Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy in Belgium
Belgium: Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy was 5.23 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy in Belgium, 1985–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Analysis
In 2025, economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in Belgium stood at 5.23 million. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in Belgium peaked at 5.23 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3.73 million, in 1985.
Belgium ranks 16th of 29 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 3.73 million | — |
| 1986 | 3.73 million | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3.74 million | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 3.75 million | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 3.77 million | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 3.79 million | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 3.81 million | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 3.83 million | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 3.85 million | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 3.87 million | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 3.89 million | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 3.92 million | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 3.94 million | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 3.98 million | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 4.02 million | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 4.07 million | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 4.12 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 4.16 million | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 4.20 million | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 4.24 million | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 4.28 million | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 4.32 million | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 4.37 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 4.42 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 4.47 million | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 4.52 million | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 4.57 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 4.60 million | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 4.62 million | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 4.64 million | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 4.67 million | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 4.70 million | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 4.74 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 4.80 million | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 4.85 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 4.91 million | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 4.98 million | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 5.06 million | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 5.13 million | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 5.18 million | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 5.23 million | +0.8% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 5.23 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.23 million, 100% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 5.23 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.08 million, 1.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.75 million | 3.73 million | 3.77 million | 5 |
| 1990s | 3.89 million | 3.79 million | 4.02 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.26 million | 4.07 million | 4.47 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.67 million | 4.52 million | 4.85 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.08 million | 4.91 million | 5.23 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More economy & growth data for Belgium
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -19.31 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0266 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1,617 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 30.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0397 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -2,411 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 33.22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in Belgium?
- Economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy in Belgium was 5.23 million in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 5.23 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.73 million in 1985.
- How does Belgium rank for economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy?
- Belgium ranks 16th out of 29 countries with data for 2025.
- Is economic outlook no 115 — potential employment of total economy rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Economic Outlook No 115 — Potential employment of total economy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
May 2024 - The OECD Economic Outlook presents the OECD’s analysis of the major global economic trends and prospects for the next two years. The Outlook puts forward a consistent set of projections for output, employment, government spending, prices and current balances based on a review of each member country and of the induced effect on each of them on international developments. OECD (2024), OECD Economic Outlook No 115 (Edition 2024/1) EO115 Database documentation EO115 Last historical points gdp inflation cpi population unemployment real gdp gdp per capita employment OECD Economic Outlook website: https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/ Contact: eco.outlook@oecd.org Keywords: Outlook, forecasts, forecast, GDP