Self-employed persons by occupation in Belgium
Belgium: Self-employed persons by occupation was 736.7 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
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 13th of 36 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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 54.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 59.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 49.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 74.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 67.2% (2025)
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 13th out of 36 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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