Employment to population ratio in Belgium
Belgium: Employment to population ratio was 51.07 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
51.07
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
135th
of 186 countries
All-time high
51.54
in 2022
All-time low
45.38
in 1994
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment to population ratio in Belgium, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, employment to population ratio in Belgium stood at 51.07.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment to population ratio in Belgium peaked at 51.54 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 45.38, in 1994.
That places Belgium 135th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment to population ratio in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 45.76 | — |
| 1992 | 46.2 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 45.62 | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 45.38 | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 45.73 | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 45.62 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 45.97 | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 46.01 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 47.38 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 48.8 | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 47.65 | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 47.57 | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 47.32 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 48.12 | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 48.8 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 48.73 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 49.65 | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 49.95 | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 49.28 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 49.67 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 49.49 | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 49.31 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 49.1 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 49.01 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 48.84 | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 49 | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 49.55 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 50.48 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 51.01 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 50.42 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 50.67 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 51.54 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 51.39 | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 51.43 | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 51.07 | -0.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 51.07 is below the median for high income countries, which is 58.89, 87% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 51.07 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.56, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 45.96 | 45.38 | 47.38 | 9 |
| 2000s | 48.59 | 47.32 | 49.95 | 10 |
| 2010s | 49.55 | 48.84 | 51.01 | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.09 | 50.42 | 51.54 | 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 to population ratio in Belgium?
- Employment to population ratio in Belgium was 51.07 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment to population ratio recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 51.54 in 2022.
- What is the lowest employment to population ratio recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.38 in 1994.
- How does Belgium rank for employment to population ratio?
- Belgium ranks 135th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment to population ratio rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Employment to population ratio. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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