SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Belgium
Belgium: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 5.69 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Belgium, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 5.69 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 46.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Belgium peaked at 14.25 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 5.69, in 2025.
Belgium ranks 30th of 57 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 13.72 | — |
| 2005 | 14.25 | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 12.01 | -15.7% |
| 2007 | 11.02 | -8.3% |
| 2008 | 10.07 | -8.6% |
| 2009 | 11.08 | +10.1% |
| 2010 | 11.4 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 11.26 | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 10.79 | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 11.14 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 11.55 | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 10.69 | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 10.13 | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 9.55 | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 7.51 | -21.4% |
| 2019 | 7.21 | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 7.56 | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 7.43 | -1.8% |
| 2022 | 6.05 | -18.6% |
| 2023 | 6.23 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 5.75 | -7.7% |
| 2025 | 5.69 | -1.1% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 5.69 is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.26, 91% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 5.69 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.65, 85% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.03 | 10.07 | 14.25 | 6 |
| 2010s | 10.12 | 7.21 | 11.55 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.45 | 5.69 | 7.56 | 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 in Belgium?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Belgium was 5.69 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 14.25 in 2005.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.69 in 2025.
- How does Belgium rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- Belgium ranks 30th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 46.8%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.