Labour force by NUTS 2 region in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labour force by NUTS 2 region was 3,028 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
3,028 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
24th
of 48 countries
All-time high
3,554 Thousand persons
in 2008
All-time low
3,028 Thousand persons
in 2025
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Labour force by NUTS 2 region in Bulgaria, 2000–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 3,028 Thousand persons for labour force by nuts 2 region in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria peaked at 3,554 Thousand persons in 2008 and was at its lowest, 3,028 Thousand persons, in 2025.
Bulgaria ranks 24th of 48 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Labour force by NUTS 2 region in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3,422 Thousand persons | — |
| 2001 | 3,437 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 3,416 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 3,324 Thousand persons | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 3,370 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 3,311 Thousand persons | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 3,411 Thousand persons | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 3,489 Thousand persons | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 3,554 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 3,488 Thousand persons | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 3,425 Thousand persons | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 3,338 Thousand persons | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 3,341 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 3,368 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 3,362 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 3,334 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 3,261 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 3,353 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 3,321 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 3,172 Thousand persons | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 3,083 Thousand persons | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 3,030 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 3,062 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 3,056 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 3,053 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 3,028 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 3,028 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,201 Thousand persons, 95% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 3,028 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,752 Thousand persons, 64% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,422 Thousand persons | 3,311 Thousand persons | 3,554 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,328 Thousand persons | 3,172 Thousand persons | 3,425 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,052 Thousand persons | 3,028 Thousand persons | 3,083 Thousand persons | 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 labour force by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria?
- Labour force by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria was 3,028 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest labour force by nuts 2 region recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 3,554 Thousand persons in 2008.
- What is the lowest labour force by nuts 2 region recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,028 Thousand persons in 2025.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labour force by nuts 2 region?
- Bulgaria ranks 24th out of 48 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force by nuts 2 region rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Labour force by NUTS 2 region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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