LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Belgium

Belgium: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 8.03 in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
8.03
Change on year
down 22.0%
World rank
26th
of 48 countries
All-time high
17.09
in 2005
All-time low
8.03
in 2023
Years of data
18
2004–2023

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Belgium, 2004–2023

0510152004201320232004: 16.52005: 17.12006: 14.82007: 13.62008: 12.82009: 13.62010: 14.52011: 14.42012: 13.52013: 14.62014: 15.12015: 14.12016: 13.52017: 12.92018: 10.32019: 102020: 10.32023: 8

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 8.03 for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

The figure is down 22.0% on the previous year and down 45.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Belgium peaked at 17.09 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 8.03, in 2023.

That places Belgium 26th out of 48 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium, 2004 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2004 16.51
2005 17.09 +3.5%
2006 14.75 -13.7%
2007 13.62 -7.7%
2008 12.83 -5.8%
2009 13.64 +6.3%
2010 14.46 +6.0%
2011 14.35 -0.7%
2012 13.54 -5.7%
2013 14.6 +7.8%
2014 15.14 +3.7%
2015 14.09 -6.9%
2016 13.48 -4.4%
2017 12.93 -4.1%
2018 10.32 -20.1%
2019 9.96 -3.6%
2020 10.29 +3.4%
2023 8.03 -22.0%

Belgium compared with similar countries

  • Belgium's 8.03 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.03, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
  • Belgium's 8.03 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.04, 100% of the median. (32 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 14.74 12.83 17.09 6
2010s 13.29 9.96 15.14 10
2020s 9.16 8.03 10.29 2

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 23 Indonesia 8.4 compare
  2. 24 Cyprus 8.17 compare
  3. 25 Slovakia 8.05 compare
  4. 27 Austria 7.75 compare
  5. 28 Estonia 7.11 compare
  6. 29 Germany 7.08 compare

See the full ranking of 48 places →

More work & labour data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Belgium?
Lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Belgium was 8.03 in 2023, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 17.09 in 2005.
What is the lowest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 8.03 in 2023.
How does Belgium rank for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment?
Belgium ranks 26th out of 48 countries with data for 2023.
Is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is down 45.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu2-combined-rate-of-time-related-underemployment-and-unemployment-previous-ilo-2/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
48 places, 676 data points, 1996–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU2 represents the share of the labour force that are either in unemployment or time-related underemployment. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.