Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) was 50.4% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Bulgaria, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 50.4% for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Bulgaria peaked at 51.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 44.0%, in 1996.
Bulgaria ranks 118th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 44.9% | — |
| 1991 | 44.7% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 44.6% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 44.4% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 44.3% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 44.2% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 44.0% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 44.4% | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 44.2% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 44.5% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 44.3% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 46.7% | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 46.2% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 44.9% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 45.7% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 44.6% | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 46.7% | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 48.1% | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 48.9% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 48.1% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 47.8% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 47.2% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 48.0% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 48.5% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 48.4% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 48.7% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 47.4% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 49.6% | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 49.2% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 50.4% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 49.5% | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 49.2% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 50.8% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 51.0% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 50.5% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 50.4% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 44.5% | 44.0% | 44.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 46.4% | 44.3% | 48.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.5% | 47.2% | 50.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.2% | 49.2% | 51.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 115 Papua New Guinea 50.8% compare
- 116 Philippines 50.5% compare
- 117 Cape Verde 50.5% compare
- 119 South Africa 49.9% compare
- 120 Belgium 49.8% compare
- 121 Channel Islands 49.2% compare
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 labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Bulgaria?
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) in Bulgaria was 50.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 51.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 44.0% in 1996.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages)?
- Bulgaria ranks 118th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The labor force participation rate is the labor force as a percent of the population ages 15 and older. The labor force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed.