Average hourly earnings of employees in Belgium

Belgium: Average hourly earnings of employees was 19.91 in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
19.91
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
55th
of 73 countries
All-time high
258.58
in 1982
All-time low
18.92
in 2010
Years of data
19
1969–2018

Average hourly earnings of employees in Belgium, 1969–2018

0501001502002501969199320181969: 60.61970: 68.41971: 771973: 101.31974: 1271975: 146.81976: 163.31977: 178.91978: 189.21979: 204.31980: 222.41981: 245.11982: 258.62010: 18.92014: 19.92015: 19.12016: 19.12017: 19.52018: 19.9

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for average hourly earnings of employees in Belgium is 19.91, measured in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average hourly earnings of employees in Belgium peaked at 258.58 in 1982 and was at its lowest, 18.92, in 2010.

That places Belgium 55th out of 73 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Average hourly earnings of employees in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Average hourly earnings of employees (Local currency) in Belgium, 1969 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1969 60.62
1970 68.39 +12.8%
1971 76.96 +12.5%
1973 101.33 +31.7%
1974 127.01 +25.3%
1975 146.85 +15.6%
1976 163.28 +11.2%
1977 178.88 +9.6%
1978 189.23 +5.8%
1979 204.27 +7.9%
1980 222.39 +8.9%
1981 245.05 +10.2%
1982 258.58 +5.5%
2010 18.92 -92.7%
2014 19.9 +5.2%
2015 19.11 -4.0%
2016 19.11 +0.0%
2017 19.47 +1.9%
2018 19.91 +2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 60.62 60.62 60.62 1
1970s 139.58 68.39 204.27 9
1980s 242.01 222.39 258.58 3
2010s 19.4 18.92 19.91 6

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 52 Finland 21.6 compare
  2. 53 Brazil 20.97 compare
  3. 54 South Africa 20 compare
  4. 56 Palestine, State of 19.78
  5. 57 Ghana 17.3 compare
  6. 58 Spain 17 compare

See the full ranking of 73 places →

More work & labour data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is average hourly earnings of employees in Belgium?
Average hourly earnings of employees in Belgium was 19.91 in 2018, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 258.58 in 1982.
What is the lowest average hourly earnings of employees recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 18.92 in 2010.
How does Belgium rank for average hourly earnings of employees?
Belgium ranks 55th out of 73 countries with data for 2018.
Is average hourly earnings of employees rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average hourly earnings of employees (Local currency). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Average hourly earnings of employees in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/average-hourly-earnings-of-employees-local-currency/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Average hourly earnings of employees (Local currency)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
73 places, 1,197 data points, 1969–2026
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. The earnings of employees relate to the gross remuneration in cash and in kind paid to employees, as a rule at regular intervals, for time worked or work done together with remuneration for time not worked, such as annual vacation, other type of paid leave or holidays. Earnings exclude employers' contributions in respect of their employees paid to social security and pension schemes and also the benefits received by employees under these schemes. Earnings also exclude severance and termination pay. Data are converted to U.S. dollars as the common currency, using exchange rates or using purchasing power parity (PPP) rates for private consumption expenditures. The latter series allows for international comparisons by taking account of the differences in relative prices between countries. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.