Persons outside … Persons population private households in Belgium
Belgium: Persons outside … Persons population private households was 37.3 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
37.3
Change on year
down 2.9%
World rank
13th
of 47 countries
All-time high
47.5
in 1988
All-time low
37.3
in 2025
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
The most recent figure for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Belgium is 37.3, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is down 2.9% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Belgium peaked at 47.5 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 37.3, in 2025.
That places Belgium 13th out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Persons outside … Persons population private households in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 46.2 | — |
| 1984 | 46.3 | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 46.1 | -0.4% |
| 1986 | 46.1 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 46.9 | +1.7% |
| 1988 | 47.5 | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 47.4 | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 47.5 | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 46.5 | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 46.2 | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 46.2 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 45.7 | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 45.5 | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 45.5 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 45.2 | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 44.7 | -1.1% |
| 1999 | 43.3 | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 42.8 | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 44.1 | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 43.7 | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 43.5 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 42.5 | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 41.1 | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 41.1 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 40.4 | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 40.3 | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 40.4 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 39.7 | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 40.6 | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 40.5 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 40.2 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 40.1 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 40.3 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 40.6 | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 40.4 | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 40 | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 39.7 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 40.3 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 39.4 | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 38.6 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 38.6 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 38.4 | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 37.3 | -2.9% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 37.3 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 31.75, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 37.3 is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.8, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 46.64 | 46.1 | 47.5 | 7 |
| 1990s | 45.63 | 43.3 | 47.5 | 10 |
| 2000s | 41.99 | 40.3 | 44.1 | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.21 | 39.7 | 40.6 | 10 |
| 2020s | 38.77 | 37.3 | 40.3 | 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 - % of total population in private in Belgium?
- Persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private in Belgium was 37.3 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 47.5 in 1988.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.3 in 2025.
- How does Belgium rank for persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private?
- Belgium ranks 13th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force - % of total population in private rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. 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 - % of total population in private households. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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