Mechelen Population 2026
Mechelen has a population of 77,530, making it the #18 biggest city in 🇧🇪 Belgium, located in Flanders. Roughly 0.7% of Belgium's population lives here. It is about 13× smaller than Brussels, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
77,530
Rank in Belgium
#18
Coordinates
51.03°N, 4.48°E
~8 m elevation · Europe/Brussels
Distance to capital (Brussels)
21 km
13 miles, straight line
Other big cities in Flanders
Cities near Mechelen
- Vilvoorde36,955 people · ~11 km away
- Grimbergen37,000 people · ~13 km away
- Schaerbeek132,761 people · ~19 km away
- Jette52,490 people · ~20 km away
- Woluwe-Saint-Lambert56,584 people · ~21 km away
- Borgerhout46,087 people · ~21 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Mechelen?
Mechelen has a population of 77,530 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #18 biggest city in Belgium.
What region is Mechelen in?
Mechelen is located in Flanders, Belgium.
Is Mechelen the capital of Belgium?
No, the capital of Belgium is Brussels, about 21 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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