Labor force participation rate in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labor force participation rate was 56.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate in Bulgaria, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Bulgaria stood at 56.1%.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Bulgaria peaked at 56.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 49.4%, in 1996.
That places Bulgaria 133rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50.3% | — |
| 1991 | 50.1% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 50.1% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 49.9% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 49.8% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 49.7% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 49.4% | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 50.0% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 49.8% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 50.2% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 50.0% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 51.5% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 51.0% | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 50.2% | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 50.9% | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 50.1% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 52.0% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 53.5% | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 54.9% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 54.1% | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 53.5% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 52.6% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 53.2% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 53.9% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 54.0% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 54.2% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 53.3% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 55.4% | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 55.3% | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 56.7% | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 55.9% | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 55.4% | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 56.7% | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 56.9% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 56.3% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 56.1% | -0.3% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 56.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 90% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 56.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 93% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.9% | 49.4% | 50.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.8% | 50.0% | 54.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.2% | 52.6% | 56.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.2% | 55.4% | 56.9% | 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 in Bulgaria?
- Labor force participation rate in Bulgaria was 56.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 56.9% in 2023.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.4% in 1996.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labor force participation rate?
- Bulgaria ranks 133rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).