Gent Population 2026
Gent has a population of 265,086, making it the #3 biggest city in 🇧🇪 Belgium, located in Flanders. Roughly 2.3% of Belgium's population lives here. It is about 3.8× smaller than Brussels, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
265,086
Rank in Belgium
#3
Coordinates
51.05°N, 3.72°E
~10 m elevation · Europe/Brussels
Distance to capital (Brussels)
50 km
31 miles, straight line
Other big cities in Flanders
Cities near Gent
- Aalst77,534 people · ~26 km away
- Dendermonde45,673 people · ~27 km away
- Waregem35,896 people · ~27 km away
- Sint-Niklaas69,010 people · ~32 km away
- Brugge118,509 people · ~39 km away
- Kortrijk73,879 people · ~40 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Gent?
Gent has a population of 265,086 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #3 biggest city in Belgium.
What region is Gent in?
Gent is located in Flanders, Belgium.
Is Gent the capital of Belgium?
No, the capital of Belgium is Brussels, about 50 km away.
Sources & notes
Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.
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