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
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Bulgaria is 56.1%, measured in 2025.
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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 56.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 62.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 80.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 50.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 73.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.7% (2025)
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).