally.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 15.3% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,125 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Cars per household”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 11,062 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Nieuwpoort, 7.8 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Ostend (73,000 residents), 8.3 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,500 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Middelkerke in numbers
All indicators for Middelkerke
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 | Middelkerke | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 37.5% | 25.3% | 21.7% | ranked 5 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 12.8% | 19.9% | 21.5% | ranked 561 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Middelkerke | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 20.0% | – | 34.6% | ranked 451 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 23.1% | – | 15.3% | ranked 19 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 58.8% | – | 79.9% | ranked 550 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 32,591 | 736,010 | 5,783,434 | ranked 25 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 19.66 ‰ inh. | 7.30 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 2 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Middelkerke | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 74.3% | – | 76.7% | ranked 328 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Middelkerke | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 2,190 | 148,653 | 1,170,010 | ranked 149 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 109.1 ‰ inh. | 120.3 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 224 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 25,076 € | 24,427 € | 24,247 € | ranked 230 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 28,912 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 427 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 280,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 341 of 554 | |
| Median selling price of apartments (2025) | 210,000 € | – | 249,900 € | ranked 238 of 299 |
Transport
| Indicator | Middelkerke | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 0.93 | 1.11 | 1.25 | ranked 530 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 30.7% | 23.1% | 17.6% | ranked 37 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Middelkerke | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 4.0% | 7.6% | 6.4% | ranked 454 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 6.7% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 299 of 551 |
Population of Middelkerke over time
Middelkerke had 19,262 residents in 2016 and 20,069 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,676 |
| 2022 | 19,723 |
| 2023 | 19,755 |
| 2024 | 19,855 |
| 2025 | 20,023 |
| 2026 | 20,069 |
Where is Middelkerke?
Business sectors: Middelkerke
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction15.3% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services14.4% ×2.6
- Wholesale and retail trade13.8% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical12.9% ×0.6
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.5% ×1.8
- Administrative and support services6.9% ×1.1
- Other service activities5.5% ×0.8
- Real estate5.3% ×1.7
Sunshine and temperatures: Middelkerke
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Middelkerke?
Middelkerke has 20,069 residents (2026), ranking 172 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Middelkerke?
Middelkerke covers 79.0 km², with a density of 254 people per km².
Is the population of Middelkerke growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Middelkerke went from 19,262 to 20,069, a change of +4.2%.
Where is Middelkerke?
Middelkerke is in West Flanders. It belongs to Oostende (arrondissement). Latitude 51.185, longitude 2.819.
New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Middelkerke?
In Middelkerke, “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 19.66 ‰ inh. (2021-2025), ranking 2 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 4.39 ‰ inh..
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Middelkerke?
In Middelkerke, “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over” stands at 37.5% (2026), ranking 5 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 21.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Middelkerke?
In Middelkerke, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,125 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Middelkerke?
The nearest to Middelkerke are Nieuwpoort (7.8 km), Ostend (8.3 km), Gistel (11 km), Bredene (12 km), Oudenburg (13 km).
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