Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Belgium
Belgium: Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job was 35.99 Hours per week per person in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hours per week per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Belgium is 35.99 Hours per week per person, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Belgium peaked at 40.21 Hours per week per person in 1983 and was at its lowest, 35.99 Hours per week per person, in 2025.
That places Belgium 29th out of 39 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Hours per week per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 40.21 Hours per week per person | — |
| 1984 | 39.86 Hours per week per person | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 39.8 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 39.56 Hours per week per person | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 38.87 Hours per week per person | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 38.57 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 38.49 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 38.46 Hours per week per person | -0.1% |
| 1991 | 37.96 Hours per week per person | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 37.99 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 37.4 Hours per week per person | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 37.49 Hours per week per person | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 37.69 Hours per week per person | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 37.44 Hours per week per person | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 37.56 Hours per week per person | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 38.03 Hours per week per person | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 37.19 Hours per week per person | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 37.24 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 37.32 Hours per week per person | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 37.5 Hours per week per person | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 37.22 Hours per week per person | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 36.99 Hours per week per person | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 37.06 Hours per week per person | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 36.82 Hours per week per person | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 37.1 Hours per week per person | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 36.78 Hours per week per person | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 36.77 Hours per week per person | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 36.93 Hours per week per person | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 36.86 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 36.95 Hours per week per person | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 37.27 Hours per week per person | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 37.14 Hours per week per person | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 37.1 Hours per week per person | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 37.04 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 37.52 Hours per week per person | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 37.25 Hours per week per person | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 37.24 Hours per week per person | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 37.26 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 36.63 Hours per week per person | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 36.58 Hours per week per person | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 36.28 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 36.11 Hours per week per person | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 35.99 Hours per week per person | -0.3% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 35.99 Hours per week per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 37.42 Hours per week per person, 96% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 35.99 Hours per week per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.27 Hours per week per person, 97% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 39.34 Hours per week per person | 38.49 Hours per week per person | 40.21 Hours per week per person | 7 |
| 1990s | 37.72 Hours per week per person | 37.19 Hours per week per person | 38.46 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.08 Hours per week per person | 36.77 Hours per week per person | 37.5 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.13 Hours per week per person | 36.86 Hours per week per person | 37.52 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.48 Hours per week per person | 35.99 Hours per week per person | 37.26 Hours per week per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 26 France 36.92 Hours per week per person compare
- 27 United Kingdom 36.26 Hours per week per person compare
- 28 Ireland 36 Hours per week per person compare
- 30 Switzerland 35.71 Hours per week per person compare
- 31 Finland 35.65 Hours per week per person compare
- 32 Austria 35.64 Hours per week per person compare
More work & labour data for Belgium
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1676 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1614 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1395 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,349 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 139 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,498 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,563 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 11,061 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Belgium?
- Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Belgium was 35.99 Hours per week per person in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 40.21 Hours per week per person in 1983.
- What is the lowest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.99 Hours per week per person in 2025.
- How does Belgium rank for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job?
- Belgium ranks 29th out of 39 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on average usual weekly hours worked in the main job broken down by total employment, full-time employment and part-time employment. Actual hours of work, instead of usual hours of work, are only available in some countries (Mexico and Korea). Data are further broken down by professional status - employees, total employment - by sex and standardised age groups (15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 65+ and total) . Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at: OECD Ratification Dates.