Self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium
Belgium: Self-employed persons by occupation was 736.7 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
736.7
Change on year
up 4.8%
World rank
16th
of 47 countries
All-time high
736.7
in 2025
All-time low
500.5
in 1983
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
In 2025, self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium stood at 736.7. That is the highest value across all 43 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 occupation in Belgium peaked at 736.7 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 500.5, in 1983.
Belgium ranks 16th of 47 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 500.5 | — |
| 1984 | 543.2 | +8.5% |
| 1985 | 557.2 | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 541 | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 529.6 | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 526.7 | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 575.1 | +9.2% |
| 1990 | 581.6 | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 552.9 | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 566.7 | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 574.3 | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 574 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 582.6 | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 582.1 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 569.2 | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 591.7 | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 588.2 | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 571.2 | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 533.4 | -6.6% |
| 2002 | 545 | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 539.5 | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 538.2 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 565.7 | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 572.9 | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 586.6 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 574.7 | -2.0% |
| 2009 | 594.6 | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 595.7 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 590.2 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 603.2 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 635.4 | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 617.4 | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 643 | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 638.7 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 623.1 | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 619.4 | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 641.9 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 660.7 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 651.8 | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 714.2 | +9.6% |
| 2023 | 716.7 | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 702.8 | -1.9% |
| 2025 | 736.7 | +4.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 736.7 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95, 1.7× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 736.7 is above the median for high income countries, which is 478.5, 1.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 539.04 | 500.5 | 575.1 | 7 |
| 1990s | 576.33 | 552.9 | 591.7 | 10 |
| 2000s | 562.18 | 533.4 | 594.6 | 10 |
| 2010s | 620.8 | 590.2 | 643 | 10 |
| 2020s | 697.15 | 651.8 | 736.7 | 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 occupation in Belgium?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium was 736.7 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 736.7 in 2025.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 500.5 in 1983.
- How does Belgium rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Belgium ranks 16th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation 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 occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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