Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 61.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bulgaria, 1965–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bulgaria stood at 61.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bulgaria peaked at 76.8% in 1965 and was at its lowest, 55.4%, in 2005.
That places Bulgaria 168th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 30 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 76.8% | — |
| 1975 | 70.3% | -8.5% |
| 1992 | 60.7% | -13.7% |
| 1997 | 56.9% | -6.3% |
| 2000 | 56.2% | -1.2% |
| 2001 | 56.7% | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 56.0% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 55.5% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 56.1% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 55.4% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 56.7% | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 58.2% | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 59.8% | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 59.0% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 59.4% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 58.2% | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 58.7% | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 59.7% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 60.1% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 60.0% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 59.5% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 61.7% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 61.9% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 62.9% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 62.1% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 61.4% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 62.1% | +1.2% |
| 2023 | 62.2% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 62.1% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 61.6% | -0.9% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 61.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 69.5%, 89% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 61.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68.2%, 90% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 76.8% | 76.8% | 76.8% | 1 |
| 1970s | 70.3% | 70.3% | 70.3% | 1 |
| 1990s | 58.8% | 56.9% | 60.7% | 2 |
| 2000s | 57.0% | 55.4% | 59.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.2% | 58.2% | 62.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 61.9% | 61.4% | 62.2% | 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 labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bulgaria?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bulgaria was 61.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 76.8% in 1965.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 55.4% in 2005.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Bulgaria ranks 168th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national 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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.