Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Belgium

Employment-to-population ratio in Belgium in 2025 — 51.07%. Ranked 135 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 5.31 pp.

2025 51.07% −0.36 pp vs 2024
World rank 135of 182
Period maximum 51.54%2022
Period minimum 45.38%1994

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Belgium, 1991–2025444648505219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 45.76%1992: 46.2%1993: 45.62%1994: 45.38%1995: 45.73%1996: 45.62%1997: 45.97%1998: 46.01%1999: 47.38%2000: 48.8%2001: 47.65%2002: 47.57%2003: 47.32%2004: 48.12%2005: 48.8%2006: 48.73%2007: 49.65%2008: 49.95%2009: 49.28%2010: 49.67%2011: 49.49%2012: 49.31%2013: 49.1%2014: 49.01%2015: 48.84%2016: 49%2017: 49.55%2018: 50.48%2019: 51.01%2020: 50.42%2021: 50.67%2022: 51.54%2023: 51.39%2024: 51.43%2025: 51.07%
Change over the period: +5.31 pp Annual average: 0.16 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Belgium

Belgium 51.07%
World 58.06%
Western Europe computed 56.18%
High-income countries computed 58.43%
Employment-to-population ratio — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 51.07 −0.36 pp
2024 51.43 +0.04 pp
2023 51.39 −0.15 pp
2022 51.54 +0.87 pp
2021 50.67 +0.25 pp
2020 50.42 −0.58 pp
2019 51.01 +0.53 pp
2018 50.48 +0.93 pp
2017 49.55 +0.55 pp
2016 49 +0.16 pp
2015 48.84 −0.17 pp
2014 49.01 −0.09 pp
2013 49.1 −0.21 pp
2012 49.31 −0.19 pp
2011 49.49 −0.18 pp
2010 49.67 +0.39 pp
2009 49.28 −0.67 pp
2008 49.95 +0.29 pp
2007 49.65 +0.92 pp
2006 48.73 −0.07 pp
2005 48.8 +0.67 pp
2004 48.12 +0.8 pp
2003 47.32 −0.25 pp
2002 47.57 −0.08 pp
2001 47.65 −1.15 pp
2000 48.8 +1.42 pp
1999 47.38 +1.37 pp
1998 46.01 +0.05 pp
1997 45.97 +0.35 pp
1996 45.62 −0.11 pp
1995 45.73 +0.35 pp
1994 45.38 −0.23 pp
1993 45.62 −0.59 pp
1992 46.2 +0.45 pp
1991 45.76

Western Europe, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.