On 1 January 2021, 57.2% of the inhabitants of Brussels aged 20 to 64 were in work — 552nd of 565 municipalities (Statbel, Census 2021).
Brussels is 14.5 percentage points below the Belgian figure (71.7%) and 2.7 percentage points below the figure for the Brussels-Capital Region (59.9%).
Brussels is in the Brussels-Capital Region (arrondissement of Brussels-Capital).
About these figures: source Statbel — Census 2021, reference period 1 January 2021; updated on .
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 20–64 (1 January 2021) | 57.2% |
| Inhabitants aged 20 to 64 (Census 2021) | 119,507 |
| Employed inhabitants aged 20 to 64 | 68,318 |
| Unemployment rate, aged 15–64 | 18.2% |
| Jobs in the municipality, held by residents of Belgium | 277,326 |
| Employed inhabitants (all ages) | 69,484 |
| Commuting balance (jobs minus employed inhabitants) | +207,842 |
| Population (1 January 2026) | 198,674 inhabitants |
| Average income (income year 2023 · tax year 2024) | €32,149 |
| Median house price (2025) | €430,000 |
| Crime figures (2025) | 241.0 per 1,000 inhabitants |
| Additional municipal tax on personal income tax (tax year 2024) | 6.0% |
| Municipal tax on property, as a % of the cadastral income (tax year 2026) | 43.2% |
| Average age (1 January 2026) | 37.1 years |
| Inhabitants with a non-Belgian nationality (1 January 2026) | 38.7% |
| Injury accidents per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 6.4 per 1,000 inhabitants |
| Jobseekers on unemployment benefit (2025) | 8.3 per 100 inh. 18–64 |
Reference date: 1 January 2021 · Source: Statbel — Census 2021
In Brussels, 57.2% of the inhabitants aged 20 to 64 were in work on 1 January 2021 (Statbel, Census 2021: administrative data, not a survey).
Brussels ranks 552nd of 565 municipalities for employment rate 20–64 (%) (57.2%), −14.5 percentage points compared with the Belgian figure (71.7%).
No comparison with 2011: that year Statbel underestimated the number of employees of European and international institutions, and that weighs heavily here (the share of ‘other inactive people’ fell much more steeply than in Belgium). The 2021 employment rate is comparable with that of other municipalities.