Self-employed persons by citizenship in Belgium
Belgium: Self-employed persons by citizenship was 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
736.7 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
16th
of 47 countries
All-time high
736.7 Thousand persons
in 2025
All-time low
533.4 Thousand persons
in 2001
Years of data
31
1995–2025
Self-employed persons by citizenship in Belgium, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 736.7 Thousand persons for self-employed persons by citizenship in 2025. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 14.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by citizenship in Belgium peaked at 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 533.4 Thousand persons, in 2001.
That places Belgium 16th out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by citizenship in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 582.6 Thousand persons | — |
| 1996 | 582.1 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 569.2 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 591.7 Thousand persons | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 588.2 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 571.2 Thousand persons | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 533.4 Thousand persons | -6.6% |
| 2002 | 545 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 539.5 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 538.2 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 565.7 Thousand persons | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 572.9 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 586.6 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 574.7 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 594.6 Thousand persons | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 595.7 Thousand persons | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 590.2 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 603.2 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 635.4 Thousand persons | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 617.4 Thousand persons | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 643 Thousand persons | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 638.7 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 623.1 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 619.4 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 641.9 Thousand persons | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 660.7 Thousand persons | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 651.8 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 714.2 Thousand persons | +9.6% |
| 2023 | 716.7 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 702.8 Thousand persons | -1.9% |
| 2025 | 736.7 Thousand persons | +4.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 736.7 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95 Thousand persons, 1.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 736.7 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 478.5 Thousand persons, 1.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 582.76 Thousand persons | 569.2 Thousand persons | 591.7 Thousand persons | 5 |
| 2000s | 562.18 Thousand persons | 533.4 Thousand persons | 594.6 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 620.8 Thousand persons | 590.2 Thousand persons | 643 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 697.15 Thousand persons | 651.8 Thousand persons | 736.7 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 self-employed persons by citizenship in Belgium?
- Self-employed persons by citizenship in Belgium was 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by citizenship recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by citizenship recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 533.4 Thousand persons in 2001.
- How does Belgium rank for self-employed persons by citizenship?
- Belgium ranks 16th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by citizenship rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by citizenship. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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