Belgiumin Maps
EN

Bruges

Reference date: 2026-01-01

120,458

residents

Explore Bruges through official statistics on population, age, housing, mobility, businesses and the local built environment, with sources and reference dates.

A documented local view of Bruges
Documented local viewJean-Christophe BENOIST · CC BY 2.5 · Adapted for Belgium in Maps; changes were made.
Population density
853.2residents/km²
Rank in Belgium
8thout of 565 municipalities
Population change
+175
Reference date
2026-01-01

Key figures

At a glance

Twelve source-backed signals place this municipality in its demographic, housing, economic, land-use, mobility and connectivity context.

What stands out

  1. Land cover19.1 % of municipal areaLand cover: 19.1 % of municipal area · national percentile 2/100
  2. Scheduled public transport216.2 departures / 1,000 residentsScheduled public transport: 216.2 departures / 1,000 residents · national percentile 90/100
  3. Population120,458 residentsPopulation: 120,458 residents · national percentile 99/100

Indicators use their latest available source period. The date is shown separately for every figure.

Population and age

Population

120,458

residents

+175 since 2025 (+0.1%)

9.2× Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 99/100 among 565

9.4× the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 99/100 among 62

Period: · Source: Statbel population by residence, nationality, marital status, age and sex, 2026

Open in the atlas

Population density

853.2

residents/km²

+1.2 since 2025 (+0.1%)

166% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 84/100 among 565

162% above the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 83/100 among 62

Period: · Source: Statbel population by residence, nationality, marital status, age and sex, 2026

Open in the atlas

Age profile

46

years

7% above Belgium’s municipal median

5% above the municipal median in West Flanders

Period: · Source: Statbel population by residence, nationality, marital status, age and sex, 2026

Open in the atlas

Housing and built environment

Housing stock

65,765

dwellings

10.8× Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 99/100 among 565

9.9× the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 99/100 among 62

Period: · Source: Statbel cadastral building stock, 2025 release

Open in the atlas

Building permits

6.4

new dwellings / 1,000 existing dwellings

Total: 422 dwellings

10% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 44/100 among 565

44% below the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 23/100 among 62

Reference date: · Source: Statbel building permits by month and administrative geography

Open in the atlas

Land cover

Non-cadastral surface

19.1

% of municipal area

Total: 2,702 ha

51% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 2/100 among 565

57% below the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 1/100 among 62

Reference date: · Source: Statbel land cover according to the Land Register (SQLite)

Open in the atlas

House sales

19.0

sales / 1,000 dwellings

Total: 1,247 sales

10% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 69/100 among 565

3% above the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 57/100 among 62

Reference date: · Source: Statbel real-estate deeds by statistical sector, 2013-2024

Open in the atlas

Mobility and connectivity

Scheduled public transport

216.2

departures / 1,000 residents

Total: 26,043 departures

117% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 90/100 among 565

3.9× the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 98/100 among 62

Scheduled service date: Published timetable; planned service, not observed operations. · Source: De Lijn static GTFS, STIB-MIVB static GTFS, TEC static GTFS, SNCB-NMBS static GTFS, Statbel population by residence, nationality, marital status, age and sex, 2026, Statbel statistical sectors 2026 (GeoJSON, EPSG:3812)

Open in the atlas

Public level crossings

22

crossings

Belgium’s municipal median is 0; percentage comparison is not shown · national percentile 99/100 among 565

22.0× the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 99/100 among 62

Period: · Source: Infrabel — public level crossings

Open in the atlas

Fixed broadband coverage

98.9

%

0.5% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 73/100 among 565

0.9% above the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 83/100 among 62

Period: · Source: BIPT Atlas Fixed

Open in the atlas

5G mobile coverage

100.0

%

Same as Belgium’s municipal median

Same as the municipal median in West Flanders

Period: · Source: BIPT Atlas Mobile

Open in the atlas

Economy and employment

VAT-registered enterprises

114.2

enterprises / 1,000 residents

Total: 13,751 enterprises

12% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 69/100 among 565

10% below the municipal median in West Flanders · provincial percentile 23/100 among 62

Reference date: · Source: Statbel VAT-registered enterprises by legal form, 2024

Open in the atlas

Official time series

Official time series: Bruges2017–2026: 118,187–120,458.120,867119,837118,808117,778118,1872017118,2842018118,3252019118,6562020118,4672021118,5092022119,5412023119,8692024120,2832025120,4582026
2017-01-01 – 2026-01-01

Source: official Statbel data · Statbel

View the exact data table
Official time series
2026120,458853.2
2025120,283851.9
2024119,869850.2
2023119,541847.9
2022118,509840.6
2021118,467840.3
2020118,656841.6
2019118,325839.2
2018118,284839.5
2017118,187849.7
2016118,053848.8
2015117,886847.6
2014117,377843.9
2013117,577845.3
2012117,170842.4
2011116,887840.4
2010116,741839.3
2009116,969841.0

Key figures

Municipalities in the same province with a similar population

Use these population patterns in Horizon Mapper for catchment and location-opportunity analysis. Horizon Mapper