Incidence of unemployment by duration in Belgium
Belgium: Incidence of unemployment by duration was 23.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising
Incidence of unemployment by duration in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
The most recent figure for incidence of unemployment by duration in Belgium is 23.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.8% on the previous year and up 44.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, incidence of unemployment by duration in Belgium peaked at 23.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025 and was at its lowest, 2.54 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 1988.
Belgium ranks 18th of 38 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Incidence of unemployment by duration in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Percentage of population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 4.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1984 | 4.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 4.09 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -7.8% |
| 1986 | 3.58 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -12.4% |
| 1987 | 3.51 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 2.54 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -27.7% |
| 1989 | 3.13 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +23.3% |
| 1990 | 5.55 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +77.3% |
| 1991 | 6.87 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +23.7% |
| 1992 | 5.58 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -18.7% |
| 1993 | 7.68 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +37.7% |
| 1994 | 5.04 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -34.4% |
| 1995 | 3.9 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -22.6% |
| 1996 | 4.95 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +27.0% |
| 1997 | 5.68 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +14.6% |
| 1998 | 6.5 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +14.5% |
| 1999 | 9.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +44.1% |
| 2000 | 13.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +43.5% |
| 2001 | 15.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +14.5% |
| 2002 | 14.35 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -6.6% |
| 2003 | 16.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +13.1% |
| 2004 | 15.27 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 14.81 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.0% |
| 2006 | 14.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 16.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 17.33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +8.2% |
| 2009 | 16.76 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 15.55 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 16.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 17.87 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +8.9% |
| 2013 | 17.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 15.01 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -13.6% |
| 2015 | 16.18 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +7.8% |
| 2016 | 16.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 15.45 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 17.09 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +10.7% |
| 2019 | 18.93 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +10.8% |
| 2020 | 18.58 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 16.51 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -11.1% |
| 2022 | 16.35 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 17.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +8.2% |
| 2024 | 21.7 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +22.6% |
| 2025 | 23.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +7.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.64 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 2.54 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 4.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 7 |
| 1990s | 6.11 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 3.9 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 9.36 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 13.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 17.33 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 15.01 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 18.93 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.04 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 16.35 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 23.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 15 Japan 25.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 16 Australia 25.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 17 Malta 23.73 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 19 France 23.26 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 20 Finland 22.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 21 Cyprus 22.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
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 incidence of unemployment by duration in Belgium?
- Incidence of unemployment by duration in Belgium was 23.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 23.39 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025.
- What is the lowest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.54 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1988.
- How does Belgium rank for incidence of unemployment by duration?
- Belgium ranks 18th out of 38 countries with data for 2025.
- Is incidence of unemployment by duration rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Incidence of unemployment by duration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table contains data on the share of the five durations - less than 1 month,>1 month and < 3 months,>3 months and <6 months,>6 months and <1 year, 1 year and over - of unemployment among total unemployment by sex and by standardised age groups (15-19, 15-24, 20-24, 25-54, 55+, total). Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.