Inactivity rate in Belgium
Belgium: Inactivity rate was 46.23 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Inactivity rate in Belgium, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inactivity rate in Belgium is 46.23, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate in Belgium peaked at 46.83 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 43.62, in 2005.
Belgium ranks 7th of 57 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Inactivity rate in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 43.78 | — |
| 2005 | 43.62 | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 43.9 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 44.11 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 44.52 | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 44.09 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 44.96 | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 45.14 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 45.05 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 44.88 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 44.49 | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 45.67 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 46.54 | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 45.88 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 46.04 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 46.18 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 45.67 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 45.55 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 46.16 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 46.14 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 46.83 | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 46.23 | -1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44 | 43.62 | 44.52 | 6 |
| 2010s | 45.48 | 44.49 | 46.54 | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.1 | 45.55 | 46.83 | 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 in Belgium?
- Inactivity rate in Belgium was 46.23 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 46.83 in 2024.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.62 in 2005.
- How does Belgium rank for inactivity rate?
- Belgium ranks 7th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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. 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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.