Economy, jobs and prices in Liège, Belgium: official figures
Net taxable income averaged €19,002 per resident in Liège in income year 2023, 19% below the Belgian average of €23,352; that was the 3rd lowest of the 8 largest Belgian cities.
What is the average income per tax return in Liège?
134,593 income tax returns were filed by residents of Liège for income year 2023, with an average net taxable income of €27,640 per return (the 3rd lowest among the 8 largest Belgian cities; Belgian average €37,275).
Source: Statbel (Belgian statistical office) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Liège?
The unemployment rate in Liège was 13.0% in 2023 (11.7% for women, 14.1% for men).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Liège?
187,761 jobs were based in Liège in 2025; the biggest employers were public administration, education and health (40% of jobs) and trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (21%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Liège?
Tourist accommodation in Liège recorded 471,203 nights in 2017.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Liège?
There were 434 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Average net taxable income per resident in Liège rose by 34.0% between income years 2013 and 2023, from €14,176 to €19,002 (Belgium: +37.2%), the 3rd slowest growth of the 8 largest Belgian cities. Source: Statbel (Belgian statistical office) · saved copy
- Residents of Liège declared 3.72 billion euros of net taxable income in 2023, 1.4% of the Belgian total, while they made up 1.7% of the population counted in the tax statistics. Source: Statbel (Belgian statistical office) · saved copy
- Earnings from work, pensions and benefits (professional income) made up 98.6% of net taxable income in Liège in 2023, and taxable real estate income 1.4% (Belgium: 98.0% and 1.5%). Source: Statbel (Belgian statistical office) · saved copy
- 59% of people in Liège were satisfied with public transport (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 34% of people in Liège agreed that it is easy to find a good job in the city (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Liège compares with other cities in Belgium
Net taxable income per resident (2023)
Liège ranks 6 of 8, highest first. Belgium's eight largest cities (the municipality itself).
| Rank | City | Net taxable income per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Brugge | €25,820 |
| 3 | Gent | €24,043 |
| 4 | Namur | €22,702 |
| 5 | Antwerpen | €20,370 |
| 6 | Liège | €19,002 |
| 7 | Charleroi | €16,725 |
| 8 | Bruxelles | €16,683 |
Growth in net taxable income per resident, 2013-2023 (2023)
Liège ranks 6 of 8, highest first.
| Rank | City | Growth in net taxable income per resident, 2013-2023 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Gent | 37.6% |
| 3 | Brugge | 36.1% |
| 4 | Antwerpen | 35.4% |
| 5 | Louvain | 34.5% |
| 6 | Liège | 34.0% |
| 7 | Namur | 32.2% |
| 8 | Charleroi | 31.0% |
Unemployment rate (2023)
Liège ranks 2 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleroi | 14.3% |
| 2 | Liège | 13.0% |
| 3 | Bruxelles | 11.7% |
| 4 | Namur | 9.3% |
| 5 | Antwerpen | 7.4% |
| 6 | Gent | 5.4% |
| 7 | Brugge | 3.3% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2025)
Liège ranks 4 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brugge | 472 |
| 2 | Namur | 470 |
| 3 | Charleroi | 437 |
| 4 | Liège | 434 |
| 5 | Gent | 400 |
| 6 | Antwerpen | 400 |
| 7 | Bruxelles | 316 |
More on Liège: overview · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · all cities in Belgium
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- Statbel (Belgian statistical office): Fiscal statistics on income subject to personal income tax, by municipality of residence, income years 2005-2023 (TF_PSNL_INC_TAX_MUNTY), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5ff459c06f5f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
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