Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium
Belgium: Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 44.05 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium, 1995–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium stood at 44.05. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium peaked at 49.59 in 1996 and was at its lowest, 44.05, in 2025.
Belgium ranks 15th of 75 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 49.47 | — |
| 1996 | 49.59 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 49.48 | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 49.15 | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 48.09 | -2.2% |
| 2000 | 47.71 | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 49.11 | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 48.81 | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 48.65 | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 47.97 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 46.7 | -2.6% |
| 2006 | 46.89 | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 46.41 | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 46.32 | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 46.53 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 45.93 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 46.8 | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 46.75 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 46.44 | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 46.49 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 46.69 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 46.89 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 46.16 | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 45.82 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 45.61 | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 46.19 | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 45.52 | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 44.91 | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 45 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 44.88 | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 44.05 | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.16 | 48.09 | 49.59 | 5 |
| 2000s | 47.51 | 46.32 | 49.11 | 10 |
| 2010s | 46.36 | 45.61 | 46.89 | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.09 | 44.05 | 46.19 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More gender data for Belgium
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,701 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.52 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 49,723 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 52,153 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 50,100 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 52,519 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 53,460 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 56,013 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 57,794 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 60,481 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium?
- Inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium was 44.05 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 49.59 in 1996.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.05 in 2025.
- How does Belgium rank for inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Belgium ranks 15th out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. 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 Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
This indicator conveys the number of persons of working age outside the labour force (that is, not employed or unemployed) expressed as a percentage of the working-age population. For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.