Self-employed persons by country of birth in Belgium

Belgium: Self-employed persons by country of birth was 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
736.7 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
16th
of 45 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 country of birth in Belgium, 1995–2025

02004006008001995201020251995: 582.6 Thousand persons1996: 582.1 Thousand persons1997: 569.2 Thousand persons1998: 591.7 Thousand persons1999: 588.2 Thousand persons2000: 571.2 Thousand persons2001: 533.4 Thousand persons2002: 545 Thousand persons2003: 539.5 Thousand persons2004: 538.2 Thousand persons2005: 565.7 Thousand persons2006: 572.9 Thousand persons2007: 586.6 Thousand persons2008: 574.7 Thousand persons2009: 594.6 Thousand persons2010: 595.7 Thousand persons2011: 590.2 Thousand persons2012: 603.2 Thousand persons2013: 635.4 Thousand persons2014: 617.4 Thousand persons2015: 643 Thousand persons2016: 638.7 Thousand persons2017: 623.1 Thousand persons2018: 619.4 Thousand persons2019: 641.9 Thousand persons2020: 660.7 Thousand persons2021: 651.8 Thousand persons2022: 714.2 Thousand persons2023: 716.7 Thousand persons2024: 702.8 Thousand persons2025: 736.7 Thousand persons

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 736.7 Thousand persons for self-employed persons by country of birth 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 country of birth in Belgium peaked at 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 533.4 Thousand persons, in 2001.

Belgium ranks 16th of 45 countries on this measure, 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 country of birth in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Self-employed persons by country of birth in Belgium, 1995 to 2025.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 13 Romania 834.2 Thousand persons compare
  2. 14 Czechia 806.7 Thousand persons compare
  3. 15 Portugal 751.5 Thousand persons compare
  4. 17 Switzerland 658.9 Thousand persons compare
  5. 18 Hungary 557.6 Thousand persons compare
  6. 19 Austria 499 Thousand persons compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is self-employed persons by country of birth in Belgium?
Self-employed persons by country of birth in Belgium was 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest self-employed persons by country of birth recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025.
What is the lowest self-employed persons by country of birth recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 533.4 Thousand persons in 2001.
How does Belgium rank for self-employed persons by country of birth?
Belgium ranks 16th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
Is self-employed persons by country of birth 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 country of birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Self-employed persons by country of birth in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/self-employed-persons-by-country-of-birth/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Self-employed persons by country of birth
Unit
Thousand persons
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,285 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed