How many cooperative companies (SC/CV) are there in Belgium?

Last updated: 23 April 2026

How many cooperative companies (SC/CV) are there in Belgium? Er zijn 15,281 actieve cooperative companies in België. Dat is 0.8% van alle Belgische bedrijven.

Short answer

Er zijn 15,281 actieve cooperative companies in België (0.8% van alle bedrijven). De gemiddelde CV is 34 jaar en 5 maanden oud. Afgelopen maand werden er 2 nieuwe cooperative companies opgericht.

1. How many cooperative companies (SC/CV) are there in Belgium? The numbers.

Volgens de Kruispuntbank van Ondernemingen (KBO) zijn er 15,281 actieve cooperative companies in België, op een totaal van 1,950,527 actieve bedrijven.

15,281

Active

0.8%

Of all companies

2

New this month

34j 5m

Average age

2. In which cities are most cooperative companies?

Most cooperative companies Brussel (1,135), followed by Liège, Elsene, Schaarbeek, Antwerpen.

1 Brussel
1,135
2 Liège
646
3 Elsene
635
4 Schaarbeek
628
5 Antwerpen
513

3. In which sectors are cooperative companies?

The most popular sector for cooperative companies: Activiteiten van adviesbureaus op het gebied van bedrijfsvoering en overig managementadvies (230 companies).

1 Activiteiten van adviesbureaus op het gebied van bedrijfsvoering en overig managementadvies
230
2 Overige adviesbureaus op het gebied van bedrijfsbeheer; adviesbureaus op het gebied van bedrijfsvoering
222
3 Niet-gespecialiseerde detailhandel waarbij voedings- en genotmiddelen overheersen
138
4 Ondersteunende activiteiten in verband met de teelt van gewassen
128
5 Fokken en houden van melkvee
121

Age distribution

How old are the active cooperative companies? The chart shows the number of cooperative companies.

04068111,2171,6220j10j20j30j40j50jLeeftijd (jaren)

6. What is a CV?

The cooperative company (CV / SC) is the legal form you choose when you want to run a business according to the cooperative principle: every partner has equal say ("one person, one vote"), regardless of how much capital they contribute. Ideal for collaborative ventures, sharing economy platforms, energy cooperatives or worker cooperatives.

The main advantage: partners can easily join and leave without having to go to a notary. Since the WVV/CSA reform of 2019, the CV is only intended for genuine cooperatives with at least three shareholders. Old CVBAs that did not meet the cooperative criteria were automatically converted into BVs. Well-known examples: renewable energy cooperatives, food cooperatives and shared mobility initiatives.

Read more about the pros and cons of a CV →

4. Comparison with other legal forms

How do cooperative companies?

Look up a CV?

Search by name, address or VAT number and find all info directly.

7. Frequently asked questions

How many cooperative companies (SC/CV) are there in Belgium?

15,281 active / 15,281 total.

What percentage of all Belgian companies is a CV?

cooperative companies: 0.8% (1,950,527 companies).

In which cities are most cooperative companies?

Brussel (1,135), Liège (646), Elsene (635), Schaarbeek (628), Antwerpen (513).

How old is the average CV?

34j 5m.

Where can I look up cooperative companies?

Databakkes.be

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