Largest Cities and Municipalities by Population in Belgium (2026)

179 cities and municipalities in Belgium with 20,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by population estimates for January 1, 2026 (by Statistics Belgium).

Rank	City or Municipality	Also Known As	Population
1	Antwerp	Antwerpen, Anvers	565,615
2	Ghent	Gent, Gand	274,042
3	Charleroi	-	206,900
4	Brussels	Bruxelles, Brussel	198,674
5	Liège	Luik	198,102
6	Anderlecht	-	129,600
7	Schaerbeek	Schaarbeek	129,278
8	Bruges	Brugge	120,458
9	Namur	Namen	115,457
10	Leuven	Louvain	105,357
11	Molenbeek-Saint-Jean	Sint-Jans-Molenbeek	98,411
12	Mons	Bergen	97,745
13	Aalst	Alost	93,094
14	Hasselt	-	90,914
15	Mechelen	Malines	90,355
16	Ixelles	Elsene	89,162
17	Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht	-	88,344
18	Uccle	Ukkel	87,548
19	Sint-Niklaas	Saint-Nicolas	83,400
20	La Louvière	-	81,751
21	Kortrijk	Courtrai	81,523
22	Ostend	Oostende, Ostende	73,000
23	Tournai	Doornik	69,066
24	Genk	-	68,101
25	Roeselare	Roulers	67,697
26	Seraing	-	64,764
27	Woluwe-Saint-Lambert	Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe	60,979
28	Mouscron	Moeskroen	60,410
29	Forest	Vorst	58,904
30	Verviers	-	56,182
31	Jette	-	54,330
32	Lokeren	-	50,897
33	Etterbeek	-	49,638
34	Beringen	-	49,034
35	Saint-Gilles	Sint-Gillis	48,756
36	Turnhout	-	48,490
37	Vilvoorde	Vilvorde	48,413
38	Dendermonde	Termonde	47,828
39	Deinze	-	46,380
40	Evere	-	45,984
41	Dilbeek	-	45,111
42	Heist-op-den-Berg	-	44,991
43	Tongeren-Borgloon	Tongres-Looz	44,239
44	Bilzen-Hoeselt	-	43,228
45	Halle	Hal	43,131
46	Geel	-	42,650
47	Woluwe-Saint-Pierre	Sint-Pieters-Woluwe	42,566
48	Sint-Truiden	Saint-Trond	41,987
49	Herstal	-	40,909
50	Ninove	-	40,879
51	Braine-l'Alleud	Eigenbrakel	40,815
52	Waregem	-	40,737
53	Maasmechelen	-	40,653
54	Grimbergen	-	40,491
55	Mol	-	38,793
56	Lier	Lierre	38,747
57	Brasschaat	-	38,529
58	Merelbeke-Melle	-	37,675
59	Zaventem	-	37,518
60	Evergem	-	37,371
61	Sint-Pieters-Leeuw	-	37,055
62	Tienen	Tirlemont	36,962
63	Asse	-	36,018
64	Châtelet	-	35,975
65	Wavre	Waver	35,735
66	Auderghem	Oudergem	35,659
67	Ypres	Ieper	35,629
68	Lommel	-	35,451
69	Geraardsbergen	Grammont	35,338
70	Heusden-Zolder	-	35,032
71	Schoten	-	34,849
72	Pelt	-	34,698
73	Menen	Menin	34,640
74	Binche	-	33,841
75	Oudenaarde	Audenarde	33,105
76	Knokke-Heist	-	32,163
77	Wevelgem	-	32,089
78	Tielt	-	31,973
79	Aarschot	-	31,948
80	Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve	-	31,823
81	Temse	Tamise	31,814
82	Courcelles	-	31,673
83	Arlon	Aarlen	31,440
84	Lochristi	-	30,982
85	Houthalen-Helchteren	-	30,879
86	Tessenderlo-Ham	-	30,827
87	Brecht	-	30,755
88	Harelbeke	-	30,605
89	Waterloo	-	30,386
90	Ath	Aat	30,235
91	Aalter	-	29,862
92	Nivelles	Nijvel	29,830
93	Izegem	-	29,444
94	Soignies	Zinnik	29,397
95	Ans	-	29,268
96	Herentals	-	29,163
97	Tubize	Tubeke	29,043
98	Willebroek	-	28,923
99	Sambreville	-	28,587
100	Zottegem	-	28,343
101	Andenne	-	28,239
102	Kapellen	-	28,190
103	Ronse	Renaix	27,731
104	Lievegem	-	27,502
105	Puurs-Sint-Amands	-	27,389
106	Flémalle	-	27,167
107	Wetteren	-	27,071
108	Saint-Josse-ten-Noode	Sint-Joost-ten-Node	27,003
109	Mortsel	-	26,961
110	Beersel	-	26,800
111	Gembloux	-	26,573
112	Lanaken	-	26,513
113	Overijse	-	26,452
114	Oupeye	-	26,036
115	Zwevegem	-	26,035
116	Maaseik	-	25,896
117	Hamme	-	25,763
118	Berchem-Sainte-Agathe	Sint-Agatha-Berchem	25,762
119	Ganshoren	-	25,731
120	Westerlo	-	25,723
121	Pajottegem	-	25,501
122	Watermael-Boitsfort	Watermaal-Bosvoorde	25,271
123	Diest	-	25,196
124	Maldegem	-	24,927
125	Scherpenheuvel-Zichem	Montaigu-Zichem	24,537
126	Saint-Nicolas	-	24,529
127	Manage	-	24,249
128	Oostkamp	-	24,102
129	Oudsbergen	-	24,005
130	Saint-Ghislain	-	23,969
131	Balen	-	23,916
132	Nijlen	-	23,881
133	Braine-le-Comte	's Gravenbrakel	23,761
134	Zedelgem	-	23,747
135	Edegem	-	23,698
136	Nazareth-De Pinte	-	23,633
137	Zemst	-	23,367
138	Grâce-Hollogne	-	23,353
139	Herent	-	23,287
140	Zoersel	-	23,223
141	Tervuren	-	23,179
142	Fleurus	-	23,037
143	Rixensart	-	22,973
144	Eeklo	-	22,911
145	Koekelberg	-	22,578
146	Hoogstraten	-	22,525
147	Bornem	-	22,333
148	Zonhoven	-	22,030
149	Sint-Katelijne-Waver	-	21,937
150	Huy	Hoei	21,913
151	Wuustwezel	-	21,902
152	Kontich	-	21,894
153	Dilsen-Stokkem	-	21,677
154	Zele	-	21,587
155	Frameries	-	21,472
156	Kortenberg	-	21,425
157	Denderleeuw	-	21,402
158	Erpe-Mere	-	21,211
159	Torhout	-	21,154
160	Koksijde	-	21,072
161	Bastogne	Bastenaken	21,010
162	Wingene	-	20,919
163	Colfontaine	-	20,761
164	Blankenberge	-	20,741
165	Meise	-	20,592
166	Chaudfontaine	-	20,525
167	Boussu	-	20,516
168	Schilde	-	20,476
169	Lebbeke	-	20,380
170	Sint-Gillis-Waas	-	20,272
171	Eupen	-	20,145
172	Middelkerke	-	20,069
173	Boom	-	19,963
174	Stekene	-	19,955
175	Poperinge	-	19,890
176	Ranst	-	19,867
177	Diepenbeek	-	19,867
178	Kasterlee	-	19,835
179	Kalmthout	-	19,826

Source: Statistics Belgium (2026 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff.

Why don't these match official city populations?Official figures typically count only the population within administrative boundaries. UN urban area figures cover the entire built-up area, which can include multiple cities and towns.Show moreShow less

Tokyo

33,338,852

Urban area

9,953,160

23 wards

Essen

2,709,375

Urban area

573,618

City of Essen

Ankara

3,630,865

Urban area

5,186,002

Metropolitan municipality

What counts as an urban area? The UN uses satellite imagery to map built-up land, and treats each continuous stretch of built-up land as an urban area. This means that urban areas can extend beyond official city boundaries, and may include multiple cities and towns within a single urban area.

Can an urban area be smaller than its city? Yes. While most cities have urban areas larger than their administrative boundaries, some cities have extensive administrative limits that include sparsely populated areas.

16 urban areas in Belgium with 50,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by the UN's population estimates for 2026.

Rank	Urban Area	Population Estimate (2026)	Yearly Change	Land Area (km²)	Density (P/km²)	World Rank	Projections (2030)	Projections (2050)
1	Bruxelles (Brussels)	1,406,939	+0.03%	214	6,574	363	1,408,699	1,410,018
2	Antwerp	652,939	+0.07%	220	2,968	834	654,673	656,390
3	Liège	375,451	+0.08%	126	2,980	1,533	376,705	384,123
4	Ghent	230,799	+0.07%	79	2,922	2,571	231,429	233,616
5	Charleroi	227,321	+0.07%	88	2,583	2,616	227,975	228,311
6	La Louvière	87,543	+0.07%	37	2,366	7,188	87,804	87,973
7	Ostend	78,161	+0.09%	31	2,521	8,089	78,449	78,727
8	Kortrijk	77,454	+0.02%	31	2,499	8,165	77,501	77,301
9	Leuven	77,130	+0.06%	23	3,353	8,195	77,308	78,892
10	Saint-Ghislain	74,572	+0.07%	31	2,406	8,456	74,789	74,900
11	Bruges	65,062	+0.04%	25	2,602	9,651	65,166	67,614
12	Namur	63,910	+0.06%	20	3,195	9,833	64,061	65,516
13	Mechelen	62,369	−0.02%	16	3,898	10,086	62,331	62,087
14	Sint-Niklaas	53,956	+0.57%	17	3,137	11,546	55,194	55,138
15	Verviers	52,499	+0.02%	13	4,038	11,805	52,550	59,319
16	Aalst	51,341	+0.03%	15	3,423	11,991	51,407	51,418

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision, Online Edition.

Data topics

Reference

Tools

Largest Cities and Municipalities by Population in Belgium (2026)

See also