Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) was 73.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Bulgaria, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 73.2% for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Bulgaria peaked at 74.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 59.7%, in 1990.
Bulgaria ranks 71st 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, total (% of total population ages) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 59.7% | — |
| 1991 | 59.8% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 60.0% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 60.1% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 60.2% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 60.2% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 60.1% | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 61.0% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 60.9% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 61.6% | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 61.5% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 63.5% | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 62.9% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 61.6% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 62.8% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 62.1% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 64.5% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 66.4% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 68.0% | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 67.3% | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 66.9% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 66.1% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 67.3% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 68.5% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 68.9% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 69.5% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 68.7% | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 71.5% | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 71.5% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 73.4% | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 72.4% | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 72.0% | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 73.7% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 74.0% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 73.2% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 73.2% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.4% | 59.7% | 61.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 64.1% | 61.5% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.2% | 66.1% | 73.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 73.1% | 72.0% | 74.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 68 Paraguay 73.9% compare
- 69 United States of America 73.7% compare
- 70 Central African Republic 73.6% compare
- 72 Bahrain 72.9% compare
- 73 Panama 71.9% compare
- 74 Channel Islands 71.9% 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, total (% of total population ages) in Bulgaria?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) in Bulgaria was 73.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 74.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.7% in 1990.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages)?
- Bulgaria ranks 71st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. 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, total (% of total 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.