Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Belgium
Belgium: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 84.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Belgium, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Belgium is 84.4%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Belgium peaked at 84.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 59.9%, in 1990.
Belgium ranks 60th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.9% | — |
| 1991 | 61.9% | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 63.5% | +2.6% |
| 1993 | 65.3% | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 65.5% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 66.1% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 66.5% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 67.6% | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 68.6% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 70.5% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 71.0% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 69.2% | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 70.6% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 71.3% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 73.4% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 74.4% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 75.3% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 76.2% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 77.1% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 77.7% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 78.4% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 78.7% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 78.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 80.0% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 81.1% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 81.5% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 81.3% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 81.4% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 83.0% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 83.3% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 83.5% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 83.8% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 84.3% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 84.2% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 84.3% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 84.4% | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.5% | 59.9% | 70.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 73.6% | 69.2% | 77.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.8% | 78.4% | 83.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.1% | 83.5% | 84.4% | 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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Belgium?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Belgium was 84.4% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 84.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.9% in 1990.
- How does Belgium rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Belgium ranks 60th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).