Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Belgium

Belgium: Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises was 18.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
18.9%
Change on year
up 57.2%
World rank
23rd
of 36 countries
All-time high
18.9%
in 2023
All-time low
12.1%
in 2022
Years of data
15
2008–2023

Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Belgium, 2008–2023

051015202008201520232008: 15.1 Percentage of total2010: 17.9 Percentage of total2011: 17.6 Percentage of total2012: 17.1 Percentage of total2013: 16.5 Percentage of total2014: 16.1 Percentage of total2015: 15.8 Percentage of total2016: 13.9 Percentage of total2017: 13.5 Percentage of total2018: 15.3 Percentage of total2019: 15 Percentage of total2020: 15.3 Percentage of total2021: 13 Percentage of total2022: 12.1 Percentage of total2023: 18.9 Percentage of total

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage of total.

Analysis

In 2023, employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Belgium stood at 18.9%. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.

The figure is up 57.2% on the previous year and up 14.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Belgium peaked at 18.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.1%, in 2022.

That places Belgium 23rd out of 36 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.

Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Belgium, 2008 to 2023.
Year Percentage of total Change
2008 15.1% —
2010 17.9% +18.6%
2011 17.6% -1.8%
2012 17.1% -3.2%
2013 16.5% -3.0%
2014 16.1% -2.7%
2015 15.8% -1.6%
2016 13.9% -12.2%
2017 13.5% -2.8%
2018 15.3% +12.9%
2019 15.0% -2.0%
2020 15.3% +1.9%
2021 13.0% -15.0%
2022 12.1% -7.2%
2023 18.9% +57.2%

Belgium compared with similar countries

  • Belgium's 18.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20.2%, 94% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
  • Belgium's 18.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 20.2%, 94% of the median. (28 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Belgium changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2023 +57.2% 12.1% 18.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.1% 15.1% 15.1% 1
2010s 15.9% 13.5% 17.9% 10
2020s 14.8% 12.1% 18.9% 4

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 20 Sweden 20.2% compare
  2. 21 Finland 20.1% compare
  3. 22 Malta 19.3% compare
  4. 24 Bulgaria 18.7% compare
  5. 25 Austria 18.3% compare
  6. 26 Lithuania 16.8% compare
  7. 26 Lithuania 16.8% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More work & labour data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Belgium?
Employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Belgium was 18.9% in 2023, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest employment in foreign controlled enterprises recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 18.9% in 2023.
What is the lowest employment in foreign controlled enterprises recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 12.1% in 2022.
How does Belgium rank for employment in foreign controlled enterprises?
Belgium ranks 23rd out of 36 countries with data for 2023.
Is employment in foreign controlled enterprises rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-in-foreign-controlled-enterprises/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises
Unit
Percentage of total
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
37 places, 571 data points, 2008–2023
Last refreshed