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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 54.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 59.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 49.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 74.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 67.2% (2025)
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).