Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Belgium
Belgium: Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 was 31.6 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Belgium, 1961–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Belgium stood at 31.6.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Belgium peaked at 47.66 in 1970 and was at its lowest, 21.24, in 1981.
Belgium ranks 105th of 171 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 rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 46.18 | — |
| 1970 | 47.66 | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 21.24 | -55.4% |
| 1983 | 41.76 | +96.6% |
| 1984 | 40.79 | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 41.45 | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 41.56 | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 40.19 | -3.3% |
| 1988 | 36.8 | -8.4% |
| 1989 | 33.79 | -8.2% |
| 1990 | 34.07 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 35.38 | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 35.71 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 32.69 | -8.5% |
| 1994 | 32.98 | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 31.68 | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 29.89 | -5.7% |
| 1997 | 29.32 | -1.9% |
| 1998 | 29.41 | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 30.12 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 32.65 | +8.4% |
| 2001 | 29.96 | -8.2% |
| 2002 | 30.24 | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 28.81 | -4.7% |
| 2004 | 32.16 | +11.6% |
| 2005 | 32.33 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 31.93 | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 31.56 | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 30.78 | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 29.93 | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 29.77 | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 29.78 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 27.91 | -6.3% |
| 2013 | 28.25 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 28.08 | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 27.12 | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 26.15 | -3.6% |
| 2017 | 25.45 | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 27.75 | +9.0% |
| 2019 | 29.45 | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 26.53 | -9.9% |
| 2021 | 28.24 | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 29.66 | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 30.25 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 29.62 | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 31.6 | +6.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 31.6 is below the median for high income countries, which is 36.18, 87% of the median. (69 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 31.6 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 32.3, 98% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Belgium changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | +96.6% | 21.24 | 41.76 |
| 1981 | -55.4% | 47.66 | 21.24 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 46.18 | 46.18 | 46.18 | 1 |
| 1970s | 47.66 | 47.66 | 47.66 | 1 |
| 1980s | 37.2 | 21.24 | 41.76 | 8 |
| 1990s | 32.13 | 29.32 | 35.71 | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.03 | 28.81 | 32.65 | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.97 | 25.45 | 29.78 | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.31 | 26.53 | 31.6 | 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 rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Belgium?
- Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 in Belgium was 31.6 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 47.66 in 1970.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 21.24 in 1981.
- How does Belgium rank for labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980?
- Belgium ranks 105th out of 171 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980 rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rates for women ages 15 24 2020 vs 1980. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).