Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium
Belgium: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 49.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium is 49.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium peaked at 50.0% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 36.5%, in 1990.
That places Belgium 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 36.5% | — |
| 1991 | 37.9% | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 38.8% | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 39.5% | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 40.0% | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 40.4% | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 40.5% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 41.0% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 41.5% | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 43.1% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 43.6% | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 41.8% | -4.2% |
| 2002 | 42.5% | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 42.9% | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 44.2% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 45.7% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 45.8% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 46.6% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 46.9% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 47.0% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 47.8% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 47.1% | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 47.2% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 47.8% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 48.1% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 48.0% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 47.8% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 48.0% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 48.8% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 49.1% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 48.7% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 49.4% | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 50.0% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 49.8% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 50.0% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 49.8% | -0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.9% | 36.5% | 43.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.7% | 41.8% | 47.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.0% | 47.1% | 49.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 49.6% | 48.7% | 50.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 117 Cape Verde 50.5% compare
- 118 Bulgaria 50.4% compare
- 119 South Africa 49.9% compare
- 121 Channel Islands 49.2% compare
- 122 El Salvador 49.1% compare
- 123 Eswatini 48.5% 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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Belgium was 49.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 50.0% in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.5% in 1990.
- How does Belgium rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Belgium ranks 120th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.