Persons outside the labour force not … Persons willingness work not in Belgium
Belgium: Persons outside the labour force not … Persons willingness work not was 3,202 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
3,202 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
11th
of 47 countries
All-time high
3,505 Thousand persons
in 1989
All-time low
3,108 Thousand persons
in 2007
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 3,202 Thousand persons for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Belgium peaked at 3,505 Thousand persons in 1989 and was at its lowest, 3,108 Thousand persons, in 2007.
That places Belgium 11th out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force not … Persons willingness work not in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 3,282 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 3,353 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 3,347 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 3,360 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 3,434 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 3,470 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 3,505 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 3,503 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 3,435 Thousand persons | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 3,390 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 3,403 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 3,397 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 3,406 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 3,412 Thousand persons | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 3,398 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 3,360 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 3,252 Thousand persons | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 3,229 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 3,340 Thousand persons | +3.5% |
| 2002 | 3,280 Thousand persons | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 3,258 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 3,215 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 3,109 Thousand persons | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 3,140 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 3,108 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 3,135 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 3,161 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 3,124 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 3,246 Thousand persons | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 3,266 Thousand persons | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 3,252 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 3,265 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 3,300 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 3,337 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 3,306 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 3,292 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 3,283 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 3,353 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 3,312 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 3,276 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 3,290 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 3,290 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 3,202 Thousand persons | -2.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 3,202 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,646 Thousand persons, 1.9× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 3,202 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,721 Thousand persons, 1.9× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3,393 Thousand persons | 3,282 Thousand persons | 3,505 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 3,396 Thousand persons | 3,252 Thousand persons | 3,503 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,198 Thousand persons | 3,108 Thousand persons | 3,340 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,267 Thousand persons | 3,124 Thousand persons | 3,337 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,287 Thousand persons | 3,202 Thousand persons | 3,353 Thousand persons | 6 |
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 outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Belgium?
- Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Belgium was 3,202 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 3,505 Thousand persons in 1989.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,108 Thousand persons in 2007.
- How does Belgium rank for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by?
- Belgium ranks 11th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. 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 outside the labour force not seeking employment by willingness to work. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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