Leuven: map, population and postcodes

About Leuven

Leuven is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant in Flanders, Belgium. On 1 January 2026 it had 105,357 inhabitants on an area of 57.5 km², a population density of 1,831 inhabitants per km². That is higher than the average of 571 per km² in Flemish Brabant and higher than the Belgian average of 387 per km².

By population, Leuven ranks 10th of Belgium’s 565 municipalities and 1st of the 63 municipalities in Flemish Brabant. By area it ranks 188th in Belgium. Leuven is the capital of Flemish Brabant.

The official language is Dutch.

Population of Leuven 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 Leuven grew by 6,069 inhabitants (+6.1%), from 99,288 to 105,357. In the last year it changed by +451.

For population growth since 2016, Leuven ranks 204th of 565. Over the same period the province of Flemish Brabant changed by +7.9% and Belgium by +5.3%.