Lokeren
Lokeren, a city in Belgium, had a population of 50,897 at the start of 2026. Gigabit broadband availability was 97.6% in June 2025. The unemployment rate was 5.34% at the start of 2011.
More recorded crime than 77% of Belgian cities that publish it and dirtier air than any other Belgian city that publishes it.
Who Lokeren may suit
Relative profile scores use comparable published values. They are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.
Population and city profile
The city covered 106.2 km² in 2025. Population density was 479.4 people per km² in 2026.
Derived from the published population and foreign-resident counts.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| City area | 106.1707 km2 | 2026-07-15Aging | Official sourceOfficial cadastral total area by municipality; 2025 superficie totale (ha), converted to km2. Source-backed value |
| Foreign residents | 4,495 people | 2026-07-15Fresh | Official sourceOfficial population by nationality at municipality grain; foreign population is TOTAL minus Belgique in the TOTAL row. Source-backed value |
| Population density | 479.3882 people/km² | 2026-07-15Fresh | Official sourceOfficial resident population by Belgian municipality on 1 January 2026; Total column. Source-backed value |
| Population | 50,897 people | 2026-07-12Fresh | Official sourceBelgium official denominator source Source-backed value |
Work and income
Published unemployment rates for cities in the same country.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabit broadband availability | 97.6323 % | 2026-07-15Aging | Official sourceBIPT/IBPT fixed broadband Atlas municipality row: H_rate_1000 is the share of households with access to fixed broadband at a maximum attainable speed of at least 1,000 Mbps; availability, not subscribed plan or measured speed. H_1000 is the covered-household count and total_households is the denominator. Source-backed value |
| Unemployment rate | 5.34 %country median 5.8% — 7% below | 2026-07-262011 | Independent sourceStatbel be.STAT — unemployment rate of 15–64-year-olds by municipality, Census 2011 Source-backed value |
Safety
Published values for cities using the same metric and unit.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recorded incidents per 100,000 residents | 7,285.3 offences/100kcountry median 5,423 — 34% above | 2026-07-26Aging | Independent sourceBelgian Federal Police — recorded total offences by municipality, Q4 2025 Source-backed value |
Climate and air quality
City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.
Published annual means from the same national measurement network.
| Metric | Value | Verified | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO₂ — annual mean | 14 µg/m³ | 2026-08-012024 | Official sourceEEA air quality statistics — BE NO2 annual mean 2024 (station 47E704 - WACHTEBEKE) Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
| PM10 — annual mean | 21 µg/m³ | 2026-08-012024 | Official sourceEEA air quality statistics — BE PM10 annual mean 2024 (station 44R740 - Gent) Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
| PM2.5 — annual mean | 11 µg/m³ | 2026-08-012024 | Official sourceEEA air quality statistics — BE PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station 44R740 - Gent) Source-backed value · nearest-station reading |
Worked out from these numbers
Arithmetic on the published values above. Each one names what it assumed.
How international is the population?
8.8% of residents hold a foreign nationality — 4,495 people of 50,897 people. This counts nationality, not place of birth, so long-settled residents who naturalised are not in it.
Common questions
Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.
What is the unemployment rate in Lokeren?
The unemployment rate is 5.34 %. Source: Statbel be.STAT — unemployment rate of 15–64-year-olds by municipality, Census 2011, checked 2026-07-26.
Is the air quality good in Lokeren?
The annual PM2.5 mean is 11 µg/m³. The WHO 2021 guideline is 5 µg/m³ and the EU limit value is 25 µg/m³, so this reading is above the WHO guideline but within the EU limit. Source: EEA air quality statistics — BE PM2.5 annual mean 2024 (station 44R740 - Gent), checked 2026-08-01.
How safe is Lokeren?
Police recorded 7,285.3 offences/100k. This counts all offences, so it is not comparable with a violent-crime-only rate from another source. Source: Belgian Federal Police — recorded total offences by municipality, Q4 2025, checked 2026-07-26.
How many people live in Lokeren?
The published population is 50,897 people. Source: Belgium official denominator source, checked 2026-07-12.
How many foreign residents live in Lokeren?
4,495 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Official population by nationality at municipality grain; foreign population is TOTAL minus Belgique in the TOTAL row., checked 2026-07-15.
Cities of a similar size in Belgium
Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.
Sources
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.