Unemployment by sex and age - monthly data in Belgium
Belgium: Unemployment by sex and age - monthly data was 341 Thousand persons in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
341 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
17th
of 47 countries
All-time high
440 Thousand persons
in 2015
All-time low
258 Thousand persons
in 1990
Years of data
41
1986–2026
Unemployment by sex and age - monthly data in Belgium, 1986–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment by sex and age - monthly data in Belgium is 341 Thousand persons, measured in 2026.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment by sex and age - monthly data in Belgium peaked at 440 Thousand persons in 2015 and was at its lowest, 258 Thousand persons, in 1990.
That places Belgium 17th out of 47 countries with data for 2026, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 41 years of available data.
Unemployment by sex and age - monthly data in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 401 Thousand persons | — |
| 1987 | 374 Thousand persons | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 319 Thousand persons | -14.7% |
| 1989 | 274 Thousand persons | -14.1% |
| 1990 | 258 Thousand persons | -5.8% |
| 1991 | 273 Thousand persons | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 317 Thousand persons | +16.1% |
| 1993 | 398 Thousand persons | +25.6% |
| 1994 | 411 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 418 Thousand persons | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 390 Thousand persons | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 400 Thousand persons | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 394 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 335 Thousand persons | -15.0% |
| 2000 | 285 Thousand persons | -14.9% |
| 2001 | 332 Thousand persons | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 363 Thousand persons | +9.3% |
| 2003 | 390 Thousand persons | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 377 Thousand persons | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 394 Thousand persons | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 374 Thousand persons | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 343 Thousand persons | -8.3% |
| 2008 | 330 Thousand persons | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 409 Thousand persons | +23.9% |
| 2010 | 378 Thousand persons | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 346 Thousand persons | -8.5% |
| 2012 | 419 Thousand persons | +21.1% |
| 2013 | 429 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 435 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 440 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 366 Thousand persons | -16.8% |
| 2017 | 311 Thousand persons | -15.0% |
| 2018 | 290 Thousand persons | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 266 Thousand persons | -8.3% |
| 2020 | 300 Thousand persons | +12.8% |
| 2021 | 291 Thousand persons | -3.0% |
| 2022 | 303 Thousand persons | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 297 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 326 Thousand persons | +9.8% |
| 2025 | 353 Thousand persons | +8.3% |
| 2026 | 341 Thousand persons | -3.4% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 341 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 226 Thousand persons, 1.5× the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 341 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 248 Thousand persons, 1.4× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 342 Thousand persons | 274 Thousand persons | 401 Thousand persons | 4 |
| 1990s | 359.4 Thousand persons | 258 Thousand persons | 418 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 359.7 Thousand persons | 285 Thousand persons | 409 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 368 Thousand persons | 266 Thousand persons | 440 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 315.86 Thousand persons | 291 Thousand persons | 353 Thousand persons | 7 |
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 unemployment by sex and age - monthly data in Belgium?
- Unemployment by sex and age - monthly data in Belgium was 341 Thousand persons in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest unemployment by sex and age - monthly data recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 440 Thousand persons in 2015.
- What is the lowest unemployment by sex and age - monthly data recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 258 Thousand persons in 1990.
- How does Belgium rank for unemployment by sex and age - monthly data?
- Belgium ranks 17th out of 47 countries with data for 2026.
- Is unemployment by sex and age - monthly data rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. 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 Unemployment by sex and age - monthly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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