Unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Belgium
Belgium: Unemployment rates by educational attainment level was 6.2 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
6.2
Change on year
up 8.8%
World rank
21st
of 47 countries
All-time high
11.9
in 1984
All-time low
5.4
in 2019
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Belgium is 6.2, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 8.8% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Belgium peaked at 11.9 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 5.4, in 2019.
That places Belgium 21st out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 11.7 | — |
| 1984 | 11.9 | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 11.3 | -5.0% |
| 1986 | 11.3 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 11.3 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 10.1 | -10.6% |
| 1989 | 8.3 | -17.8% |
| 1990 | 7.3 | -12.0% |
| 1991 | 7 | -4.1% |
| 1992 | 6.7 | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 8.1 | +20.9% |
| 1994 | 9.7 | +19.8% |
| 1995 | 9.3 | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 9.5 | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 9 | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 9.3 | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 8.7 | -6.5% |
| 2000 | 6.6 | -24.1% |
| 2001 | 6.2 | -6.1% |
| 2002 | 6.9 | +11.3% |
| 2003 | 7.7 | +11.6% |
| 2004 | 7.4 | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 8.5 | +14.9% |
| 2006 | 8.3 | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 7.5 | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 7 | -6.7% |
| 2009 | 7.9 | +12.9% |
| 2010 | 8.3 | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 7.2 | -13.3% |
| 2012 | 7.6 | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 8.4 | +10.5% |
| 2014 | 8.5 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 8.5 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.8 | -8.2% |
| 2017 | 7.1 | -9.0% |
| 2018 | 6 | -15.5% |
| 2019 | 5.4 | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 5.6 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | 6.3 | +12.5% |
| 2022 | 5.6 | -11.1% |
| 2023 | 5.5 | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 5.7 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | 6.2 | +8.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 6.2 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.05, 1.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 6.2 is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.4, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 10.84 | 8.3 | 11.9 | 7 |
| 1990s | 8.46 | 6.7 | 9.7 | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.4 | 6.2 | 8.5 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.48 | 5.4 | 8.5 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.82 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 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 rates by educational attainment level in Belgium?
- Unemployment rates by educational attainment level in Belgium was 6.2 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest unemployment rates by educational attainment level recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 11.9 in 1984.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates by educational attainment level recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4 in 2019.
- How does Belgium rank for unemployment rates by educational attainment level?
- Belgium ranks 21st out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates by educational attainment level rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. 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 rates by educational attainment level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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