Labor force participation rate in Belgium
Belgium: Labor force participation rate was 54.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Belgium, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Belgium is 54.3%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Belgium peaked at 54.6% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 48.3%, in 1990.
That places Belgium 143rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.3% | — |
| 1991 | 49.2% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 49.5% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 49.6% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 50.2% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 50.4% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 50.4% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 50.5% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 50.7% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 51.9% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 52.2% | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 50.8% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 51.1% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 51.3% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 51.9% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 53.3% | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 53.1% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 53.7% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 53.7% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 53.5% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 54.2% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 53.3% | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 53.3% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 53.6% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 53.6% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 53.4% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 53.2% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 53.3% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 53.7% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 53.9% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 53.4% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 54.0% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 54.6% | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 54.4% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 54.5% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 54.3% | -0.5% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 54.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 87% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 54.3% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.1% | 48.3% | 51.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.5% | 50.8% | 53.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.5% | 53.2% | 54.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.2% | 53.4% | 54.6% | 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 in Belgium?
- Labor force participation rate in Belgium was 54.3% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 54.6% in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.3% in 1990.
- How does Belgium rank for labor force participation rate?
- Belgium ranks 143rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).