Employment in Merksplas 2021

On 1 January 2021, 77.4% of the inhabitants of Merksplas aged 20 to 64 were in work — 247th of 565 municipalities (Statbel, Census 2021).

10 years earlier, in 2011, it was 71.8%: a rise of 5.6 percentage points. Statbel: in 2011 the number of employees of European and international institutions was underestimated; where many of them live, the comparison with 2011 overstates the rise.

Merksplas is 5.7 percentage points above the Belgian figure (71.7%) and 2.7 percentage points above the figure for the province of Antwerp (74.7%).

Merksplas is in the arrondissement of Turnhout, province of Antwerp, Flanders.

About these figures: source Statbel — Census 2021, reference period 1 January 2021; updated on .

Key figures

IndicatorValue
Employment rate, aged 20–64 (1 January 2021)77.4%
Inhabitants aged 20 to 64 (Census 2021)5,111
Employed inhabitants aged 20 to 643,956
Unemployment rate, aged 15–643.9%
Jobs in the municipality, held by residents of Belgium3,253
Employed inhabitants (all ages)4,103
Commuting balance (jobs minus employed inhabitants)−850
Population (1 January 2026)8,974 inhabitants
Average income (income year 2023 · tax year 2024)€41,280
Median house price (2025)€344,500
Crime figures (2025)53.7 per 1,000 inhabitants
Additional municipal tax on personal income tax (tax year 2024)6.5%
Municipal tax on property, as a % of the cadastral income (tax year 2026)32.6%
Average age (1 January 2026)44.2 years
Inhabitants with a non-Belgian nationality (1 January 2026)12.8%
Injury accidents per 1,000 inhabitants (2025)2.3 per 1,000 inhabitants
Jobseekers on unemployment benefit (2025)1.8 per 100 inh. 18–64

Reference date: 1 January 2021 · Source: Statbel — Census 2021

Frequently asked questions

How many inhabitants of Merksplas are in work?

In Merksplas, 77.4% of the inhabitants aged 20 to 64 were in work on 1 January 2021 (Statbel, Census 2021: administrative data, not a survey).

How does Merksplas compare with Belgium?

Merksplas ranks 247th of 565 municipalities for employment rate 20–64 (%) (77.4%), +5.7 percentage points compared with the Belgian figure (71.7%).

Change 2011–2021

From 71.8 per cent of those aged 20 to 64 in 2011 to 77.4 per cent of those aged 20 to 64 in 2021 (+5.6 percentage points).

Statbel: in 2011 the number of employees of European and international institutions was underestimated; where many of them live, the comparison with 2011 overstates the rise.