Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises was 18.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
18.7%
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
24th
of 36 countries
All-time high
18.7%
in 2023
All-time low
12.9%
in 2009
Years of data
16
2008–2023

Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Bulgaria, 2008–2023

051015202008201520232008: 13.2 Percentage of total2009: 12.9 Percentage of total2010: 13.7 Percentage of total2011: 14.3 Percentage of total2012: 14.4 Percentage of total2013: 14.8 Percentage of total2014: 16.3 Percentage of total2015: 16 Percentage of total2016: 15.7 Percentage of total2017: 16 Percentage of total2018: 17.3 Percentage of total2019: 17.4 Percentage of total2020: 17.3 Percentage of total2021: 18.4 Percentage of total2022: 17.9 Percentage of total2023: 18.7 Percentage of total

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage of total.

Analysis

In 2023, employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Bulgaria stood at 18.7%. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.

The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 26.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Bulgaria peaked at 18.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 12.9%, in 2009.

That places Bulgaria 24th out of 36 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Bulgaria, 2008 to 2023.
Year Percentage of total Change
2008 13.2% —
2009 12.9% -2.0%
2010 13.7% +6.0%
2011 14.3% +4.7%
2012 14.4% +0.5%
2013 14.8% +2.7%
2014 16.3% +10.1%
2015 16.0% -1.8%
2016 15.7% -1.6%
2017 16.0% +1.5%
2018 17.3% +8.1%
2019 17.4% +0.6%
2020 17.3% -0.3%
2021 18.4% +6.5%
2022 17.9% -2.8%
2023 18.7% +4.2%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 18.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20.2%, 92% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 18.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 20.2%, 93% of the median. (28 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 13.0% 12.9% 13.2% 2
2010s 15.6% 13.7% 17.4% 10
2020s 18.1% 17.3% 18.7% 4

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 21 Finland 20.1% compare
  2. 22 Malta 19.3% compare
  3. 23 Belgium 18.9% compare
  4. 25 Austria 18.3% compare
  5. 26 Lithuania 16.8% compare
  6. 26 Lithuania 16.8% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Bulgaria?
Employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Bulgaria was 18.7% in 2023, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest employment in foreign controlled enterprises recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 18.7% in 2023.
What is the lowest employment in foreign controlled enterprises recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 12.9% in 2009.
How does Bulgaria rank for employment in foreign controlled enterprises?
Bulgaria ranks 24th out of 36 countries with data for 2023.
Is employment in foreign controlled enterprises rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-in-foreign-controlled-enterprises/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises
Unit
Percentage of total
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
37 places, 571 data points, 2008–2023
Last refreshed