Bulgaria vs South Africa: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024
Bulgaria
49.3%
in 2025
South Africa
49.8%
in 2024
Bulgaria rank
127th
South Africa rank
124th
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 over time
- Bulgaria
- South Africa
How they compare
South Africa currently reports 49.8% against 49.3% in Bulgaria, a difference of 0.5%.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 26 shared years of data; in 1997 it was Bulgaria ahead.
Bulgaria ranks 127th and South Africa ranks 124th of 194 countries.
Bulgaria has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Bulgaria | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.9% | 33.8% | 13.1% | Bulgaria |
| 2000s | 46.1% | 41.9% | 4.3% | Bulgaria |
| 2010s | 48.5% | 46.8% | 1.6% | Bulgaria |
| 2020s | 49.1% | 47.1% | 2.1% | Bulgaria |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024, Bulgaria or South Africa?
- South Africa, at 49.8% against 49.3% in Bulgaria as of 2024.
- What is the difference in female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 between Bulgaria and South Africa?
- 0.5%, with South Africa ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Bulgaria and South Africa?
- 26 years are reported by both, from 1997 to 2024.
- How do Bulgaria and South Africa rank globally for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024?
- Bulgaria ranks 127th and South Africa ranks 124th of 194 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.