Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium

Belgium: Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation was 339.3 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
339.3 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 10.8%
World rank
15th
of 45 countries
All-time high
423.3 Thousand persons
in 2014
All-time low
265.9 Thousand persons
in 2001
Years of data
31
1995–2025

Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium, 1995–2025

01002003004001995201020251995: 390.6 Thousand persons1996: 397.1 Thousand persons1997: 377.3 Thousand persons1998: 396.5 Thousand persons1999: 377.5 Thousand persons2000: 290.5 Thousand persons2001: 265.9 Thousand persons2002: 300.8 Thousand persons2003: 337.3 Thousand persons2004: 329.4 Thousand persons2005: 390.4 Thousand persons2006: 383.2 Thousand persons2007: 353 Thousand persons2008: 333.4 Thousand persons2009: 379.6 Thousand persons2010: 405.9 Thousand persons2011: 346.7 Thousand persons2012: 369 Thousand persons2013: 416.8 Thousand persons2014: 423.3 Thousand persons2015: 421.8 Thousand persons2016: 389.6 Thousand persons2017: 353.7 Thousand persons2018: 300.7 Thousand persons2019: 273.7 Thousand persons2020: 282.4 Thousand persons2021: 324.4 Thousand persons2022: 293.7 Thousand persons2023: 294.2 Thousand persons2024: 306.2 Thousand persons2025: 339.3 Thousand persons

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium is 339.3 Thousand persons, measured in 2025.

The figure is up 10.8% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium peaked at 423.3 Thousand persons in 2014 and was at its lowest, 265.9 Thousand persons, in 2001.

Belgium ranks 15th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium, 1995 to 2025.
Year Thousand persons Change
1995 390.6 Thousand persons
1996 397.1 Thousand persons +1.7%
1997 377.3 Thousand persons -5.0%
1998 396.5 Thousand persons +5.1%
1999 377.5 Thousand persons -4.8%
2000 290.5 Thousand persons -23.0%
2001 265.9 Thousand persons -8.5%
2002 300.8 Thousand persons +13.1%
2003 337.3 Thousand persons +12.1%
2004 329.4 Thousand persons -2.3%
2005 390.4 Thousand persons +18.5%
2006 383.2 Thousand persons -1.8%
2007 353 Thousand persons -7.9%
2008 333.4 Thousand persons -5.6%
2009 379.6 Thousand persons +13.9%
2010 405.9 Thousand persons +6.9%
2011 346.7 Thousand persons -14.6%
2012 369 Thousand persons +6.4%
2013 416.8 Thousand persons +13.0%
2014 423.3 Thousand persons +1.6%
2015 421.8 Thousand persons -0.4%
2016 389.6 Thousand persons -7.6%
2017 353.7 Thousand persons -9.2%
2018 300.7 Thousand persons -15.0%
2019 273.7 Thousand persons -9.0%
2020 282.4 Thousand persons +3.2%
2021 324.4 Thousand persons +14.9%
2022 293.7 Thousand persons -9.5%
2023 294.2 Thousand persons +0.2%
2024 306.2 Thousand persons +4.1%
2025 339.3 Thousand persons +10.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 387.8 Thousand persons 377.3 Thousand persons 397.1 Thousand persons 5
2000s 336.35 Thousand persons 265.9 Thousand persons 390.4 Thousand persons 10
2010s 370.12 Thousand persons 273.7 Thousand persons 423.3 Thousand persons 10
2020s 306.7 Thousand persons 282.4 Thousand persons 339.3 Thousand persons 6

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 12 Greece 422 Thousand persons compare
  2. 13 Netherlands 396.1 Thousand persons compare
  3. 13 Netherlands 396.1 Thousand persons compare
  4. 16 Portugal 337.1 Thousand persons compare
  5. 17 Finland 277.8 Thousand persons compare
  6. 18 Serbia 272.4 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 unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium?
Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium was 339.3 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 423.3 Thousand persons in 2014.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 265.9 Thousand persons in 2001.
How does Belgium rank for unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation?
Belgium ranks 15th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-citizenship-and-degree-of-urbanisation/belgium/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-citizenship-and-degree-of-urbanisation/belgium/">Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Belgium</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation
Unit
Thousand persons
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,284 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed