SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Belgium
Belgium: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) was 6.18 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Belgium, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Belgium is 6.18, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 8.4% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Belgium peaked at 8.52 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 5.36, in 2019.
That places Belgium 30th out of 74 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 8.52 | — |
| 2015 | 8.48 | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 7.83 | -7.7% |
| 2017 | 7.09 | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 5.94 | -16.2% |
| 2019 | 5.36 | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 5.54 | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 6.25 | +12.7% |
| 2022 | 5.57 | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 5.55 | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 5.71 | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 6.18 | +8.4% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 6.18 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.87, 1.3× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 6.18 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.82, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 7.2 | 5.36 | 8.52 | 6 |
| 2020s | 5.8 | 5.54 | 6.25 | 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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Belgium?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) in Belgium was 6.18 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 8.52 in 2014.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.36 in 2019.
- How does Belgium rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition)?
- Belgium ranks 30th out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (current ilo definition) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.