Belgium: Labor force participation

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Belgium

Labor force participation rate

 Latest value 54.27
 Year 2025
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1990 - 2025
 Average 52.39
 Min - Max 48.26 - 54.58
 Source The World Bank
 Available for Data download
The latest value from 2025 is 54.27 percent, a decline from 54.54 percent in 2024. In comparison, the world average is 60.86 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Belgium from 1990 to 2025 is 52.39 percent. The minimum value, 48.26 percent, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 54.58 percent was recorded in 2022. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
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 Recent values Belgium: Labor force participation
 2025 54.27
 2024 54.54
 2023 54.41
 2022 54.58
 2021 54.05
 2020 53.38
 2019 53.90
 2018 53.67




The labor force participation rate is the percent of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active. That includes the employed and the unemployed individuals.
Definition: Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Labor force 5.46 2025 million people
 Unemployment rate 5.91 2025 percent
 Female unemployment 5.63 2025 percent
 Male unemployment 6.15 2025 percent
 Youth unemployment 17.78 2025 percent
 Labor force participation 54.27 2025 percent
 Labor force: percent female 46.78 2025 percent
 Female labor force participation 49.78 2025 percent
 Male labor force participation 58.95 2025 percent
 Hours worked 1,436.96 2023 hours
 Self-employment 14.59 2025 percent
 Employment 5.15 Q2/2026 million employed people
 Unemployment rate 6.20 8/2026 percent
 Labor cost 122.70 Q2/2025 index points
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