Long-term work disability in Belgium rises, driven by depression and burnout
National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance: depression and burnout cases grew strongly; 38.3% of long-term claims were for psychological disorders as of 31 December 2025.
Belgium has seen a marked rise in long-term work disability linked to mental and behavioural disorders in 2025, with the largest increases recorded for depression and work-related exhaustion (burnout). The National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance reported that these trends continued upward through the most recent annual counts.
Scope of the rise and key figures
Between 2021 and 2025 the number of people recognised as unable to work long term because of mental or behavioural disorders rose by 24.8%. For cases explicitly classified as depression and work-related exhaustion the increase was even larger: 32%.
As of 31 December 2025, psychological disorders accounted for 38.3% of all people who had been unable to work for more than one year — an increase of 5.2 percentage points compared with the previous year. Among those with psychological disorders, 70.4% were diagnosed with depression or burnout.
The increase was visible among the self-employed as well: between 2024 and 2025 the number of self-employed people unable to work due to depression or burnout rose by 12.8%, from 7,731 to 8,720. Over the full 2021–2025 period growth among self-employed persons reached 65.1%.
More than half of those recognised as long-term unable to work for depression or burnout in 2025 were aged 50 or older. Women made up over two thirds of the cases, although the largest relative increase was observed among men. No significant regional differences were identified within the country.
Photo: press material from the event
