Sector figures

NACE 2025 · Belgian sectors

Compare every Belgian sector by NACE division on size, employment, starters, profitability, financial strength, structure and risk. Open a sector for the detail.

Your choice West Flanders All sectors All of Belgium, every sector

This view shows Belgium · All sectors. Sector figures are national, so the place does not apply here.

Active companies

1,976,530

1,276,395 with a main activity in 88 NACE divisions, 700,135 without a published activity

Incorporations, 12 months

153,357

of which 148,124 still active

Employment

2,549,681

full-time equivalents at 88,563 employers, latest accounts

Median solvency

46.1%

over 564,525 annual accounts, financial year 2025

Every sector at a glance

Each tile is a sector. The colour follows the figure you choose.

Tile colour

Starters: Companies that started in the past twelve months and are registered today, per 100 current registrations. Divisions counted in an older NACE classification get no starter figure. Starters are registered in the current one.

Click a tile to open the sector · as of 12-11-2026 05:30

Leading divisions by theme

Each leaderboard shows the five divisions leading on one aspect. Only divisions of a minimum size count, so a small division does not top a list on a handful of cases.

Largest employers

Full-time equivalents according to the latest accounts

Every division

88 NACE divisions in 22 sections, as of 12-11-2026 05:30. Search by name or code, sort by a column.

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A Agriculture, forestry and fishing 3 divisions · 49,874 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

03 Fishing and aquaculture 222 4.1% 475 39.3% €334,154 €131 55.0% 4.5 0.50%

02 Forestry 2,393 4.8% 865 46.2% €201,926 €13,244 36.8% 3.8 0.12%

01 Crop and animal production 47,259 4.0% 14,722 36.6% €197,788 €15,936 37.0% 1.0 0.14%

B Mining and quarrying 5 divisions · 293 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

05 Mining of coal 2 0.0% 9.6---- 0.0-

06 Extraction of oil and gas 4 25.0% 1---- 0.0-

07 Mining of metal ores 5 0.0% 14---- 0.0-

08 Other mining and quarrying 229 2.2% 3,036 51.0% €975,290 €31,710 30.5% 0.0 0.17%

09 Mining support services 53 3.8% 86---- 0.0 0.11%

C Manufacturing 24 divisions · 62,911 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

27 Electrical equipment 1,060 4.2% 12,038 42.9% €238,659 €17,226 37.0% 11.3 0.41%

22 Rubber and plastics 1,324 12.3% 18,913 47.7% €751,448 €35,917 34.2% 10.6 0.29%

10 Food products 9,626 8.3% 71,119 33.3% €128,682 €18,011 38.2% 10.3 0.94%

28 Machinery and equipment 2,290 3.3% 31,234 44.4% €464,801 €34,717 32.5% 8.7 0.28%

29 Motor vehicles 742 5.4% 23,078 42.2% €386,446 €28,363 36.3% 8.1 0.25%

33 Repair and installation of machinery 7,276 9.1% 9,968 42.3% €102,251 €22,497 39.2% 7.1 0.68%

25 Fabricated metal products 10,815 5.0% 41,727 44.9% €223,370 €22,525 34.9% 7.1 0.44%

24 Basic metals 597 3.9% 22,016 43.8% €487,439 €23,139 29.8% 6.7 0.50%

20 Chemicals 1,262 5.5% 43,830 47.3% €1.1m €52,322 26.6% 6.3 0.25%

15 Leather and related products 335 14.9% 278 42.2% €85,465 €1,862- 6.0 0.44%

31 Furniture 2,941 4.6% 6,747 39.8% €129,423 €9,493 37.0% 5.8 0.54%

21 Pharmaceuticals 375 2.9% 30,793 44.2% €450,490 €23,782 32.2% 5.3 0.32%

11 Beverages 1,376 5.7% 8,697 21.6% €35,580 -€1,278 43.1% 5.1 0.56%

26 Computer and electronic products 995 4.5% 12,621 49.5% €239,831 €17,441 34.6% 5.0 0.15%

17 Paper 413 2.9% 9,529 48.8% €1.1m €60,532 35.2% 4.8 0.28%

13 Textiles 2,360 7.6% 11,559 47.5% €327,117 €17,250 31.8% 4.2 0.17%

18 Printing 4,938 4.1% 8,140 46.4% €93,246 €8,307 38.1% 4.1 0.32%

16 Wood and cork 3,348 5.7% 9,896 43.0% €164,202 €14,161 37.4% 3.9 0.45%

23 Non-metallic mineral products 2,977 8.7% 21,861 46.9% €366,114 €19,571 34.3% 3.7 0.16%

32 Other manufacturing 5,407 12.6% 7,065 43.0% €114,300 €13,515 39.4% 3.3 0.31%

14 Clothing 2,020 8.3% 2,495 37.2% €69,975 €5,029 35.4% 2.5 0.27%

12 Tobacco 27 0.0% 1,222---- 0.0-

19 Coke and refined petroleum 34 2.9% 4,983---- 0.0-

30 Other transport equipment 373 6.7% 6,270 35.3% €158,739 €2,981 30.1% 0.0 0.56%

D Energy 1 division · 1,767 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

35 Electricity, gas and steam 1,767 9.5% 21,304 32.4% €446,628 €22,502 26.9% 3.4 0.22%

E Water and waste 4 divisions · 2,372 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

39 Remediation 251 6.8% 1,308 35.9% €156,925 €27,308 34.2% 19.9 0.74%

38 Waste collection and treatment 1,627 7.5% 16,588 38.7% €621,959 €33,100 32.3% 9.2 0.40%

36 Water collection and supply 134 3.0% 7,587 52.6% €438,151 €42,144- 7.5 0.26%

37 Sewerage 360 6.4% 3,158 42.3% €316,120 €35,103 38.3% 2.8 0.22%

F Construction 3 divisions · 166,627 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

41 Construction of buildings 31,724 9.1% 33,999 40.1% €69,900 €11,276 46.4% 15.4 1.40%

42 Civil engineering 5,864 7.5% 33,794 42.5% €128,358 €21,759 40.6% 14.7 0.66%

43 Specialised construction 129,039 8.9% 101,513 45.2% €82,044 €13,162 42.6% 10.3 0.69%

G Wholesale and retail trade 3 divisions · 201,392 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

45 Wholesale/retail of motor vehicles 24,469- 56,010 36.0% €134,338 €14,329- 9.7 0.54%

47 Retail trade 115,440 9.0% 222,429 35.1% €98,251 €11,233 46.8% 8.3 0.61%

46 Wholesale trade 61,483 4.6% 202,594 42.2% €206,821 €17,167 39.2% 7.5 0.34%

H Transport and storage 5 divisions · 36,587 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

53 Postal and courier 5,389 28.1% 28,686 31.5% €39,843 €7,396 56.2% 18.9 2.68%

49 Land transport 23,149 11.7% 92,778 37.2% €67,956 €10,036 49.1% 18.7 1.63%

52 Warehousing and transport support 6,287 9.3% 70,804 39.3% €229,399 €25,643 35.9% 9.5 0.75%

50 Water transport 1,246 6.3% 1,360 42.7% €351,427 €21,145 40.8% 6.4 0.20%

51 Air transport 516 7.6% 5,536 36.4% €66,730 €5,963 34.8% 0.0 0.38%

I Accommodation and food service 2 divisions · 68,418 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

56 Food and beverage service 59,884 9.1% 59,252 29.2% €36,489 €5,941 52.7% 23.2 1.62%

55 Accommodation 8,534 7.6% 18,381 24.6% €116,723 €3,642 45.0% 4.7 0.53%

J Publishing and media 3 divisions · 13,216 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

58 Publishing 3,791 13.3% 8,701 45.6% €77,490 €8,020 36.8% 3.4 0.11%

59 Film, video and music 7,986 11.4% 3,956 43.0% €53,962 €6,131 41.1% 3.4 0.28%

60 Programming and broadcasting 1,439 17.3% 4,376 48.1% €77,971 €4,585 44.4% 2.8 0.07%

K Telecoms and IT 3 divisions · 58,531 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

61 Telecommunications 1,984 16.1% 19,144 41.2% €80,087 €9,622 46.9% 11.6 0.69%

63 Computing infrastructure and information services 7,851 9.6% 10,794 51.2% €80,814 €20,005 32.2% 4.1 0.18%

62 Computer programming and consultancy 48,696 10.8% 60,652 55.7% €79,767 €28,090 33.3% 3.9 0.09%

L Finance and insurance 3 divisions · 35,761 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

64 Financial services 26,067 3.0% 30,646 52.6% €328,663 €42,387 28.2% 2.8 0.16%

65 Insurance and pension funding 440 1.4% 705 47.6% €187,599 €46,654 27.6% 2.3-

66 Auxiliary financial services 9,254 4.7% 15,474 44.7% €190,563 €46,592 38.8% 1.6 0.16%

M Real estate 1 division · 55,044 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

68 Real estate 55,044 5.2% 26,046 31.4% €167,453 €8,427 36.2% 3.7 0.22%

N Professional and technical services 7 divisions · 236,136 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

72 Research and development 2,308 7.6% 24,245 54.4% €258,987 €16,994 32.4% 3.9 0.12%

73 Advertising and market research 26,147 7.8% 25,544 49.6% €76,414 €15,737 36.0% 3.3 0.23%

70 Head offices and management consultancy 88,159 10.3% 53,969 54.1% €113,217 €29,693 31.9% 3.0 0.10%

71 Architecture and engineering 39,534 7.2% 39,247 51.0% €83,954 €18,839 33.6% 2.4 0.12%

74 Other professional activities 31,169 10.8% 4,006 46.4% €51,837 €10,103 38.1% 2.3 0.20%

69 Legal and accounting 42,721 8.0% 27,616 53.5% €112,797 €43,752 32.5% 1.0 0.04%

75 Veterinary activities 6,098 9.4% 1,284 50.6% €96,451 €33,754 35.5% 0.2 0.05%

O Administrative and support services 6 divisions · 93,978 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

80 Security and investigation 1,126 7.5% 18,944 40.0% €85,544 €13,753 42.0% 10.7 0.29%

78 Employment activities 3,218 7.3% 176,810 38.4% €91,274 €18,879 30.3% 9.0 0.31%

81 Building services and landscaping 36,811 13.5% 70,950 40.2% €67,181 €12,290 43.5% 7.5 0.89%

82 Office administrative support 40,646 10.8% 34,406 47.1% €80,863 €17,965 35.0% 4.6 0.18%

77 Rental and leasing 8,430 7.8% 13,484 33.6% €136,496 €10,261 38.8% 4.4 0.47%

79 Travel agencies 3,747 8.9% 5,516 33.0% €127,638 €13,969 35.2% 3.2 0.20%

P Public administration 1 division · 2,285 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

84 Public administration and defence 2,285 0.4% 9,441 53.7% €1.1m €34,507 19.8% 0.9 0.03%

Q Education 1 division · 35,442 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

85 Education 35,442 11.3% 27,952 46.5% €66,772 €8,951 32.1% 1.2 0.04%

R Health and social work 3 divisions · 80,348 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

87 Residential care 2,025 1.2% 117,577 47.4% €1.2m €38,199 25.1% 3.5 0.03%

88 Social work without accommodation 5,537 5.9% 111,837 50.0% €263,815 €16,227 25.6% 0.7 0.03%

86 Human health 72,786 7.2% 138,608 62.1% €144,980 €63,059 36.0% 0.5 0.04%

S Arts, sports and recreation 4 divisions · 53,203 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

92 Gambling and betting 498 5.6% 2,316 62.3% €241,259 €15,088 46.8% 4.0 0.44%

93 Sports and recreation 22,627 6.8% 15,812 29.0% €59,978 €5,643 42.5% 2.8 0.06%

90 Creative and performing arts 29,115 9.6% 7,592 46.4% €63,341 €7,928 38.3% 1.8 0.05%

91 Libraries, archives and museums 963 3.8% 3,203 53.5% €479,301 €10,636 29.4% 1.0 0.03%

T Other services 3 divisions · 100,925 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

95 Repair of computers and personal goods 20,328 11.0% 14,232 39.0% €98,593 €13,656 47.1% 6.2 0.58%

96 Personal services 70,825 10.7% 33,169 28.2% €22,467 €3,550 48.2% 3.5 0.62%

94 Membership organisations 9,772 2.2% 17,289 63.6% €578,657 €9,836 25.6% 0.7 0.02%

U Households 2 divisions · 4,979 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

97 Households as employers 4,974 12.0% 9,593 23.2% €197,206 €28,892- 0.4 0.25%

98 Household production for own use 5 20.0% 39---- 0.0-

V Extraterritorial organisations 1 division · 343 active

DivisionActiveStarters 12 monthsFTESolvencyEquityNet resultLateBankruptcies per 1,000 ↓Bankruptcy probability

99 Extraterritorial organisations 343 0.0% 22---- 0.0-

The dot's colour follows the map. A figure with a better and a worse side is compared with Belgium, any other figure with the other divisions.

Method and sources

The figures per division come from an overview counted again every night, as of 12-11-2026 05:30.

Each division is counted in the version of the NACE classification in which it exists. A division's bankruptcy probability is the median of the bankruptcy probabilities Checked computes per company. The accounts medians rest on the annual accounts filed with the National Bank. A median is shown only from 30 companies.

The historical share is the share of current registrations for which a bankruptcy opening was published in the past five years. A company with more than one main activity counts in each of those sectors. The historical share is not a future bankruptcy probability.

Starters are the companies that started in the twelve complete months before the count and are still registered today. They are the same twelve months as on every market page. Bankruptcies over twelve months are current registrations for which a bankruptcy opening was published in those months. A division without a figure gets a dash.

Definitions

All figures cover the same twelve months, November 2025 to October 2026, and were counted on 12 November 2026. The same definitions apply on every Checked market page.

Incorporations in 12 months: 153,357; Enterprises with a KBO start date in those twelve months, sole traders included, even if they have stopped since.
Bankruptcies in 12 months: 12,147; Declared bankruptcies the Belgian Official Gazette published in those twelve months, including those of natural persons without an enterprise number.
Active companies: 1,976,530; Enterprises active in the KBO on 12 November 2026, sole traders included.

Sector figures

Every sector at a glance

Leading divisions by theme

Largest employers

Fastest inflow

Most profitable divisions

Strongest balance sheets

Most bankruptcies

Every division

Definitions

On this page

Incorporations	153,357
stopped or struck off since	-5,233
Still active	148,124