Employment in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Employment was 2,930 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2,930
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
90th
of 174 countries
All-time high
4,487
in 1987
All-time low
2,756
in 2001
Years of data
43
1979–2025
Employment in Bulgaria, 1979–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 2,930 for employment in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Bulgaria peaked at 4,487 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 2,756, in 2001.
Bulgaria ranks 90th of 174 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Employment in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 4,335 | — |
| 1980 | 4,364 | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 4,418 | +1.2% |
| 1982 | 4,452 | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 4,466 | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 4,460 | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 4,460 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 4,473 | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 4,487 | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 4,468 | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 4,365 | -2.3% |
| 1990 | 4,097 | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 3,564 | -13.0% |
| 1992 | 3,274 | -8.1% |
| 1997 | 3,157 | -3.6% |
| 1998 | 3,152 | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 3,088 | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 2,872 | -7.0% |
| 2001 | 2,756 | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 2,800 | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 2,876 | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 2,970 | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 2,982 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 3,110 | +4.3% |
| 2007 | 3,253 | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 3,361 | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 3,253 | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 3,075 | -5.5% |
| 2011 | 2,965 | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 2,934 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 2,935 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2,981 | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 3,032 | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 3,017 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 3,150 | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 3,153 | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 3,044 | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 2,932 | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 2,877 | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 2,941 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 2,932 | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 2,933 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2,930 | -0.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 2,930 is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,235, 1.3× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 2,930 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,067, 96% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4,335 | 4,335 | 4,335 | 1 |
| 1980s | 4,441 | 4,364 | 4,487 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,389 | 3,088 | 4,097 | 6 |
| 2000s | 3,023 | 2,756 | 3,361 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,029 | 2,934 | 3,153 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,924 | 2,877 | 2,941 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More work & labour data for Bulgaria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7248 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7055 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7441 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.5 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.5166 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,606 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 817.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,761 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,770 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,531 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Bulgaria?
- Employment in Bulgaria was 2,930 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 4,487 in 1987.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,756 in 2001.
- How does Bulgaria rank for employment?
- Bulgaria ranks 90th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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