Productivity: output per hour worked in Belgium
Belgium: Productivity: output per hour worked was 84.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
84.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
8th
of 130 countries
All-time high
84.59 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour
in 2020
All-time low
11.12 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Productivity: output per hour worked in Belgium, 1950–2023
Source: Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices per hour.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 84.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour for productivity: output per hour worked in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, productivity: output per hour worked in Belgium peaked at 84.59 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2020 and was at its lowest, 11.12 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, in 1950.
Belgium ranks 8th of 130 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Productivity: output per hour worked in Belgium, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.12 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | — |
| 1951 | 11.64 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.7% |
| 1952 | 11.96 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.7% |
| 1953 | 12.39 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.6% |
| 1954 | 13.03 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.1% |
| 1955 | 13.68 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.0% |
| 1956 | 14.13 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.3% |
| 1957 | 14.34 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.5% |
| 1958 | 14.41 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.5% |
| 1959 | 15.02 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.2% |
| 1960 | 15.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 16.31 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.1% |
| 1962 | 17.03 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.4% |
| 1963 | 17.68 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.8% |
| 1964 | 18.73 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 19.43 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 20.01 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.0% |
| 1967 | 20.99 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.9% |
| 1968 | 22.04 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.0% |
| 1969 | 23.14 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 24.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.3% |
| 1971 | 25.54 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.8% |
| 1972 | 27.57 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.0% |
| 1973 | 29.68 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.7% |
| 1974 | 31.12 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 31.57 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 33.81 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.1% |
| 1977 | 35 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 36.71 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.9% |
| 1979 | 37.9 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 40.99 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.1% |
| 1981 | 40.35 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.6% |
| 1982 | 39.88 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 39.05 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 38.33 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 36.19 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 39.21 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.3% |
| 1987 | 41.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.1% |
| 1988 | 44.45 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 45.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 46.73 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.9% |
| 1991 | 48.59 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 51.35 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.7% |
| 1993 | 53.69 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.6% |
| 1994 | 55.56 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 57.1 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 56.9 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 58.6 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 57.93 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 59.66 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 62.14 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 62.25 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 64.02 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 65.09 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 65.93 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 71.19 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 67.18 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 68.51 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 73.75 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 72.63 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 76.26 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 77.3 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 77.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 77.65 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 78.38 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 75.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 76.23 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 77.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 75.87 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 79.8 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 84.59 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 83.71 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 83.72 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 84.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | +0.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 84.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour is above the median for high income countries, which is 51.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, 1.6× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 84.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 46.15 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour, 1.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.17 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 11.12 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 15.02 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.09 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 15.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 23.14 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1970s | 31.35 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 24.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 37.9 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.55 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 36.19 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 45.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.61 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 46.73 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 59.66 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.27 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 62.14 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 73.75 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.21 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 75.52 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 79.8 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.11 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 83.71 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 84.59 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 5 Austria 84.97 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 6 Netherlands 84.8 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 7 Luxembourg 84.76 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 9 United States 83.53 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 10 Germany 82.5 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour compare
- 11 Sweden 80.74 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour 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 productivity: output per hour worked in Belgium?
- Productivity: output per hour worked in Belgium was 84.4 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2023, according to Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest productivity: output per hour worked recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 84.59 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 2020.
- What is the lowest productivity: output per hour worked recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.12 international-$ in 2021 prices per hour in 1950.
- How does Belgium rank for productivity: output per hour worked?
- Belgium ranks 8th out of 130 countries with data for 2023.
- Is productivity: output per hour worked rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Feenstra et al. – Penn World Table (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Productivity: output per hour worked. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Productivity is calculated as GDP divided by the total number of hours worked in the economy. This data is adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.