Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Belgium
Belgium: Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) was 34.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Belgium, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Belgium stood at 34.4%.
That represents a change of up 7.9% on the previous year and up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Belgium peaked at 57.2% in 1961 and was at its lowest, 22.2%, in 1981.
Belgium ranks 114th of 175 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 46 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 57.2% | — |
| 1970 | 55.1% | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 22.2% | -59.7% |
| 1983 | 43.9% | +97.7% |
| 1984 | 42.2% | -3.7% |
| 1985 | 42.3% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 42.7% | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 41.5% | -2.8% |
| 1988 | 37.7% | -9.2% |
| 1989 | 36.0% | -4.5% |
| 1990 | 35.5% | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 36.5% | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 36.2% | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 34.4% | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 35.2% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 33.9% | -3.7% |
| 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% | +1.6% |
| 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% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 34.4% | +7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 57.2% | 57.2% | 57.2% | 1 |
| 1970s | 55.1% | 55.1% | 55.1% | 1 |
| 1980s | 38.6% | 22.2% | 43.9% | 8 |
| 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 | 31.3% | 28.4% | 34.4% | 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 labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Belgium?
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) in Belgium was 34.4% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 57.2% in 1961.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.2% in 1981.
- How does Belgium rank for labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%)?
- Belgium ranks 114th out of 175 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24 is the proportion of the population ages 15-24 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.