Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in Belgium
Belgium: Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction was 16.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
16.2%
Change on year
down 13.4%
World rank
26th
of 35 countries
All-time high
77.1%
in 1992
All-time low
16.2%
in 2023
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in Belgium stood at 16.2%. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is down 13.4% on the previous year and down 67.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in Belgium peaked at 77.1% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 16.2%, in 2023.
That places Belgium 26th out of 35 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 58.7% | — |
| 1984 | 51.3% | -12.6% |
| 1985 | 61.9% | +20.7% |
| 1986 | 67.8% | +9.5% |
| 1987 | 73.6% | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 71.8% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 71.2% | -0.8% |
| 1990 | 45.1% | -36.7% |
| 1991 | 70.1% | +55.4% |
| 1992 | 77.1% | +10.0% |
| 1993 | 72.2% | -6.4% |
| 1994 | 76.5% | +6.0% |
| 1995 | 73.7% | -3.7% |
| 1996 | 76.5% | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 71.5% | -6.5% |
| 1998 | 71.8% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 30.1% | -58.1% |
| 2000 | 37.3% | +23.9% |
| 2001 | 56.5% | +51.5% |
| 2002 | 33.2% | -41.2% |
| 2003 | 69.2% | +108.4% |
| 2004 | 66.5% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 55.9% | -15.9% |
| 2006 | 54.0% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 49.3% | -8.7% |
| 2008 | 49.3% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 54.8% | +11.2% |
| 2010 | 49.9% | -8.9% |
| 2011 | 46.3% | -7.2% |
| 2012 | 52.1% | +12.5% |
| 2013 | 42.7% | -18.0% |
| 2014 | 54.6% | +27.9% |
| 2015 | 49.9% | -8.6% |
| 2016 | 48.6% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 53.2% | +9.5% |
| 2018 | 44.3% | -16.7% |
| 2019 | 28.0% | -36.8% |
| 2020 | 46.7% | +66.8% |
| 2021 | 20.9% | -55.2% |
| 2022 | 16.5% | -21.1% |
| 2023 | 16.2% | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 18.7% | +15.4% |
| 2025 | 16.2% | -13.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 65.2% | 51.3% | 73.6% | 7 |
| 1990s | 66.5% | 30.1% | 77.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.6% | 33.2% | 69.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.0% | 28.0% | 54.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.5% | 16.2% | 46.7% | 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 unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in Belgium?
- Unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction in Belgium was 16.2% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 77.1% in 1992.
- What is the lowest unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.2% in 2023.
- How does Belgium rank for unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction?
- Belgium ranks 26th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployed persons by duration of unemployment and distinction rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 67.5%. 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 duration of unemployment and distinction registration/benefits. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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