Bruges: map, population and postcodes

About Bruges

Bruges is a municipality in the province of West Flanders in Flanders, Belgium. On 1 January 2026 it had 120,458 inhabitants on an area of 139.2 km², a population density of 865 inhabitants per km². That is higher than the average of 390 per km² in West Flanders and higher than the Belgian average of 387 per km².

By population, Bruges ranks 8th of Belgium’s 565 municipalities and 1st of the 62 municipalities in West Flanders. By area it ranks 28th in Belgium. Bruges is the capital of West Flanders.

The official language is Dutch.

Population of Bruges since 2016

Population on 1 January, 2016–2026. The bars start above zero to make the change visible. Source: Statbel.

Between 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2026 the population of Bruges grew by 2,405 inhabitants (+2.0%), from 118,053 to 120,458. In the last year it changed by +175.

For population growth since 2016, Bruges ranks 425th of 565. Over the same period the province of West Flanders changed by +4.6% and Belgium by +5.3%.