Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship in Belgium
Belgium: Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship was 31.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
31.9%
Change on year
down 12.4%
World rank
20th
of 45 countries
All-time high
63.5%
in 1995
All-time low
31.9%
in 2025
Years of data
31
1995–2025
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship in Belgium, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
In 2025, persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship in Belgium stood at 31.9%. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is down 12.4% on the previous year and down 38.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship in Belgium peaked at 63.5% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 31.9%, in 2025.
Belgium ranks 20th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 63.5% | — |
| 1996 | 62.1% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 61.1% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 62.6% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 60.5% | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 56.3% | -6.9% |
| 2001 | 51.7% | -8.2% |
| 2002 | 49.6% | -4.1% |
| 2003 | 46.3% | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 49.6% | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 51.7% | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 51.2% | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 50.4% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 47.6% | -5.6% |
| 2009 | 44.2% | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 48.8% | +10.4% |
| 2011 | 48.3% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 44.7% | -7.5% |
| 2013 | 46.1% | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 49.9% | +8.2% |
| 2015 | 51.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 51.6% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 48.8% | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 48.7% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 43.5% | -10.7% |
| 2020 | 41.6% | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 42.3% | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 42.2% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 40.0% | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 36.4% | -9.0% |
| 2025 | 31.9% | -12.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 62.0% | 60.5% | 63.5% | 5 |
| 2000s | 49.9% | 44.2% | 56.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.2% | 43.5% | 51.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.1% | 31.9% | 42.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 18 Hungary 33.2% compare
- 19 Spain 32.1% compare
- 21 Luxembourg 30.8% compare
- 22 Czechia 30.3% compare
- 23 Switzerland 30.2% 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 persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship in Belgium?
- Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship in Belgium was 31.9% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 63.5% in 1995.
- What is the lowest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.9% in 2025.
- How does Belgium rank for persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship?
- Belgium ranks 20th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 38.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) by citizenship - % of total unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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