Employment in Leuven 2021

In Leuven, 73.7% of those aged 20 to 64 were in work on 1 January 2021; 365 municipalities have a higher employment rate.

Compared with 2011 (67.0%), the employment rate rose by 6.7 percentage points. Statbel: in 2011 the number of employees of European and international institutions was underestimated; where many of them live, the comparison with 2011 overstates the rise.

That is 2.0 percentage points higher than the Belgian figure (71.7%) and 4.0 percentage points lower than the figure for the province of Flemish Brabant (77.7%).

Leuven is in the arrondissement of Leuven, province of Flemish Brabant, Flanders.

About these figures: source Statbel — Census 2021, reference period 1 January 2021; updated on .

Key figures

IndicatorValue
Employment rate, aged 20–64 (1 January 2021)73.7%
Inhabitants aged 20 to 64 (Census 2021)64,796
Employed inhabitants aged 20 to 6447,733
Unemployment rate, aged 15–646.0%
Jobs in the municipality, held by residents of Belgium85,496
Employed inhabitants (all ages)48,503
Commuting balance (jobs minus employed inhabitants)+36,993
Population (1 January 2026)105,357 inhabitants
Average income (income year 2023 · tax year 2024)€45,757
Median house price (2025)€460,000
Crime figures (2025)127.0 per 1,000 inhabitants
Additional municipal tax on personal income tax (tax year 2024)6.7%
Municipal tax on property, as a % of the cadastral income (tax year 2026)38.7%
Average age (1 January 2026)40.1 years
Inhabitants with a non-Belgian nationality (1 January 2026)22.6%
Injury accidents per 1,000 inhabitants (2025)3.5 per 1,000 inhabitants
Jobseekers on unemployment benefit (2025)2.3 per 100 inh. 18–64

Reference date: 1 January 2021 · Source: Statbel — Census 2021

Frequently asked questions

How many inhabitants of Leuven are in work?

In Leuven, 73.7% of the inhabitants aged 20 to 64 were in work on 1 January 2021 (Statbel, Census 2021: administrative data, not a survey).

How does Leuven compare with Belgium?

Leuven ranks 366th of 565 municipalities for employment rate 20–64 (%) (73.7%), +2.0 percentage points compared with the Belgian figure (71.7%).

Change 2011–2021

From 67.0 per cent of those aged 20 to 64 in 2011 to 73.7 per cent of those aged 20 to 64 in 2021 (+6.7 percentage points).

Statbel: in 2011 the number of employees of European and international institutions was underestimated; where many of them live, the comparison with 2011 overstates the rise.