Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Belgium

Labor force participation rate in Belgium in 2025 — 54.27%. Ranked 142 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 6.02 pp.

2025 54.27% −0.26 pp vs 2024
World rank 142of 182
Period maximum 54.58%2022
Period minimum 48.26%1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Belgium, 1990–2025485052545619901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 48.26%1991: 49.19%1992: 49.52%1993: 49.62%1994: 50.23%1995: 50.44%1996: 50.4%1997: 50.49%1998: 50.74%1999: 51.87%2000: 52.24%2001: 50.79%2002: 51.1%2003: 51.26%2004: 51.95%2005: 53.29%2006: 53.11%2007: 53.66%2008: 53.7%2009: 53.51%2010: 54.16%2011: 53.3%2012: 53.33%2013: 53.62%2014: 53.58%2015: 53.37%2016: 53.16%2017: 53.34%2018: 53.67%2019: 53.9%2020: 53.38%2021: 54.05%2022: 54.58%2023: 54.41%2024: 54.54%2025: 54.27%
Change over the period: +6.02 pp Annual average: 0.17 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Belgium 54.27%
World 60.98%
Western Europe computed 59.27%
High-income countries computed 61.12%
Labor force participation rate — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 54.27 −0.26 pp
2024 54.54 +0.13 pp
2023 54.41 −0.17 pp
2022 54.58 +0.53 pp
2021 54.05 +0.67 pp
2020 53.38 −0.51 pp
2019 53.9 +0.23 pp
2018 53.67 +0.33 pp
2017 53.34 +0.17 pp
2016 53.16 −0.2 pp
2015 53.37 −0.21 pp
2014 53.58 −0.04 pp
2013 53.62 +0.29 pp
2012 53.33 +0.03 pp
2011 53.3 −0.87 pp
2010 54.16 +0.65 pp
2009 53.51 −0.18 pp
2008 53.7 +0.04 pp
2007 53.66 +0.55 pp
2006 53.11 −0.18 pp
2005 53.29 +1.35 pp
2004 51.95 +0.69 pp
2003 51.26 +0.15 pp
2002 51.1 +0.31 pp
2001 50.79 −1.45 pp
2000 52.24 +0.37 pp
1999 51.87 +1.13 pp
1998 50.74 +0.26 pp
1997 50.49 +0.09 pp
1996 50.4 −0.04 pp
1995 50.44 +0.21 pp
1994 50.23 +0.6 pp
1993 49.62 +0.1 pp
1992 49.52 +0.33 pp
1991 49.19 +0.93 pp
1990 48.26

Western Europe, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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