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Essen

Reference date: 2026-01-01

19,671

residents

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

A documented local view of Essen
Documented local viewP199 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Adapted for Belgium in Maps; changes were made.
Population density
413.5residents/km²
Rank in Belgium
180thout of 565 municipalities
Population change
+65
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. Scheduled public transport28.1 departures / 1,000 residentsScheduled public transport: 28.1 departures / 1,000 residents · national percentile 5/100
  2. Fixed broadband coverage92.6 %Fixed broadband coverage: 92.6 % · national percentile 6/100
  3. House sales19.5 sales / 1,000 dwellingsHouse sales: 19.5 sales / 1,000 dwellings · national percentile 74/100

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

Population and age

Population

19,671

residents

+65 since 2025 (+0.3%)

50% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 68/100 among 565

5% above the municipal median in Antwerp Province · provincial percentile 54/100 among 67

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

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Population density

413.5

residents/km²

+1.4 since 2025 (+0.3%)

29% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 61/100 among 565

24% below the municipal median in Antwerp Province · provincial percentile 37/100 among 67

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

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Age profile

44

years

2% above Belgium’s municipal median

2% below the municipal median in Antwerp Province

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

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Housing and built environment

Housing stock

8,727

dwellings

43% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 65/100 among 565

4% above the municipal median in Antwerp Province · provincial percentile 53/100 among 67

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

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Building permits

6.4

new dwellings / 1,000 existing dwellings

Total: 56 dwellings

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

22% below the municipal median in Antwerp Province · provincial percentile 35/100 among 67

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

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Land cover

Pastures and meadows

44.0

% of municipal area

Total: 2,092 ha

14% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 63/100 among 565

51% above the municipal median in Antwerp Province · provincial percentile 90/100 among 67

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

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House sales

19.5

sales / 1,000 dwellings

Total: 170 sales

13% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 74/100 among 565

11% above the municipal median in Antwerp Province · provincial percentile 78/100 among 67

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

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Mobility and connectivity

Scheduled public transport

28.1

departures / 1,000 residents

Total: 552 departures

Belgium’s municipal median is 3.6× this value · national percentile 5/100 among 565

66% below the municipal median in Antwerp Province · provincial percentile 5/100 among 67

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

8

crossings

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

the municipal median in Antwerp Province is 0; percentage comparison is not shown

Period: · Source: Infrabel — public level crossings

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Fixed broadband coverage

92.6

%

6% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 6/100 among 565

6% below the municipal median in Antwerp Province · provincial percentile 1/100 among 67

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 Antwerp Province

Period: · Source: BIPT Atlas Mobile

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Economy and employment

VAT-registered enterprises

98.4

enterprises / 1,000 residents

Total: 1,936 enterprises

4% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 43/100 among 565

7% below the municipal median in Antwerp Province · provincial percentile 31/100 among 67

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

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Official time series

Official time series: Essen2017–2026: 18,792–19,671.19,82919,43119,03218,63418,792201719,079201819,038201919,162202019,196202119,341202219,629202319,630202419,606202519,6712026
2017-01-01 – 2026-01-01

Source: official Statbel data · Statbel

View the exact data table
Official time series
202619,671413.5
202519,606412.2
202419,630412.7
202319,629412.6
202219,341406.6
202119,196403.5
202019,162402.8
201919,038400.2
201819,079401.1
201718,792394.5
201618,615390.7
201518,427386.8
201418,256383.2
201318,066379.2
201218,075379.4
201117,921376.2
201017,797373.6
200917,636370.2

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