Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Belgium

Belgium: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 56.4% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
56.4%
Change on year
down 5.5%
World rank
19th
of 43 countries
All-time high
71.8%
in 1998
All-time low
56.4%
in 2020
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Belgium, 1998–2020

0204060801998200920201998: 71.8 Percentage1999: 64 Percentage2000: 67.7 Percentage2001: 63.1 Percentage2002: 61.1 Percentage2003: 67.1 Percentage2004: 64.8 Percentage2005: 64.6 Percentage2006: 65.3 Percentage2007: 65.4 Percentage2008: 67.5 Percentage2009: 65.8 Percentage2010: 67.4 Percentage2011: 65 Percentage2012: 65.9 Percentage2013: 64.8 Percentage2014: 66.1 Percentage2015: 65.6 Percentage2016: 66.1 Percentage2017: 62.1 Percentage2018: 61.2 Percentage2019: 59.7 Percentage2020: 56.4 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Belgium is 56.4%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.5% on the previous year and down 16.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Belgium peaked at 71.8% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 56.4%, in 2020.

That places Belgium 19th out of 43 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment in Belgium, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 71.8%
1999 64.0% -10.9%
2000 67.7% +5.8%
2001 63.1% -6.8%
2002 61.1% -3.2%
2003 67.1% +9.8%
2004 64.8% -3.4%
2005 64.6% -0.3%
2006 65.3% +1.1%
2007 65.4% +0.2%
2008 67.5% +3.2%
2009 65.8% -2.5%
2010 67.4% +2.4%
2011 65.0% -3.6%
2012 65.9% +1.4%
2013 64.8% -1.7%
2014 66.1% +2.0%
2015 65.6% -0.8%
2016 66.1% +0.8%
2017 62.1% -6.1%
2018 61.2% -1.4%
2019 59.7% -2.5%
2020 56.4% -5.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 67.9% 64.0% 71.8% 2
2000s 65.2% 61.1% 67.7% 10
2010s 64.4% 59.7% 67.4% 10
2020s 56.4% 56.4% 56.4% 1

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 17 Hungary 61.1% compare
  2. 18 Sweden 60.3% compare
  3. 20 Poland 55.2% compare
  4. 20 Poland 55.2% compare
  5. 22 France 52.9% compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More work & labour data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Belgium?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Belgium was 56.4% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 71.8% in 1998.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 56.4% in 2020.
How does Belgium rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Belgium ranks 19th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.3%. 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 methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment-2/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
43 places, 931 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed