In Belgium, 6% of the population aged 15 to 64 experience long-term severe limitations in their daily activities because of a disability, a disorder or an illness. These limitations for 6 months or more are slightly more prevalent among women. This is what emerged from the figures of Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, based on the Labour Force Survey 2021.
In the group of people experiencing severe long-term limitations, the elderly are overrepresented: 58% of them are 50 to 64 years old, while they only account for 32% of the total population studied.
In terms of education, people who experience severe long-term limitations have, on average, a lower level of education. 48% of them have at most a lower secondary education diploma and only 14% of them have a higher education diploma, while these percentages for the total population aged 15 to 64 are 23% and 39%, respectively.
Employment
When people experience severe long-term limitations in their activities due to a disability, a disorder or an illness, this clearly has an impact on their employment situation: only 23% of them are employed, compared to 65% of the total population aged 15-64.
Their unemployment rate (6%) is similar to that of the total population, but three quarters of those who have experienced severe limitations in their activities for 6 months or more are inactive. In other words, they do not have a job, are not looking for work and/or are not available for work.
Situation on the labour market
| 15-64 years | Severely hampered | Total population |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Employment rate | 23.0% | 65.3% |
| Percentage of inactive | 75.5% | 30.3% |
Poverty on top of disability
The Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2021 also includes figures on people aged 16 and over who report experiencing severe limitations in their daily activities due to a disability, a long-term disorder or a long-term illness. 22% of them are at risk of monetary poverty.
17% suffer from severe material and social deprivation. Finally, 39% of them live in a household that does not own their home, which is the case for only 27% of the Belgian population.
SILC 2021 - Population aged 16 and over
| Monetary poverty | Severely hampered 16 and over | Total population 16 and over |
|---|---|---|
| At risk of monetary poverty | 22% | 12% |
| Not at risk of monetary poverty | 78% | 88% |
| Severe material and social deprivation[1] | Severely hampered 16 and over | Total population 16 and over |
|---|---|---|
| Severe material and social deprivation | 17% | 6% |
| No severe material and social deprivation | 83% | 94% |
| Owner or tenant | Severely hampered 16 and over | Total population 16 and over |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | 61% | 73% |
| Tenant | 39% | 27% |
[1] New indicator developed within the framework of the objective of the Europe 2030 strategy. More information