Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Belgium
Belgium: Labor force, female (% of total labor force) was 46.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Belgium, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database. Measured in % of total labor force.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 46.8% for labor force, female in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Belgium peaked at 46.8% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 39.0%, in 1990.
Belgium ranks 71st of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female (% of total labor force) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % of total labor force | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 39.0% | — |
| 1991 | 39.8% | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 40.4% | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 41.0% | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 41.1% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 41.4% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 41.5% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 41.9% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 42.2% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 42.9% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 43.1% | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 42.4% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 42.9% | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 43.1% | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 43.8% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 44.2% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 44.4% | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 44.7% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 45.0% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 45.1% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 45.3% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 45.3% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 45.3% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 45.7% | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 46.0% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 46.1% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 46.0% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 46.0% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 46.5% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 46.5% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 46.5% | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 46.6% | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 46.8% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 46.8% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 46.8% | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 46.8% | +0.0% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 46.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 46.5%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 46.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 47.1%, 99% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 41.1% | 39.0% | 42.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 43.9% | 42.4% | 45.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.9% | 45.3% | 46.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.7% | 46.5% | 46.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Belgium?
- Labor force, female in Belgium was 46.8% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 46.8% in 2022.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.0% in 1990.
- How does Belgium rank for labor force, female?
- Belgium ranks 71st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, female (% of total labor force). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force as a percentage of the total show the extent to which women are active in the labor force. Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.