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.
Unemployment rate in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7.0% | — |
| 1992 | 6.7% | -4.0% |
| 1993 | 8.1% | +20.5% |
| 1994 | 9.6% | +19.4% |
| 1995 | 9.3% | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 9.5% | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 8.9% | -5.6% |
| 1998 | 9.3% | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 8.6% | -7.2% |
| 2000 | 6.6% | -23.9% |
| 2001 | 6.2% | -6.2% |
| 2002 | 6.9% | +11.8% |
| 2003 | 7.7% | +11.1% |
| 2004 | 7.4% | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 8.4% | +14.6% |
| 2006 | 8.2% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 7.5% | -9.5% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | -6.5% |
| 2009 | 7.9% | +13.4% |
| 2010 | 8.3% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 7.1% | -13.9% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 8.4% | +11.7% |
| 2014 | 8.5% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 8.5% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 7.8% | -7.7% |
| 2017 | 7.1% | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | -16.2% |
| 2019 | 5.4% | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | +12.7% |
| 2022 | 5.6% | -10.9% |
| 2023 | 5.5% | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 5.7% | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 5.9% | +3.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 5.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 5.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.