Self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium
Belgium: Self-employed persons by occupation 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
500.5 Thousand persons
in 1983
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium stood at 736.7 Thousand persons. 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 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 500.5 Thousand persons, in 1983.
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 43 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 500.5 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 543.2 Thousand persons | +8.5% |
| 1985 | 557.2 Thousand persons | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 541 Thousand persons | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 529.6 Thousand persons | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 526.7 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 575.1 Thousand persons | +9.2% |
| 1990 | 581.6 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 552.9 Thousand persons | -4.9% |
| 1992 | 566.7 Thousand persons | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 574.3 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 574 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 582.6 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 539.04 Thousand persons | 500.5 Thousand persons | 575.1 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 576.33 Thousand persons | 552.9 Thousand persons | 591.7 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 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 occupation in Belgium?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium was 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 500.5 Thousand persons in 1983.
- How does Belgium rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Belgium ranks 16th out of 45 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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