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Zele

Reference date: 2026-01-01

21,587

residents

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

A documented local view of Zele
Documented local viewUser:DimiTalen · Public domain · Adapted for Belgium in Maps; changes were made.
Population density
648.7residents/km²
Rank in Belgium
154thout of 565 municipalities
Population change
+66
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 transport12.5 departures / 1,000 residentsScheduled public transport: 12.5 departures / 1,000 residents · national percentile 1/100
  2. Population density648.7 residents/km²Population density: 648.7 residents/km² · national percentile 75/100
  3. Building permits4.4 new dwellings / 1,000 existing dwellingsBuilding permits: 4.4 new dwellings / 1,000 existing dwellings · national percentile 29/100

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

Population and age

Population

21,587

residents

+66 since 2025 (+0.3%)

65% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 73/100 among 565

6% above the municipal median in East Flanders · provincial percentile 57/100 among 55

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

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Population density

648.7

residents/km²

+2.0 since 2025 (+0.3%)

102% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 75/100 among 565

46% above the municipal median in East Flanders · provincial percentile 74/100 among 55

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

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Age profile

42

years

2% below Belgium’s municipal median

5% below the municipal median in East Flanders

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

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Housing and built environment

Housing stock

9,560

dwellings

57% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 70/100 among 565

4% above the municipal median in East Flanders · provincial percentile 52/100 among 55

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

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Building permits

4.4

new dwellings / 1,000 existing dwellings

Total: 42 dwellings

39% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 29/100 among 565

51% below the municipal median in East Flanders · provincial percentile 5/100 among 55

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

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Land cover

Arable land

44.6

% of municipal area

Total: 1,484 ha

15% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 64/100 among 565

6% above the municipal median in East Flanders · provincial percentile 63/100 among 55

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

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House sales

17.1

sales / 1,000 dwellings

Total: 163 sales

0.9% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 46/100 among 565

13% below the municipal median in East Flanders · provincial percentile 21/100 among 55

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

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Mobility and connectivity

Scheduled public transport

12.5

departures / 1,000 residents

Total: 269 departures

Belgium’s municipal median is 8.0× this value · national percentile 1/100 among 565

the municipal median in East Flanders is 4.8× this value · provincial percentile 1/100 among 55

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

60% above the municipal median in East Flanders

Period: · Source: Infrabel — public level crossings

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Fixed broadband coverage

98.6

%

0.3% above Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 59/100 among 565

0.6% above the municipal median in East Flanders · provincial percentile 81/100 among 55

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 East Flanders

Period: · Source: BIPT Atlas Mobile

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Economy and employment

VAT-registered enterprises

98.7

enterprises / 1,000 residents

Total: 2,131 enterprises

3% below Belgium’s municipal median · national percentile 43/100 among 565

9% below the municipal median in East Flanders · provincial percentile 39/100 among 55

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

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Official time series

Official time series: Zele2017–2026: 20,916–21,587.21,70821,40421,09920,79520,916201720,976201821,125201921,338202021,333202121,349202221,374202321,501202421,521202521,5872026
2017-01-01 – 2026-01-01

Source: official Statbel data · Statbel

View the exact data table
Official time series
202621,587648.7
202521,521646.7
202421,501646.1
202321,374642.3
202221,349641.6
202121,333641.1
202021,338641.3
201921,125634.3
201820,976630.0
201720,916629.2
201620,785625.3
201520,848627.2
201420,713623.1
201320,744624.1
201220,762624.6
201120,765624.7
201020,544618.0
200920,579619.1

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