Unemployment rate in Belgium
Belgium: Unemployment rate was 5.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Belgium, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Belgium is 5.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 30.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Belgium peaked at 9.6% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 2019.
That places Belgium 80th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.6% | 6.7% | 9.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.4% | 6.2% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.5% | 5.4% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 5.5% | 6.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More work & labour data for Belgium
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 67.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 29.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 33.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 31.9% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 59.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 54.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Belgium?
- Unemployment rate in Belgium was 5.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 9.6% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 2019.
- How does Belgium rank for unemployment rate?
- Belgium ranks 80th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.