Labor force participation rate by age in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Labor force participation rate by age was 19.71 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
19.71
Change on year
down 7.7%
World rank
183rd
of 188 countries
All-time high
34.76
in 2001
All-time low
19.65
in 2021
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Labor force participation rate by age in Bulgaria, 1990–2024

01020301990200720241990: 28.71991: 29.71992: 30.51993: 30.61994: 30.31995: 29.91996: 29.21997: 31.11998: 30.51999: 31.62000: 30.92001: 34.82002: 31.92003: 29.32004: 29.62005: 27.92006: 28.92007: 28.92008: 30.12009: 29.62010: 31.22011: 29.52012: 30.42013: 29.72014: 27.22015: 262016: 23.92017: 26.32018: 23.72019: 242020: 21.82021: 19.72022: 21.72023: 21.42024: 19.7

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

Bulgaria recorded 19.71 for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.

That represents a change of down 7.7% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Bulgaria peaked at 34.76 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 19.65, in 2021.

That places Bulgaria 183rd out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.

Labor force participation rate by age in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate by age in Bulgaria, 1990 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1990 28.73 —
1991 29.67 +3.3%
1992 30.49 +2.8%
1993 30.58 +0.3%
1994 30.31 -0.9%
1995 29.9 -1.4%
1996 29.21 -2.3%
1997 31.07 +6.4%
1998 30.5 -1.8%
1999 31.61 +3.6%
2000 30.93 -2.1%
2001 34.76 +12.4%
2002 31.92 -8.2%
2003 29.31 -8.2%
2004 29.57 +0.9%
2005 27.92 -5.6%
2006 28.91 +3.5%
2007 28.92 +0.1%
2008 30.15 +4.2%
2009 29.55 -2.0%
2010 31.17 +5.5%
2011 29.46 -5.5%
2012 30.45 +3.3%
2013 29.66 -2.6%
2014 27.23 -8.2%
2015 25.97 -4.6%
2016 23.9 -8.0%
2017 26.31 +10.1%
2018 23.7 -9.9%
2019 23.98 +1.2%
2020 21.8 -9.1%
2021 19.65 -9.8%
2022 21.71 +10.5%
2023 21.36 -1.6%
2024 19.71 -7.7%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 19.71 is below the median for high income countries, which is 40.59, 49% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 19.71 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.06, 53% of the median. (48 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 30.21 28.73 31.61 10
2000s 30.2 27.92 34.76 10
2010s 27.18 23.7 31.17 10
2020s 20.85 19.65 21.8 5

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 180 Puerto Rico 21.71 compare
  2. 181 Sao Tome and Principe 21.3 compare
  3. 182 Mauritania 20.13 compare
  4. 184 Tajikistan 19.42 compare
  5. 185 Gabon 17.79 compare
  6. 186 Libya 16.73 compare

See the full ranking of 195 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate by age in Bulgaria?
Labor force participation rate by age in Bulgaria was 19.71 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 34.76 in 2001.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 19.65 in 2021.
How does Bulgaria rank for labor force participation rate by age?
Bulgaria ranks 183rd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate by age in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-by-age/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate by age
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
195 places, 6,816 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed