Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 76.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bulgaria, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bulgaria is 76.5%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bulgaria peaked at 77.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 64.9%, in 1990.
Bulgaria ranks 106th 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64.9% | — |
| 1991 | 65.2% | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 65.4% | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 65.5% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 65.5% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 65.5% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 65.4% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 66.3% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 66.2% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 66.9% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 66.8% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 67.7% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 66.9% | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 66.1% | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 67.1% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 66.9% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 68.8% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 70.8% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 72.8% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 72.3% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 71.3% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 70.1% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 71.1% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 72.4% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 72.8% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 73.2% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 72.9% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 75.5% | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 75.8% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 77.7% | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 76.9% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 76.1% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 77.3% | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 77.5% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 76.6% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 76.5% | -0.2% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 76.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 80.2%, 95% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 76.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 79.6%, 96% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 65.7% | 64.9% | 66.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 68.6% | 66.1% | 72.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 73.3% | 70.1% | 77.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.8% | 76.1% | 77.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 103 Burkina Faso 77.0% compare
- 104 France 76.9% compare
- 105 South Sudan 76.8% compare
- 107 Montenegro 76.4% compare
- 108 Israel 76.1% compare
- 109 Romania 76.0% 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bulgaria?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bulgaria was 76.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 77.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.9% in 1990.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Bulgaria ranks 106th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. 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, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.