Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Belgium
Belgium: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 6.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Belgium, 1971–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Belgium is 6.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.6% on the previous year and down 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Belgium peaked at 13.0% in 1982 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1971.
Belgium ranks 75th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2.1% | — |
| 1972 | 2.7% | +28.6% |
| 1973 | 2.8% | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 3.0% | +7.1% |
| 1975 | 5.1% | +70.0% |
| 1976 | 6.5% | +27.5% |
| 1977 | 5.7% | -12.8% |
| 1978 | 7.9% | +39.4% |
| 1979 | 7.0% | -11.9% |
| 1980 | 10.9% | +56.4% |
| 1981 | 11.3% | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 13.0% | +14.6% |
| 1983 | 11.7% | -10.3% |
| 1984 | 11.9% | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 11.3% | -4.7% |
| 1986 | 11.3% | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 11.3% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 10.1% | -10.0% |
| 1989 | 8.3% | -18.2% |
| 1990 | 7.2% | -12.5% |
| 1991 | 7.0% | -3.7% |
| 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% | +2.9% |
| 2025 | 6.2% | +8.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.7% | 2.1% | 7.9% | 9 |
| 1980s | 11.1% | 8.3% | 13.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.4% | 6.7% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 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, total (% of total labor force) in Belgium?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Belgium was 6.2% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 13.0% in 1982.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1971.
- How does Belgium rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Belgium ranks 75th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.