Employment rate, men vs. women in Belgium
Belgium: Employment rate, men vs. women was 55.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
55.3%
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
159th
of 186 countries
All-time high
58.4%
in 1991
All-time low
53.6%
in 2015
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate, men vs. women in Belgium, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 55.3% for employment rate, men vs. women in 2025.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Belgium peaked at 58.4% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 53.6%, in 2015.
Belgium ranks 159th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Employment rate, men vs. women in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 58.4% | — |
| 1992 | 58.1% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 56.7% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 56.4% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 56.7% | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 56.4% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 56.3% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 56.0% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 56.6% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 58.2% | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 57.0% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 56.5% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 55.7% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 56.2% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 56.7% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 56.4% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 57.1% | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 56.9% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 55.7% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 56.0% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 55.6% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 55.2% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 54.6% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 54.0% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 53.6% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 54.0% | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 54.8% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 55.1% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 55.5% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 55.0% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 55.0% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 55.9% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 55.6% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 55.7% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 55.3% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.8% | 56.0% | 58.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 56.6% | 55.7% | 58.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.8% | 53.6% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.4% | 55.0% | 55.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
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 employment rate, men vs. women in Belgium?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Belgium was 55.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 58.4% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.6% in 2015.
- How does Belgium rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Belgium ranks 159th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate, men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.