Photo: Josh Steinitz · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Belize: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Belize is placed joint 134th of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 53.87 (2025); Labour Income Share 46.19 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint134th
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Belize on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
53.87
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Belize: 53.87. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Central America
- 62.74 Nicaragua
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 58.07 · Mexico 59.96
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
8.856
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Belize: 8.856. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Central America
- 2.604 Guatemala
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 2.604 · Mexico 2.673
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
29.84
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Belize: 29.84. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Central America
- 23.36 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 36.16 · Mexico 25.31
02Over time
Which way Belize is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize rose from 53.09 in 2000 to 53.87 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2025 53.87 57.720 2024 51.91 57.694 2023 52.85 58.158 2022 53.26 57.688 2021 54.14 56.066 2020 48.80 55.691 2019 63.41 57.871 2018 61.01 56.911 2017 59.81 56.738 2016 59.75 56.845 2015 59.03 56.788 2014 58.26 56.774 2013 57.40 56.229 2012 57.17 56.289 2011 56.93 56.297 2010 56.72 56.212 2009 56.56 56.255 2008 56.43 57.308 2007 56.01 56.933 2006 55.25 56.685 2005 54.11 56.129 2004 54.10 55.465 2003 54.03 55.630 2002 54.00 55.843 2001 54.36 56.018 2000 53.09 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize fell from 46.28 in 2004 to 46.19 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2025 46.187 46.230 2024 45.952 46.060 2023 46.302 45.900 2022 45.321 45.615 2021 46.931 45.433 2020 48.856 47.267 2019 46.851 46.277 2018 45.787 46.187 2017 46.329 46.467 2016 46.315 46.798 2015 46.145 46.876 2014 46.112 47.281 2013 46.306 46.887 2012 46.379 46.231 2011 46.777 45.679 2010 46.643 46.024 2009 46.794 47.071 2008 46.921 45.312 2007 46.419 45.246 2006 46.303 45.670 2005 46.533 46.265 2004 46.281 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize fell from 10.84 in 2000 to 8.856 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2025 8.86 5.08 2024 8.70 5.15 2023 8.28 5.21 2022 8.68 5.34 2021 10.30 6.04 2020 10.76 6.38 2019 9.05 5.36 2018 9.35 5.35 2017 6.60 5.59 2016 7.00 5.90 2015 7.58 6.41 2014 8.24 6.58 2013 8.35 6.71 2012 8.38 6.79 2011 8.42 6.90 2010 8.41 7.04 2009 8.32 6.67 2008 8.18 5.79 2007 8.51 6.00 2006 9.39 6.50 2005 10.91 7.09 2004 10.59 6.80 2003 10.34 6.95 2002 10.04 6.91 2001 9.07 6.96 2000 10.84 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize fell from 30.77 in 2000 to 29.84 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2025 29.8422 28.67 2024 29.9972 29.04 2023 30.1745 29.33 2022 30.0679 29.67 2021 30.2632 30.01 2020 30.7179 30.54 2019 29.9802 29.98 2018 26.0586 30.15 2017 29.9252 29.93 2016 27.6771 29.91 2015 26.1975 30.26 2014 23.8620 30.47 2013 29.5221 31.14 2012 29.4737 31.00 2011 29.2730 31.41 2010 29.2514 32.37 2009 29.1480 32.59 2008 28.9551 31.76 2007 29.0113 33.47 2006 29.0109 34.27 2005 29.1291 34.66 2004 29.4763 35.51 2003 29.8286 35.90 2002 30.0394 35.96 2001 30.3948 35.27 2000 30.7733 35.67
03In context
Belize beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Belize and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mexico | 67th | 59.96 | 37.98 | 2.673 | 25.31 |
 Guatemala | =72nd | 58.07 | 43.85 | 2.604 | 36.16 |
| Belize | =134th | 53.87 | 46.19 | 8.856 | 29.84 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Belize in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Belize is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median7
Statistics on which Belize does better than the middle country measured.
Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed PersonsILO · 2024 · world median 0.5751.380.575No earlier reading
Belize: 1.38 · world median 0.575 · Labour inspectors per 10,000 employed persons. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 3.89; higher is better.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8850.14.885▲ Improved since 2015
Belize: 0.1 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1627.5319.16No earlier reading
Belize: 27.53 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 33rd of 179 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0747.2732.07No earlier reading
Belize: 47.27 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.610.531.61▼ Worsened since 2015
Belize: 0.53 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.957.745.9No earlier reading
Belize: 57.7 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7429,3446,742No real change since 2015
Belize: 9,344 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 67th of 151 · derived.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Belize does worse than the middle country measured.
Human Capital Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 25,23022,41425,230▲ Improved since 2010
Belize: 22,414 · world median 25,230 · Human capital per person — present value of future earnings (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 700.38 to 735,422; higher is better.
Position 80th of 151 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6659.161.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Belize: 59.1 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 110th of 182 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1615.3422.16No real change since 2015
Belize: 15.34 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 112th of 182 · derived.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38432,20147,384▼ Worsened since 2015
Belize: 32,201 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 104th of 168 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8154.0441.81No earlier reading
Belize: 54.04 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 56th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8319.3212.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Belize: 19.32 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 51st of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3646.4753.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Belize: 46.47 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 133rd of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Belize: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.687.43516.68No earlier reading
Belize: 7.435 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 117th of 139 · derived.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989898▼ Worsened since 2015
Belize: 98 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Belize: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95940.26657.95Moved since 2014
Belize: 940.26 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5168.5259.51Moved since 2015
Belize: 68.52 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 66th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8940.0138.89Moved since 2015
Belize: 40.01 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 81st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.3816.1314.38No real change since 2015
Belize: 16.13 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 86th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8435.1831.84Moved since 2015
Belize: 35.18 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 87th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8815.3518.88Moved since 2015
Belize: 15.35 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 136th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Belize
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2020), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4) (last 2017), Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2022), Female Share of Senior and Middle Management (last 2016), Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2019), Informal Employment Rate, Low Pay Rate (last 2019), Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2019). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Belize’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Belize’s 13th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security11th of 1772/4 keys
- Energy21st of 1652/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability48th of 1863/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 56th of 1833/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation76th of 1763/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing92nd of 2004/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality75th of 1593/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties101st of 1983/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience110th of 1934/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions111th of 1943/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture109th of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital120th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 134th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technology148th of 1983/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 152nd of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade152nd of 1773/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Belize can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Americas
United States14th4/4 keysHighest in Central America
El Salvador50th4/4 keysThis page
Belize=134th4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Belize and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Belize on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Belize rank on work & labour?
Belize is placed joint 134th of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Belize?
53.87 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Belize?
46.19 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Belize compare with Mexico on work & labour?
Mexico is placed 67th of 182, and Belize joint 134th. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Mexico 59.96, Belize 53.87; Labour Income Share: Mexico 37.98, Belize 46.19; Unemployment Rate: Mexico 2.673, Belize 8.856; Vulnerable Employment: Mexico 25.31, Belize 29.84.
How have Belize’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio rose from 53.09 in 2000 to 53.87 in 2025; Labour Income Share fell from 46.28 in 2004 to 46.19 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 10.84 in 2000 to 8.856 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 30.77 in 2000 to 29.84 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Belize?
No current reading is published for Belize on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Informal Employment Rate, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Share of Temporary Employees and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Belize’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Belize (banner) — Josh Steinitz, CC BY 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Belize: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/belize/work