Employment rate, men vs. women in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Employment rate, men vs. women was 60.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment rate, men vs. women in Bulgaria, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate, men vs. women in Bulgaria is 60.0%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate, men vs. women in Bulgaria peaked at 60.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 44.8%, in 2001.
Bulgaria ranks 136th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment rate, men vs. women in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 49.6% | — |
| 1992 | 47.2% | -4.8% |
| 1993 | 46.4% | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 48.4% | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 49.2% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 48.2% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 48.2% | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 48.7% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 48.3% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 46.7% | -3.3% |
| 2001 | 44.8% | -4.1% |
| 2002 | 45.5% | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 47.9% | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 49.5% | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 50.3% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 52.7% | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 55.6% | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 57.9% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 56.4% | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 53.1% | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 51.1% | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 50.8% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 51.4% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 52.6% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 54.2% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 54.8% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 57.7% | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 58.4% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 60.6% | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 59.4% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 58.8% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 60.4% | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 60.5% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 59.8% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 60.0% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 48.2% | 46.4% | 49.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 50.7% | 44.8% | 57.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.5% | 50.8% | 60.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.8% | 58.8% | 60.5% | 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 rate, men vs. women in Bulgaria?
- Employment rate, men vs. women in Bulgaria was 60.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 60.6% in 2019.
- What is the lowest employment rate, men vs. women recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.8% in 2001.
- How does Bulgaria rank for employment rate, men vs. women?
- Bulgaria ranks 136th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate, men vs. women rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate, men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the male working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.