Oudenburg: population and statistics
Oudenburg has a population of 10,449 (2026) across 35.6 km², or 294 people per km². It ranks 352 of 565 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +12.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 10,449 residents
- 35.6 km²
- 294 people/km²
- 2 m
Key points
Among the 62 municipalities in West Flanders, Oudenburg ranks No. 43 by population.
New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants: 12.56 ‰ inh. in Oudenburg, compared with an average of 7.30 ‰ inh. in West Flanders and 4.28 ‰ inh. nationally.
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: 4.2% in Oudenburg, compared with an average of 7.6% in West Flanders and 13.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 17.7% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 40° generates about 1,094 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in West Flanders for “Population change over 10 years”.
- “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 4,986 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Gistel, 3.8 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Bredene (18,057 residents), 5.8 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 4,376 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Oudenburg in numbers
All indicators for Oudenburg
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 | Oudenburg | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.0% | 25.3% | 21.7% | ranked 166 of 564 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 20 (2026) | 20.6% | 19.9% | 21.5% | ranked 398 of 564 |
Housing
| Indicator | Oudenburg | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings built before 1946 (2024) | 21.8% | – | 34.6% | ranked 426 of 564 | |
| Buildings built after 2001 (2024) | 21.5% | – | 15.3% | ranked 49 of 564 | |
| Share of houses in the building stock (2024) | 81.0% | – | 79.9% | ranked 219 of 564 | |
| Number of dwellings (2024) | 4,665 | 736,010 | 5,783,434 | ranked 357 of 565 | |
| New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants (2021-2025) | 12.56 ‰ inh. | 7.30 ‰ inh. | 4.39 ‰ inh. | ranked 7 of 564 |
Energy
| Indicator | Oudenburg | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential buildings with central heating or air conditioning (2024) | 75.7% | – | 76.7% | ranked 303 of 564 |
Economy
| Indicator | Oudenburg | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAT-liable enterprises (2024) | 1,083 | 148,653 | 1,170,010 | ranked 335 of 565 | |
| VAT-liable enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 103.6 ‰ inh. | 120.3 ‰ inh. | 102.2 ‰ inh. | ranked 273 of 564 | |
| Net taxable income per inhabitant (2023) | 24,337 € | 24,427 € | 24,247 € | ranked 275 of 564 | |
| Median disposable income (administrative) (2023) | 31,282 € | – | 30,830 € | ranked 234 of 551 | |
| Median selling price of houses (2025) | 310,000 € | – | 302,500 € | ranked 257 of 554 |
Transport
| Indicator | Oudenburg | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars per household (2025) | 1.21 | 1.11 | 1.25 | ranked 339 of 564 | |
| Households without a car (2025) | 18.0% | 23.1% | 17.6% | ranked 260 of 564 |
Society
| Indicator | Oudenburg | West Flanders | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality (2026) | 4.2% | 7.6% | 6.4% | ranked 436 of 564 | |
| Administrative poverty risk (2023) | 6.0% | 6.8% | 7.0% | ranked 358 of 551 |
Population of Oudenburg over time
Oudenburg had 9,279 residents in 2016 and 10,449 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,672 |
| 2022 | 9,717 |
| 2023 | 9,911 |
| 2024 | 9,933 |
| 2025 | 10,231 |
| 2026 | 10,449 |
Where is Oudenburg?
Business sectors: Oudenburg
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction17.7% ×1.3
- Wholesale and retail trade15.9% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical13.3% ×0.7
- Other service activities8.6% ×1.3
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.6% ×1.8
- Administrative and support services7.0% ×1.1
- Manufacturing5.4% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services5.3% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Oudenburg
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Oudenburg?
Oudenburg has 10,449 residents (2026), ranking 352 of 565 municipalities.
How big is Oudenburg?
Oudenburg covers 35.6 km², with a density of 294 people per km².
Is the population of Oudenburg growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Oudenburg went from 9,279 to 10,449, a change of +12.6%.
Where is Oudenburg?
Oudenburg is in West Flanders. It belongs to Oostende (arrondissement). Latitude 51.183, longitude 3.000.
New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Oudenburg?
In Oudenburg, “New dwellings authorised per year per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 12.56 ‰ inh. (2021-2025), ranking 7 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 4.39 ‰ inh..
Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality: what is the figure for Oudenburg?
In Oudenburg, “Share of inhabitants of foreign nationality” stands at 4.2% (2026), ranking 436 of 564 municipalities; the national median is 6.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Oudenburg?
In Oudenburg, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 40° produces about 1,094 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Oudenburg?
The nearest to Oudenburg are Gistel (3.8 km), Bredene (5.8 km), Jabbeke (7.0 km), Ostend (7.3 km), Ichtegem (9.3 km).
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