Belgium vs South Africa: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)
Belgium
56.0%
in 2025
South Africa
55.6%
in 2024
Belgium rank
144th
South Africa rank
146th
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) over time
- Belgium
- South Africa
How they compare
Belgium currently reports 56.0% against 55.6% in South Africa, a difference of 0.4%.
The two have swapped places 7 times across 35 shared years of data; in 1970 it was Belgium ahead.
Belgium ranks 144th and South Africa ranks 146th of 199 countries.
Across the 6 decades both report, Belgium averaged higher in 5 and South Africa in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Belgium | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 49.2% | 37.3% | 11.9% | Belgium |
| 1980s | 46.0% | 36.0% | 10.1% | Belgium |
| 1990s | 50.5% | 46.0% | 4.6% | Belgium |
| 2000s | 52.5% | 50.3% | 2.2% | Belgium |
| 2010s | 53.6% | 53.8% | 0.2% | South Africa |
| 2020s | 54.7% | 53.3% | 1.4% | Belgium |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+), Belgium or South Africa?
- Belgium, at 56.0% against 55.6% in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) between Belgium and South Africa?
- 0.4%, with Belgium ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and South Africa?
- 35 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2024.
- How do Belgium and South Africa rank globally for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Belgium ranks 144th and South Africa ranks 146th of 199 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.