Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium

Belgium: Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 127.84 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
127.84
Change on year
up 9.2%
World rank
42nd
of 94 countries
All-time high
260.34
in 1984
All-time low
93.45
in 2019
Years of data
42
1983–2024

Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium, 1983–2024

01002003001983200320241983: 250.41984: 260.31985: 239.21986: 227.41987: 2111988: 182.21989: 144.81990: 127.31991: 126.81992: 116.71993: 148.21994: 178.21995: 170.21996: 156.11997: 155.81998: 155.71999: 148.52000: 121.72001: 112.62002: 116.32003: 138.22004: 133.42005: 155.92006: 150.32007: 142.12008: 132.42009: 155.52010: 1662011: 137.82012: 1482013: 1662014: 1652015: 1562016: 140.62017: 135.62018: 111.12019: 93.42020: 103.82021: 126.52022: 113.32023: 117.12024: 127.8

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 127.84 for youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.2% on the previous year and down 22.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium peaked at 260.34 in 1984 and was at its lowest, 93.45, in 2019.

Belgium ranks 42nd of 94 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.

Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15-29) in Belgium, 1983 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1983 250.37
1984 260.34 +4.0%
1985 239.22 -8.1%
1986 227.38 -5.0%
1987 211.02 -7.2%
1988 182.18 -13.7%
1989 144.81 -20.5%
1990 127.35 -12.1%
1991 126.76 -0.5%
1992 116.68 -8.0%
1993 148.2 +27.0%
1994 178.17 +20.2%
1995 170.22 -4.5%
1996 156.06 -8.3%
1997 155.79 -0.2%
1998 155.74 -0.0%
1999 148.46 -4.7%
2000 121.68 -18.0%
2001 112.55 -7.5%
2002 116.34 +3.4%
2003 138.2 +18.8%
2004 133.38 -3.5%
2005 155.93 +16.9%
2006 150.34 -3.6%
2007 142.11 -5.5%
2008 132.39 -6.8%
2009 155.5 +17.5%
2010 166 +6.8%
2011 137.76 -17.0%
2012 148.04 +7.5%
2013 165.97 +12.1%
2014 164.96 -0.6%
2015 156 -5.4%
2016 140.6 -9.9%
2017 135.62 -3.5%
2018 111.11 -18.1%
2019 93.45 -15.9%
2020 103.81 +11.1%
2021 126.48 +21.8%
2022 113.29 -10.4%
2023 117.07 +3.3%
2024 127.84 +9.2%

Belgium compared with similar countries

  • Belgium's 127.84 is above the median for high income countries, which is 84.37, 1.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Belgium's 127.84 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 64.04, 2.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 216.48 144.81 260.34 7
1990s 148.34 116.68 178.17 10
2000s 135.84 112.55 155.93 10
2010s 141.95 93.45 166 10
2020s 117.7 103.81 127.84 5

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 39 Ecuador 161.19 compare
  2. 40 Dominican Republic 147.43 compare
  3. 41 Palestine 142.48 compare
  4. 43 Guatemala 125.6 compare
  5. 44 Portugal 120.94 compare
  6. 45 Greece 115.88 compare

See the full ranking of 94 places →

More work & labour data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium?
Youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium was 127.84 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 260.34 in 1984.
What is the lowest youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 93.45 in 2019.
How does Belgium rank for youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
Belgium ranks 42nd out of 94 countries with data for 2024.
Is youth unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is down 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15-29). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/youth-unemployment-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15-29/belgium/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/youth-unemployment-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15-29/belgium/">Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator
Youth unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15-29)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
94 places, 2,090 data points, 1976–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Youth Labour Market Indicators (YouthSTATS) database description.