Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Belgium
Belgium: Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 53.68 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Belgium, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2027, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Belgium stood at 53.68.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Belgium peaked at 54.58 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 48.26, in 1990.
That places Belgium 146th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 48.26 | — |
| 1991 | 49.19 | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 49.52 | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 49.62 | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 50.23 | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 50.44 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 50.4 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 50.49 | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 50.74 | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 51.87 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 52.24 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 50.79 | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 51.1 | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 51.26 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 51.95 | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 53.29 | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 53.11 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 53.66 | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 53.7 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 53.51 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 54.16 | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 53.3 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 53.33 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 53.62 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 53.58 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 53.37 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 53.16 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 53.34 | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 53.67 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 53.9 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 53.38 | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 54.05 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 54.58 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 54.41 | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 54.54 | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 54.27 | -0.5% |
| 2026 | 53.98 | -0.5% |
| 2027 | 53.68 | -0.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 53.68 is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3, 86% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 53.68 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 59.43, 90% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 50.08 | 48.26 | 51.87 | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.46 | 50.79 | 53.7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.54 | 53.16 | 54.16 | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.11 | 53.38 | 54.58 | 8 |
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 labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Belgium?
- Labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Belgium was 53.68 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 54.58 in 2022.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.26 in 1990.
- How does Belgium rank for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Belgium ranks 146th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 38 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.