Its 1991–2020 climate normal is a mean annual temperature of 10.4 °C with 850 mm of precipitation a year (Copernicus ERA5-Land).
In its wider region (NUTS NL423), GDP was €48,700 per inhabitant (2024, Eurostat) — a regional figure, not a city value.
This profile reports 16 of the 50 indicators currently tracked for European cities; the rest are not reported for Heerlen. Source: official datasets listed in the source registry.
Population & demographics
Population on 1 January, total
#67 of 163 · 59th pct · #10 in Netherlands
Population density (population divided by GISCO area)
#56 of 163 · 66th pct · #7 in Netherlands
2,252
persons per km2 · 2022
Share of population aged 65 and over
#18 of 160 · 89th pct · #2 in Netherlands
25.2%
of population · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Population on 1 January, total
Heerlen: Population on 1 January, total in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 196,866. Higher than 96 of 163 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 37,960 to 10,353,710; median 143,083.
37,960
10,353,710
median 143,083
Heerlen: Population on 1 January, total in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 196,866 Higher than 96 of 163 records in the same comparison group Median 143,083
Population density (population divided by GISCO area)
Heerlen: Population density (population divided by GISCO area) in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 2,252. Higher than 107 of 163 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 162 to 17,622; median 1,661.
162
17,622
median 1,661
Heerlen: Population density (population divided by GISCO area) in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 2,252 Higher than 107 of 163 records in the same comparison group Median 1,661
Share of population aged 65 and over
Heerlen: Share of population aged 65 and over in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 25.2%. Higher than 142 of 160 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 12.2% to 34.1%; median 19.7%.
12.2%
34.1%
median 19.7%
Heerlen: Share of population aged 65 and over in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 25.2% Higher than 142 of 160 records in the same comparison group Median 19.7%
Climate (ERA5-Land normals)
Heerlen climate by month Heerlen monthly 1991-2020 normals. Temperature 2.8°C to 18.5°C; warmest Jul, coldest Jan. Precipitation up to 85mm per month.
20 100 15 75 10 50 5 25 0 0
°C
mm
J F M A M J J A S O N D
● mean temperature (°C, left) · ▮ precipitation (mm, right) Heerlen monthly climate normals Month Temp Precip Jan 2.8°C 74mm Feb 3.3°C 68mm Mar 6.1°C 68mm Apr 9.6°C 54mm May 13.4°C 64mm Jun 16.4°C 74mm Jul 18.5°C 82mm Aug 18.3°C 78mm Sep 14.9°C 67mm Oct 11.0°C 67mm Nov 6.7°C 70mm Dec 3.6°C 85mm
ERA5-Land 1991–2020 normals.
Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#342 of 601 · 43rd pct · #30 in Netherlands
10.4
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#279 of 601 · 54th pct · #37 in Netherlands
2.8
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#434 of 601 · 27th pct · #9 in Netherlands
18.5
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal)
ERA5-Land reanalysis total precipitation at the city centroid grid cell; not station weather.
#242 of 601 · 60th pct · #23 in Netherlands
850
mm per year · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal)
ERA5-Land mean surface solar radiation; this is irradiance, NOT sunshine hours.
#439 of 601 · 27th pct · #15 in Netherlands
125
W per m2 · centroid · 1991-2020
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Heerlen: Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 10.4. Higher than 259 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1.3 to 24.5; median 10.6.
1.3
24.5
median 10.6
Heerlen: Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 10.4 Higher than 259 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 10.6
Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Heerlen: Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 2.8. Higher than 322 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range -9.3 to 13.5; median 2.6.
-9.3
13.5
median 2.6
Heerlen: Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 2.8 Higher than 322 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 2.6
Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Heerlen: Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 18.5. Higher than 165 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 12.5 to 38.1; median 19.3.
12.5
38.1
median 19.3
Heerlen: Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 18.5 Higher than 165 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 19.3
Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal)
Heerlen: Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 850. Higher than 359 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 261 to 2,516; median 816.
261
2,516
median 816
Heerlen: Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 850 Higher than 359 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 816
Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal)
Heerlen: Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 125. Higher than 162 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 96 to 230; median 136.
96
230
median 136
Heerlen: Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 125 Higher than 162 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 136
Employment
Unemployment rate
#115 of 128 · 10th pct · #4 in Netherlands
4.0%d
of population · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Unemployment rate
Heerlen: Unemployment rate in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 4.0%. Higher than 13 of 128 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1.9% to 22.7%; median 13.2%.
1.9%
22.7%
median 13.2%
Heerlen: Unemployment rate in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 4.0% Higher than 13 of 128 records in the same comparison group Median 13.2%
Education
Share of students in higher education in the total population
#118 of 142 · 17th pct · #14 in Netherlands
24
students per 1000 residents · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Share of students in higher education in the total population
Heerlen: Share of students in higher education in the total population in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 24. Higher than 24 of 142 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1 to 288; median 71.
1
288
median 71
Heerlen: Share of students in higher education in the total population in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 24 Higher than 24 of 142 records in the same comparison group Median 71
Crude birth rate
Annual live births per 1000 residents for the reported Eurostat geography; not a fertility rate.
#109 of 154 · 29th pct · #15 in Netherlands
8
births per 1000 residents · 2022
Crude death rate
Annual deaths per 1000 residents for the reported Eurostat geography; age structure strongly affects comparisons.
#7 of 156 · 96th pct · #1 in Netherlands
14
deaths per 1000 residents · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Crude birth rate
Heerlen: Crude birth rate in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 8. Higher than 45 of 154 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 39; median 10.
0
39
median 10
Heerlen: Crude birth rate in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 8 Higher than 45 of 154 records in the same comparison group Median 10
Crude death rate
Heerlen: Crude death rate in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 14. Higher than 149 of 156 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 6 to 16; median 10.
6
16
median 10
Heerlen: Crude death rate in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 14 Higher than 149 of 156 records in the same comparison group Median 10
Transport costs
Number of registered cars per 1000 population
#40 of 137 · 71st pct · #2 in Netherlands
519
cars per 1000 population · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Number of registered cars per 1000 population
Heerlen: Number of registered cars per 1000 population in the same year and geography grain Heerlen: 519. Higher than 97 of 137 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 257 to 816; median 482.
257
816
median 482
Heerlen: Number of registered cars per 1000 population in the same year and geography grain
Heerlen 519 Higher than 97 of 137 records in the same comparison group Median 482
Country price context (PPP)
Country price level index for GDP
117
EU27_2020=100 · NL · 2024
Regional context (NUTS) Values describe the city's NUTS region, not the city itself
Regional GDP per inhabitant
€48,700
EUR per inhabitant · NL423 · 2024
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes
Common questions What is the population of Heerlen? Heerlen had a population of 196,866 on 1 January 2022 (Eurostat greater city figure), the 67th largest of the 163 reporting greater city records in the same year.
What is the climate of Heerlen? Its 1991–2020 ERA5-Land normal is a mean annual temperature of 10.4 °C (January 2.8 °C, July 18.5 °C) with 850 mm of precipitation a year. This is reanalysis, not station weather.
Not reported for this city: Air quality (EEA annualized), Housing & living costs, Tourism, Culture, Resident perception survey. Eurostat Urban Audit coverage is voluntary, so some indicators are unavailable for some cities.
Eurostat flags: d = definition differs
Every figure is an official indicator with its source linked. Ranks compare only records with the same reference year and geography grain. See the methodology .
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