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Diest

Reference date: 2026-01-01

25,196

residents

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

Molen van Schaffen, a documented local view of Diest
Molen van Schaffenhttps://id.erfgoed.net/afbeeldingen/319528 · CC BY 4.0 · Adapted for Belgium in Maps; changes were made.
Population density
429.1residents/km²
Rank in Belgium
123rdout of 565 municipalities
Population change
+55
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. Building permits16.9 new dwellings / 1,000 existing dwellingsBuilding permits: 16.9 new dwellings / 1,000 existing dwellings · national percentile 92/100
  2. Land cover31.3 % of municipal areaLand cover: 31.3 % of municipal area · national percentile 27/100
  3. House sales14.9 sales / 1,000 dwellingsHouse sales: 14.9 sales / 1,000 dwellings · national percentile 29/100

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

Population and age

Population

25,196

residents

+55 since 2025 (+0.2%)

92% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 78/100 among 565

66% above the municipal median in Flemish Brabant · provincial percentile 79/100 among 63

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

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Population density

429.1

residents/km²

+0.9 since 2025 (+0.2%)

34% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 62/100 among 565

23% below the municipal median in Flemish Brabant · provincial percentile 34/100 among 63

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

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Age profile

46

years

7% above Belgium’s municipal median

5% above the municipal median in Flemish Brabant

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

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Housing and built environment

Housing stock

12,336

dwellings

102% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 79/100 among 565

89% above the municipal median in Flemish Brabant · provincial percentile 83/100 among 63

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

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Building permits

16.9

new dwellings / 1,000 existing dwellings

Total: 208 dwellings

135% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 92/100 among 565

160% above the municipal median in Flemish Brabant · provincial percentile 90/100 among 63

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

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Land cover

Pastures and meadows

31.3

% of municipal area

Total: 1,840 ha

19% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 27/100 among 565

15% below the municipal median in Flemish Brabant · provincial percentile 28/100 among 63

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

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House sales

14.9

sales / 1,000 dwellings

Total: 184 sales

13% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 29/100 among 565

18% below the municipal median in Flemish Brabant · provincial percentile 13/100 among 63

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

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Mobility and connectivity

Scheduled public transport

123.7

departures / 1,000 residents

Total: 3,116 departures

24% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 67/100 among 565

13% below the municipal median in Flemish Brabant · provincial percentile 47/100 among 63

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)

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Public level crossings

10

crossings

Belgium’s municipal median is 0; percentage comparison is not shown

the municipal median in Flemish Brabant is 0; percentage comparison is not shown · provincial percentile 96/100 among 63

Period: · Source: Infrabel — public level crossings

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Fixed broadband coverage

98.1

%

0.3% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 42/100 among 565

0.3% below the municipal median in Flemish Brabant · provincial percentile 37/100 among 63

Period: · Source: BIPT Atlas Fixed

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5G mobile coverage

100.0

%

Same as Belgium’s municipal median

Same as the municipal median in Flemish Brabant

Period: · Source: BIPT Atlas Mobile

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Economy and employment

VAT-registered enterprises

102.4

enterprises / 1,000 residents

Total: 2,579 enterprises

0.1% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 50/100 among 565

9% below the municipal median in Flemish Brabant · provincial percentile 28/100 among 63

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

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Official time series

Official time series: Diest2017–2026: 23,612–25,196.25,48124,76324,04523,32723,612201723,824201823,998201924,234202024,370202124,516202224,677202324,971202425,141202525,1962026
2017-01-01 – 2026-01-01

Source: official Statbel data · Statbel

View the exact data table
Official time series
202625,196429.1
202525,141428.2
202424,971425.3
202324,677420.3
202224,516417.5
202124,370415.0
202024,234412.7
201923,998408.8
201823,824405.8
201723,612402.5
201623,538401.2
201523,429399.4
201423,219395.8
201323,271396.7
201223,259396.5
201123,154394.7
201023,048392.9
200923,069393.2

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