Unemployed population — Unemployment in Belgium

Belgium: Unemployed population — Unemployment was 339.27 Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
339.27 Persons
Change on year
up 10.8%
World rank
20th
of 35 countries
All-time high
555.25 Persons
in 1995
All-time low
55 Persons
in 1964
Years of data
70
1956–2025

Unemployed population — Unemployment in Belgium, 1956–2025

0200400600195619902025

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 339.27 Persons for unemployed population — unemployment in 2025.

That represents a change of up 10.8% on the previous year and down 19.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed population — unemployment in Belgium peaked at 555.25 Persons in 1995 and was at its lowest, 55 Persons, in 1964.

Belgium ranks 20th of 35 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 111.5 Persons 83 Persons 142 Persons 4
1960s 81.8 Persons 55 Persons 117 Persons 10
1970s 168.5 Persons 69 Persons 304 Persons 10
1980s 457.8 Persons 322 Persons 546 Persons 10
1990s 477.83 Persons 365 Persons 555.25 Persons 10
2000s 350.73 Persons 287.02 Persons 390.43 Persons 10
2010s 370.13 Persons 273.65 Persons 423.32 Persons 10
2020s 306.7 Persons 282.43 Persons 339.27 Persons 6

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 17 Sweden 510.35 Persons compare
  2. 18 Romania 500.27 Persons compare
  3. 19 Greece 421.98 Persons compare
  4. 21 Portugal 337.05 Persons compare
  5. 22 Finland 277.77 Persons compare
  6. 23 Austria 269.55 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 48 places →

More work & labour data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed population — unemployment in Belgium?
Unemployed population — unemployment in Belgium was 339.27 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 555.25 Persons in 1995.
What is the lowest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 55 Persons in 1964.
How does Belgium rank for unemployed population — unemployment?
Belgium ranks 20th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployed population — unemployment rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is down 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployed population — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed population — Unemployment in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-population-unemployment/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed population — Unemployment
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
48 places, 2,160 data points, 1955–2025
Last refreshed

The infra-annual dataflow on the unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.