Employment rate in Belize
Belize: Employment rate was 53.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate in Belize, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Belize is 53.9%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Belize peaked at 63.4% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 48.8%, in 2020.
That places Belize 123rd 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 rate in Belize, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 50.3% | — |
| 1992 | 50.6% | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 50.7% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 49.8% | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 49.9% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 50.0% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 51.4% | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 50.3% | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 51.7% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 53.1% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 54.4% | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 54.0% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 54.0% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 54.1% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 54.1% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 55.3% | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 56.0% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 56.4% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 56.6% | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 56.7% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 56.9% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 57.2% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 57.4% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 58.3% | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 59.0% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 59.8% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 59.8% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 61.0% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 63.4% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 48.8% | -23.1% |
| 2021 | 54.1% | +11.0% |
| 2022 | 53.3% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 52.9% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 51.9% | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 53.9% | +3.8% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 53.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.7%, 97% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Belize's 53.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 58.1%, 93% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.5% | 49.8% | 51.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 54.8% | 53.1% | 56.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.9% | 56.7% | 63.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.5% | 48.8% | 54.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More work & labour data for Belize
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7058 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6517 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7615 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.152 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 338.14 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 254.28 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 219.33 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 228.04 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 447.37 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment rate in Belize?
- Employment rate in Belize was 53.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 63.4% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.8% in 2020.
- How does Belize rank for employment rate?
- Belize ranks 123rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belize 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.