Its 1991–2020 climate normal is a mean annual temperature of 11.2 °C with 947 mm of precipitation a year (Copernicus ERA5-Land).
In its wider region (NUTS BE255), GDP was €44,500 per inhabitant (2024, Eurostat) — a regional figure, not a city value.
This profile reports 25 of the 50 indicators currently tracked for European cities; the rest are not reported for Oostende. Source: official datasets listed in the source registry.
Population & demographics
Population on 1 January, total
#139 of 163 · 15th pct · #8 in Belgium
Population density (population divided by GISCO area)
#99 of 163 · 39th pct · #6 in Belgium
1,401
persons per km2 · 2022
Share of population aged 65 and over
#6 of 160 · 96th pct · #1 in Belgium
28.9%
of population · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Population on 1 January, total
Oostende: Population on 1 January, total in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 71,704. Higher than 24 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
Oostende: Population on 1 January, total in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 71,704 Higher than 24 of 163 records in the same comparison group Median 143,083
Population density (population divided by GISCO area)
Oostende: Population density (population divided by GISCO area) in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 1,401. Higher than 64 of 163 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 162 to 17,622; median 1,661.
162
17,622
median 1,661
Oostende: Population density (population divided by GISCO area) in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 1,401 Higher than 64 of 163 records in the same comparison group Median 1,661
Share of population aged 65 and over
Oostende: Share of population aged 65 and over in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 28.9%. Higher than 154 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%
Oostende: Share of population aged 65 and over in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 28.9% Higher than 154 of 160 records in the same comparison group Median 19.7%
Climate (ERA5-Land normals)
Oostende climate by month Oostende monthly 1991-2020 normals. Temperature 5.1°C to 18.2°C; warmest Aug, coldest Jan. Precipitation up to 103mm per month.
20 150 15 100 10 50 5 0
°C
mm
J F M A M J J A S O N D
● mean temperature (°C, left) · ▮ precipitation (mm, right) Oostende monthly climate normals Month Temp Precip Jan 5.1°C 82mm Feb 5.1°C 68mm Mar 6.9°C 62mm Apr 9.5°C 52mm May 12.7°C 63mm Jun 15.5°C 67mm Jul 17.8°C 76mm Aug 18.2°C 87mm Sep 15.9°C 85mm Oct 12.6°C 100mm Nov 8.8°C 103mm Dec 5.9°C 102mm
ERA5-Land 1991–2020 normals.
Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#240 of 601 · 60th pct · #1 in Belgium
11.2
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#155 of 601 · 74th pct · #1 in Belgium
5.1
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
#544 of 601 · 9th pct · #14 in Belgium
17.8
°C · centroid · 1991-2020
Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal)
ERA5-Land reanalysis total precipitation at the city centroid grid cell; not station weather.
#144 of 601 · 76th pct · #3 in Belgium
947
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.
#326 of 601 · 46th pct · #1 in Belgium
133
W per m2 · centroid · 1991-2020
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Oostende: Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 11.2. Higher than 361 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
Oostende: Mean annual air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 11.2 Higher than 361 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 10.6
Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Oostende: Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 5.1. Higher than 445 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
Oostende: Mean January air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 5.1 Higher than 445 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 2.6
Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal)
Oostende: Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 17.8. Higher than 57 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
Oostende: Mean July air temperature (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 17.8 Higher than 57 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 19.3
Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal)
Oostende: Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 947. Higher than 457 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 261 to 2,516; median 816.
261
2,516
median 816
Oostende: Mean annual precipitation (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 947 Higher than 457 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 816
Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal)
Oostende: Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 133. Higher than 275 of 601 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 96 to 230; median 136.
96
230
median 136
Oostende: Mean surface solar radiation downwards (1991-2020 normal) in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 133 Higher than 275 of 601 records in the same comparison group Median 136
Average price for buying a house
#40 of 87 · 54th pct · #4 in Belgium
Average price for buying an apartment
#15 of 87 · 83rd pct · #4 in Belgium
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Average price for buying a house
Oostende: Average price for buying a house in the same year and geography grain Oostende: €285,856. Higher than 47 of 87 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range €115,394 to €1,019,946; median €269,488.
€115,394
€1,019,946
median €269,488
Oostende: Average price for buying a house in the same year and geography grain
Oostende €285,856 Higher than 47 of 87 records in the same comparison group Median €269,488
Average price for buying an apartment
Oostende: Average price for buying an apartment in the same year and geography grain Oostende: €240,312. Higher than 72 of 87 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range €75,560 to €400,891; median €155,406.
€75,560
€400,891
median €155,406
Oostende: Average price for buying an apartment in the same year and geography grain
Oostende €240,312 Higher than 72 of 87 records in the same comparison group Median €155,406
Unemployment rate
Eurostat city or greater-city unemployment rate for the stated year; national definitions and observation flags still apply.
#111 of 128 · 13th pct · #8 in Belgium
5.7%e
of population · 2022
Total employment/jobs (workplace based)
Workplace-based jobs reported for the Eurostat city or greater-city geography; not employed residents or job openings.
#116 of 141 · 18th pct · #7 in Belgium
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Unemployment rate
Oostende: Unemployment rate in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 5.7%. Higher than 17 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%
Oostende: Unemployment rate in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 5.7% Higher than 17 of 128 records in the same comparison group Median 13.2%
Total employment/jobs (workplace based)
Oostende: Total employment/jobs (workplace based) in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 33,393. Higher than 25 of 141 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 15,527 to 5,298,886; median 71,369.
15,527
5,298,886
median 71,369
Oostende: Total employment/jobs (workplace based) in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 33,393 Higher than 25 of 141 records in the same comparison group Median 71,369
Education
Share of students in higher education in the total population
#139 of 142 · 2nd pct · #9 in Belgium
5
students per 1000 residents · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Share of students in higher education in the total population
Oostende: Share of students in higher education in the total population in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 5. Higher than 3 of 142 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1 to 288; median 71.
1
288
median 71
Oostende: Share of students in higher education in the total population in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 5 Higher than 3 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.
#95 of 154 · 38th pct · #9 in Belgium
9
births per 1000 residents · 2022
Crude death rate
Annual deaths per 1000 residents for the reported Eurostat geography; age structure strongly affects comparisons.
#3 of 156 · 98th pct · #1 in Belgium
15
deaths per 1000 residents · 2022
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Crude birth rate
Oostende: Crude birth rate in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 9. Higher than 59 of 154 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 39; median 10.
0
39
median 10
Oostende: Crude birth rate in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 9 Higher than 59 of 154 records in the same comparison group Median 10
Crude death rate
Oostende: Crude death rate in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 15. Higher than 153 of 156 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 6 to 16; median 10.
6
16
median 10
Oostende: Crude death rate in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 15 Higher than 153 of 156 records in the same comparison group Median 10
Number of registered cars per 1000 population
Registered cars per resident, not congestion, traffic speed or household car access.
#124 of 137 · 9th pct · #7 in Belgium
398
cars per 1000 population · 2022
People killed in road accidents per 10000 population
Small annual rates can be volatile; do not present as a full traffic-safety score.
#16 of 140 · 88th pct · #2 in Belgium
1
deaths per 10000 population · 2022
Length of bicycle network (dedicated cycle paths and lanes)
Reported Eurostat infrastructure length; not a cycling-mode-share or safety measure.
Cost of a combined monthly ticket for 5-10 km in the central zone
Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime
#11 of 81 · 86th pct · #2 in Belgium
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Number of registered cars per 1000 population
Oostende: Number of registered cars per 1000 population in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 398. Higher than 13 of 137 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 257 to 816; median 482.
257
816
median 482
Oostende: Number of registered cars per 1000 population in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 398 Higher than 13 of 137 records in the same comparison group Median 482
People killed in road accidents per 10000 population
Oostende: People killed in road accidents per 10000 population in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 1. Higher than 123 of 140 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 1; median 0.
0
1
median 0
Oostende: People killed in road accidents per 10000 population in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 1 Higher than 123 of 140 records in the same comparison group Median 0
Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime
Oostende: Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime in the same year and geography grain Oostende: €15. Higher than 70 of 81 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range €8 to €33; median €12.
€8
€33
median €12
Oostende: Cost of a taxi ride of 5 km to the centre at daytime in the same year and geography grain
Oostende €15 Higher than 70 of 81 records in the same comparison group Median €12
Country price context (PPP)
Country price level index for GDP
112
EU27_2020=100 · BE · 2024
Number of museum visitors per year
Museum visitor count where reported; not a count of museums or all cultural visits.
#63 of 99 · 36th pct · #6 in Belgium
53,195b
visits per year · 2022
Number of public libraries (all distribution points)
Library distribution points where reported; not library visits or service quality.
#78 of 124 · 29th pct · #8 in Belgium
Compare with same-grain records from the same year Number of museum visitors per year
Oostende: Number of museum visitors per year in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 53,195. Higher than 36 of 99 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 0 to 8,946,728; median 88,416.
0
8,946,728
median 88,416
Oostende: Number of museum visitors per year in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 53,195 Higher than 36 of 99 records in the same comparison group Median 88,416
Number of public libraries (all distribution points)
Oostende: Number of public libraries (all distribution points) in the same year and geography grain Oostende: 7. Higher than 36 of 124 reporting records in the same comparison group. Range 1 to 539; median 10.
1
539
median 10
Oostende: Number of public libraries (all distribution points) in the same year and geography grain
Oostende 7 Higher than 36 of 124 records in the same comparison group Median 10
Regional context (NUTS) Values describe the city's NUTS region, not the city itself
Regional GDP per inhabitant
€44,500
EUR per inhabitant · BE255 · 2024
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes
Common questions What is the population of Oostende? Oostende had a population of 71,704 on 1 January 2022 (Eurostat greater city figure), the 139th largest of the 163 reporting greater city records in the same year.
What is the climate of Oostende? Its 1991–2020 ERA5-Land normal is a mean annual temperature of 11.2 °C (January 5.1 °C, July 17.8 °C) with 947 mm of precipitation a year. This is reanalysis, not station weather.
Not reported for this city: Air quality (EEA annualized), Tourism, Resident perception survey. Eurostat Urban Audit coverage is voluntary, so some indicators are unavailable for some cities.
Eurostat flags: e = estimated · b = break in time series
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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