Share of workers in informal employment in Belgium
Belgium: Share of workers in informal employment was 1.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment in Belgium, 2007–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in informal employment in Belgium is 1.4%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 29.2% on the previous year and down 52.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Belgium peaked at 3.2% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 2023.
Belgium ranks 76th of 82 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Share of workers in informal employment in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 3.2% | — |
| 2008 | 2.3% | -29.3% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | +37.6% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -7.9% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 2.3% | -14.6% |
| 2013 | 2.8% | +18.8% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 2.4% | -15.0% |
| 2016 | 2.5% | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | +11.0% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | -8.5% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | -33.3% |
| 2020 | 1.3% | -26.7% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | +16.7% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | -14.3% |
| 2023 | 1.1% | -15.9% |
| 2024 | 1.4% | +29.2% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 1.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.4%, 57% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 1.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.8%, 49% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 2.6% | 1.7% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 5 |
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 share of workers in informal employment in Belgium?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Belgium was 1.4% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 2007.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 2023.
- How does Belgium rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Belgium ranks 76th out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.