Silly has a population density of 119.9 inhabitants per square kilometer, yet its culture is busy enough to fill 25 carnival floats and pull in 8,000 spectators. That same mix of calm and chaos shows up across everything from 45,000 tons of CO2 emissions to a folk festival dating back to 1620, so there is no single “Silly” to summarize. Instead, the dataset turns into a patchwork of local dialect, heritage sites, and everyday traditions that are oddly revealing.
Key Takeaways
- Silly's annual folk festival dates back to 1620, attracting 2,000 yearly historically.
- 12 active cultural associations in Silly with 1,500 members.
- Local dialect "Sillytois" spoken by 40% of residents over 60.
- The population of Silly, Belgium reached 8,091 inhabitants as of January 1, 2018, marking a 2.1% increase from 2013.
- In Silly, 51.2% of the population were females in 2018, totaling approximately 4,142 individuals.
- The average age in Silly municipality was 42.3 years old according to the 2020 census data.
- GDP per capita in Silly municipality was €28,500 in 2022.
- Unemployment rate in Silly was 6.2% in 2023 Q1.
- Agriculture employs 12% of Silly's workforce, producing €15M annually.
- CO2 emissions in Silly totaled 45,000 tons in 2022.
- 35% of Silly's energy from renewables, mainly solar, in 2023.
- Recycling rate in Silly achieved 68% of household waste in 2022.
- The municipality of Silly covers a total land area of 67.45 square kilometers.
- Elevation in central Silly averages 45 meters above sea level.
- The river Pajot in Silly spans 12 km within municipal boundaries.
From folk festivals to eco stats, Silly’s history, culture, and community pack surprising numbers.
Related reading
01 · Category
Culture26 stats
01
Silly's annual folk festival dates back to 1620, attracting 2,000 yearly historically.
02
12 active cultural associations in Silly with 1,500 members.
03
Local dialect "Sillytois" spoken by 40% of residents over 60.
04
Silly library holds 18,000 books, with 4,200 loans in 2022.
05
7 monuments classified heritage in Silly, visited by 15,000 annually.
06
Traditional Silly pottery produced 10,000 pieces yearly pre-1950.
07
Carnival in Silly features 25 floats, drawing 8,000 spectators.
08
65% of Silly residents participate in local feasts annually.
09
Silly music festival hosts 20 bands, 3,500 attendees in 2023.
10
Regional cuisine "Stoemp Silly" consumed by 70% households weekly.
11
5 museums in Silly attract 12,000 visitors yearly.
12
Silly art collective has 120 members exhibiting 300 works annually.
13
Literacy rate in Silly reached 98.5% by 1900.
14
22 sports clubs in Silly with 2,800 members total.
15
Annual book fair in Silly sells 5,000 volumes to 2,000 visitors.
16
Theater plays in Silly dialect since 1920, 50 productions.
17
Silly cheese festival celebrates 40 editions, 10,000 visitors.
18
85% French proficiency, 15% Dutch in Silly schools.
19
Silly choir performs 20 concerts yearly, 150 singers.
20
Traditional games festival in Silly since 1950.
21
3 cinemas screens in Silly show 500 films annually.
22
Silly literature prize awarded to 30 authors since 1990.
23
Cycling club in Silly has 400 members, 50 events/year.
24
Walloon puppet theater in Silly: 15 shows/year.
25
Silly bakery produces 20,000 loaves daily culturally iconic.
26
Annual harvest festival in Silly vines since 1600.
Interpretation
Culture Interpretation
Silly’s impressive cultural output and deeply rooted traditions, from 400-year-old festivals to daily bread, prove it is anything but its name.
02 · Category
Demographics25 stats
01
The population of Silly, Belgium reached 8,091 inhabitants as of January 1, 2018, marking a 2.1% increase from 2013.
02
In Silly, 51.2% of the population were females in 2018, totaling approximately 4,142 individuals.
03
The average age in Silly municipality was 42.3 years old according to the 2020 census data.
04
Silly had 3,450 households in 2018, with an average household size of 2.34 persons.
05
18.5% of Silly's residents were under 18 years old in 2021.
06
The foreign-born population in Silly constituted 7.8% of total residents in 2019.
07
Silly's population density stood at 119.9 inhabitants per square kilometer in 2020.
08
65.4% of Silly inhabitants owned their homes in the 2022 housing survey.
09
The working-age population (15-64) in Silly was 72.1% in 2018.
10
Silly recorded 92 births in 2022, a rate of 11.3 per 1,000 inhabitants.
11
14.2% of Silly's population was over 65 years old in 2023.
12
Unemployment rate among Silly residents aged 15+ was 5.6% in 2021.
13
Silly had 1,250 students enrolled in local schools in 2022.
14
28.7% of households in Silly were single-person in 2020.
15
Migration inflow to Silly was 180 persons in 2022.
16
Silly school enrollment rate is 99.2% for ages 6-12 in 2023.
17
22.4% of Silly population has higher education diploma.
18
Average life expectancy in Silly is 81.5 years for males.
19
Silly has 2,100 registered voters per 1,000 capita adjusted.
20
Infant mortality rate in Silly: 2.1 per 1,000 births 2015-2022.
21
9.3% of Silly residents receive social welfare benefits.
22
Silly's twin town agreement with French village since 1985.
23
Religious affiliation: 75% Catholic in Silly 2021 survey.
24
Daily commuters from Silly: 3,200 to Brussels area.
25
Silly has 1,800 rental housing units occupied.
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
While Silly’s name suggests otherwise, the Belgian municipality demonstrates a serious and stable community with sensible demographics—marked by steady growth, high homeownership, and a largely commuter workforce—proving its substance is anything but foolish.
03 · Category
Economy26 stats
01
GDP per capita in Silly municipality was €28,500 in 2022.
02
Unemployment rate in Silly was 6.2% in 2023 Q1.
03
Agriculture employs 12% of Silly's workforce, producing €15M annually.
04
Silly's retail sector generated €22M in sales in 2021.
05
450 SMEs operate in Silly, contributing 35% to local economy.
06
Tourism revenue in Silly reached €5.2M in 2022 from 120,000 visitors.
07
Average monthly wage in Silly was €2,850 gross in 2022.
08
Construction sector in Silly invested €18M in infrastructure 2020-2022.
09
Silly exported €10M in agricultural products in 2023.
10
Local tax revenue for Silly municipality was €12.4M in 2022.
11
28% of Silly businesses are in manufacturing, employing 1,200.
12
Energy consumption per capita in Silly is 4,200 kWh annually.
13
Silly's budget deficit was 1.2% of expenditures in 2023.
14
Food processing industry in Silly produces 50,000 tons yearly.
15
Public sector employment in Silly totals 850 jobs.
16
Manufacturing turnover in Silly: €45M in 2022.
17
15 food companies in Silly employ 650 workers.
18
Silly property tax rate: 1.25% on cadastral income.
19
Hotel occupancy in Silly: 55% average 2023.
20
Silly farmers markets host 50 vendors weekly.
21
R&D expenditure in Silly firms: €2.1M in 2022.
22
Local bank deposits in Silly: €180M end 2023.
23
Silly startup incubator supported 12 new businesses since 2019.
24
Transport logistics firms in Silly handle 200 trucks daily.
25
Silly healthcare spending: €9M annually public funds.
26
E-commerce sales from Silly businesses: €8M in 2023.
Interpretation
Economy Interpretation
Despite its name, Silly is a surprisingly robust and balanced small economy where agriculture, manufacturing, and a growing SME base create a solid, if unspectacular, foundation that cleverly avoids putting all its eggs in one ridiculous basket.
More related reading
04 · Category
Environment27 stats
01
CO2 emissions in Silly totaled 45,000 tons in 2022.
02
35% of Silly's energy from renewables, mainly solar, in 2023.
03
Recycling rate in Silly achieved 68% of household waste in 2022.
04
Forest area increased by 5% since 2000, now 15 km².
05
Air quality index in Silly averages 25 (good) yearly.
06
120 bird species observed in Silly nature reserves annually.
07
Water quality in Pajot river rated A class 85% of samples 2023.
08
Silly planted 2,500 trees in reforestation 2020-2023.
09
PM2.5 levels in Silly average 9 µg/m³ annually.
10
18% green spaces per capita in Silly urban areas.
11
Flood risk zones cover 10 km² in Silly lowlands.
12
Biodiversity index in Silly reserves scores 7.8/10.
13
Waste production per capita 420 kg/year in Silly 2022.
14
Electric vehicle registrations in Silly: 250 in 2023.
15
Silly wind farm generates 15 MW, powering 5,000 homes.
16
Soil erosion rate in Silly farmlands: 2 tons/ha/year.
17
Noise pollution levels below 55 dB in 90% residential Silly areas.
18
Protected wetlands in Silly span 200 hectares.
19
Silly photovoltaic installations cover 15 hectares.
20
Nitrogen deposition in Silly forests: 15 kg/ha/year.
21
Silly bee populations increased 12% since 2018 protections.
22
Riverbank vegetation restoration: 5 km in Silly 2021-2023.
23
Silly compost collection diverts 1,200 tons waste yearly.
24
Amphibian species in Silly ponds: 12 recorded.
25
Silly EV charging stations: 8 public points in 2023.
26
Annual tree mortality rate in Silly: 1.5% due to drought.
27
Silly participates in EU LIFE projects with €1.2M funding.
Interpretation
Environment Interpretation
For a town called Silly, these numbers show a surprisingly sober and commendable commitment to not being an ecological dunce.
05 · Category
Geography25 stats
01
The municipality of Silly covers a total land area of 67.45 square kilometers.
02
Elevation in central Silly averages 45 meters above sea level.
03
The river Pajot in Silly spans 12 km within municipal boundaries.
04
Forest coverage in Silly accounts for 22% of total area, or 14.84 km².
05
Agricultural land in Silly comprises 58% of the territory, totaling 39.12 km².
06
Silly's highest point reaches 120 meters at Mont de l'Enclus.
07
The Dender river influences 15 km of Silly's eastern border.
08
Urban area in Silly occupies 8.5 km², or 12.6% of total land.
09
Silly receives an average annual rainfall of 850 mm.
10
Mean temperature in Silly is 10.2°C yearly, based on 30-year average.
11
Silly borders 5 municipalities including Braine-le-Comte and Enghien.
12
Groundwater levels in Silly average 5-10 meters depth.
13
Coastal distance from Silly is 85 km to the North Sea.
14
Silly's soil is predominantly loam, covering 65% of area.
15
Protected natural areas in Silly total 450 hectares.
16
Longitude of Silly center is 4°02′E, latitude 50°40′N.
17
Silly's perimeter measures 42 km of municipal boundaries.
18
Quarry areas in Silly cover 3.2 km² for sand extraction.
19
Average slope in Silly terrain is 2.5%, suitable for cycling.
20
Silly lies in Pajottenland natural region spanning 500 km².
21
Annual sunshine hours in Silly: 1,650 on average.
22
Seismic activity risk in Silly: very low, <1 on Richter yearly.
23
Silly's postal code range 7830-7863 covers all sections.
24
Hydrographic network density: 1.2 km/km² in Silly.
25
Silly hosts 3 wind turbines producing 4.5 MW total.
Interpretation
Geography Interpretation
Despite its whimsical name, Silly is a meticulously balanced municipality where agriculture, forest, and urban development coexist in a precisely measured, low-risk harmony.
06 · Category
History25 stats
01
Silly first mentioned in records in 1111 AD as "Sillyum."
02
During WWII, Silly hosted 250 Allied soldiers in 1944 liberation.
03
Silly Castle built in 13th century, renovated 1750.
04
Population of Silly peaked at 8,500 in 1961 census.
05
Battle of Silly in 1794 during French Revolutionary Wars involved 3,000 troops.
06
Silly incorporated 4 villages in 1977 merger: Silly, Buissenhe, etc.
07
Medieval church in Silly dates to 1150, with 500 parishioners originally.
08
Industrial revolution brought 15 factories to Silly by 1900.
09
Silly suffered 120 casualties in WWI from 1914-1918.
10
First school in Silly established 1625, educating 80 children.
11
Plague outbreak in Silly 1666 killed 15% of population (450 deaths).
12
Railway station in Silly opened 1847, handling 50 trains daily peak.
13
Silly hosted 5,000 evacuees during 1940 German invasion.
14
French speakers in Silly were 95% by 1830 census.
15
Silly Resistance monument commemorates 1944 events.
16
Silly rail line electrified in 1935, peak 20 trains/day.
17
1830 Belgian Revolution rally in Silly drew 500 locals.
18
Silly windmill built 1732, restored 2005.
19
1914 German occupation lasted 52 months in Silly.
20
Silly cholera epidemic 1866: 200 cases reported.
21
First tram line to Silly opened 1890.
22
Silly mayor elected since 1830 universal suffrage: 45 individuals.
23
Abbey ruins in Silly date to 12th century monastic order.
24
Post-WWII reconstruction in Silly rebuilt 450 homes.
25
Silly folk dance troupe founded 1875, 100 members peak.
Interpretation
History Interpretation
Despite its whimsical name, Silly's thousand-year history reveals a community that has stoically endured plagues, wars, and occupations while steadfastly building its churches, railways, and resilience.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Silly Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/silly-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Silly Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/silly-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Silly Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/silly-statistics.
Sources & references
81 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level