Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 55.7 in 2027. ▲ Rising
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Bulgaria, 1990–2027
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 55.7 for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in 2027.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Bulgaria peaked at 56.9 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 49.44, in 1996.
That places Bulgaria 135th out of 188 countries with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 38 years of available data.
Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 50.26 | — |
| 1991 | 50.14 | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 50.06 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 49.91 | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 49.79 | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 49.66 | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 49.44 | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 50.01 | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 49.79 | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 50.18 | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 49.95 | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 51.47 | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 50.96 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 50.16 | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 50.91 | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 50.13 | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 52.01 | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 53.55 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 54.86 | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 54.1 | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 53.5 | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 52.55 | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 53.17 | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 53.94 | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 53.97 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 54.21 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 53.31 | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 55.41 | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 55.32 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 56.66 | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 55.88 | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 55.39 | -0.9% |
| 2022 | 56.73 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 56.9 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 56.27 | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 56.12 | -0.3% |
| 2026 | 55.92 | -0.3% |
| 2027 | 55.7 | -0.4% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 55.7 is below the median for high income countries, which is 62.3, 89% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 55.7 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 59.43, 94% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 49.93 | 49.44 | 50.26 | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.81 | 49.95 | 54.86 | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.2 | 52.55 | 56.66 | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.11 | 55.39 | 56.9 | 8 |
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 participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Bulgaria?
- Labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Bulgaria was 55.7 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 56.9 in 2023.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.44 in 1996.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
- Bulgaria ranks 135th out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
- Is labour force participation rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The labour force participation rate is the labour force as a percent of the working-age population. The labour force is the sum of all persons of working age who are employed and those who are unemployed. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.