Labor force participation rate by age in Belgium
Belgium: Labor force participation rate by age was 31.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Belgium, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 31.9% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Belgium peaked at 36.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 28.1%, in 2017.
Belgium ranks 130th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 35.6% | — |
| 1991 | 36.5% | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 36.2% | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 34.4% | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 35.2% | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 33.9% | -3.8% |
| 1996 | 32.8% | -3.3% |
| 1997 | 32.0% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 32.6% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 32.9% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 35.7% | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 33.6% | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 33.8% | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 33.5% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 34.0% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 35.0% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 34.7% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 33.9% | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 33.4% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 32.4% | -2.9% |
| 2010 | 32.5% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 32.0% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 31.5% | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 31.0% | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 30.2% | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 30.0% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 28.5% | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 28.1% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 29.6% | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 31.0% | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 28.4% | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 30.3% | +6.4% |
| 2022 | 31.1% | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 31.6% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 31.9% | +0.9% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 31.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 78% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 31.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.1%, 86% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.2% | 32.0% | 36.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.0% | 32.4% | 35.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.4% | 28.1% | 32.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.6% | 28.4% | 31.9% | 5 |
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 labor force participation rate by age in Belgium?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Belgium was 31.9% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 36.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.1% in 2017.
- How does Belgium rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Belgium ranks 130th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).