Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Belgium
Belgium: Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 was 51.6 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
51.6
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
118th
of 194 countries
All-time high
51.6
in 2025
All-time low
25.53
in 1961
Years of data
49
1961–2025
Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Belgium, 1961–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Belgium is 51.6, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Belgium peaked at 51.6 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 25.53, in 1961.
Belgium ranks 118th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 25.53 | — |
| 1970 | 28.13 | +10.2% |
| 1977 | 28.74 | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 30.21 | +5.1% |
| 1980 | 30.68 | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 28.5 | -7.1% |
| 1983 | 36.29 | +27.3% |
| 1984 | 36.07 | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 36.46 | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 36.94 | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 36.56 | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 36.45 | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 36.21 | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 36.55 | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 38.01 | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 38.9 | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 39.58 | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 40.16 | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 40.53 | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 40.55 | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 41 | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 41.66 | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 43.17 | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 43.65 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 41.87 | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 42.57 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 42.95 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 44.25 | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 45.69 | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 45.82 | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 46.53 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 46.91 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 46.95 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 47.71 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 47.03 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 47.1 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 47.77 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 48.08 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 48.01 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 47.78 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 48.72 | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 49.52 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 49.83 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 49.33 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 50.03 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 50.8 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 50.69 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 50.69 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 51.6 | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.53 | 25.53 | 25.53 | 1 |
| 1970s | 29.02 | 28.13 | 30.21 | 3 |
| 1980s | 34.91 | 28.5 | 36.94 | 9 |
| 1990s | 40.01 | 36.55 | 43.17 | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.72 | 41.87 | 46.95 | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.15 | 47.03 | 49.83 | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.52 | 49.33 | 51.6 | 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 female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Belgium?
- Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Belgium was 51.6 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 51.6 in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.53 in 1961.
- How does Belgium rank for female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980?
- Belgium ranks 118th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. 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 Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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