Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Belgium
Belgium: Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total was 36.4% in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
36.4%
Change on year
up 15.2%
World rank
12th
of 45 countries
All-time high
62.6%
in 1998
All-time low
31.6%
in 2025
Years of data
29
1998–2026
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Belgium, 1998–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
In 2026, persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Belgium stood at 36.4%.
The figure is up 15.2% on the previous year and down 29.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Belgium peaked at 62.6% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 31.6%, in 2025.
Belgium ranks 12th of 45 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 62.6% | — |
| 1999 | 57.4% | -8.3% |
| 2000 | 51.5% | -10.3% |
| 2001 | 46.8% | -9.1% |
| 2002 | 47.4% | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 45.9% | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 50.8% | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 51.2% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 49.0% | -4.3% |
| 2007 | 52.1% | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 44.4% | -14.8% |
| 2009 | 43.3% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 49.4% | +14.1% |
| 2011 | 48.1% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | 46.3% | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 47.0% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 52.4% | +11.5% |
| 2015 | 51.5% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 51.4% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 49.7% | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 47.5% | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 42.5% | -10.5% |
| 2020 | 46.4% | +9.2% |
| 2021 | 42.6% | -8.2% |
| 2022 | 41.5% | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 39.3% | -5.3% |
| 2024 | 35.0% | -10.9% |
| 2025 | 31.6% | -9.7% |
| 2026 | 36.4% | +15.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.0% | 57.4% | 62.6% | 2 |
| 2000s | 48.2% | 43.3% | 52.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.6% | 42.5% | 52.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.0% | 31.6% | 46.4% | 7 |
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 persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Belgium?
- Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Belgium was 36.4% in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 62.6% in 1998.
- What is the lowest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.6% in 2025.
- How does Belgium rank for persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total?
- Belgium ranks 12th out of 45 countries with data for 2026.
- Is persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.2%. 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) - % of total unemployment - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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