Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Belgium
Belgium: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 17.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Belgium recorded 17.4% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Belgium peaked at 25.2% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 13.2%, in 1992.
That places Belgium 58th out of 160 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 23.9% | — |
| 1984 | 25.2% | +5.4% |
| 1985 | 23.5% | -6.6% |
| 1986 | 21.1% | -10.5% |
| 1987 | 21.4% | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 18.1% | -15.6% |
| 1989 | 15.5% | -14.3% |
| 1990 | 14.5% | -6.6% |
| 1991 | 14.0% | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 13.2% | -5.4% |
| 1993 | 18.5% | +39.7% |
| 1994 | 21.8% | +18.3% |
| 1995 | 21.5% | -1.5% |
| 1996 | 20.5% | -4.8% |
| 1997 | 21.3% | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 20.4% | -4.1% |
| 1999 | 22.6% | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 15.2% | -32.4% |
| 2001 | 15.3% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 15.7% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 19.0% | +21.3% |
| 2004 | 17.5% | -7.8% |
| 2005 | 21.5% | +22.7% |
| 2006 | 20.5% | -4.5% |
| 2007 | 18.8% | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 18.0% | -4.6% |
| 2009 | 21.9% | +22.1% |
| 2010 | 22.4% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 18.7% | -16.4% |
| 2012 | 19.8% | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 23.7% | +20.0% |
| 2014 | 23.2% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 22.1% | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 20.1% | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 19.2% | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 15.8% | -18.2% |
| 2019 | 14.2% | -9.6% |
| 2020 | 15.3% | +7.7% |
| 2021 | 18.2% | +18.8% |
| 2022 | 16.4% | -10.0% |
| 2023 | 16.1% | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 17.4% | +8.3% |
| 2025 | 17.4% | -0.1% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 17.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.2× the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 17.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.2%, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 21.2% | 15.5% | 25.2% | 7 |
| 1990s | 18.8% | 13.2% | 22.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.3% | 15.2% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.9% | 14.2% | 23.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.8% | 15.3% | 18.2% | 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Belgium?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Belgium was 17.4% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 25.2% in 1984.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.2% in 1992.
- How does Belgium rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Belgium ranks 58th out of 160 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.4%. 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.