Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region was 62.9% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
62.9%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
34th
of 48 countries
All-time high
63.0%
in 2024
All-time low
53.8%
in 2000
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region in Bulgaria, 2000–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
In 2025, labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria stood at 62.9%.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria peaked at 63.0% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 53.8%, in 2000.
Bulgaria ranks 34th of 48 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 53.8% | — |
| 2001 | 55.4% | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 54.9% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 53.9% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 54.9% | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 54.1% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 56.2% | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 57.9% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 59.4% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 58.7% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 58.8% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 57.9% | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 58.6% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 59.6% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 59.9% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 59.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 59.2% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 61.5% | +3.9% |
| 2018 | 61.5% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 62.6% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 61.6% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 61.1% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 62.5% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 62.8% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 63.0% | +0.3% |
| 2025 | 62.9% | -0.2% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 62.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68.2%, 92% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 62.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 69.2%, 91% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55.9% | 53.8% | 59.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.0% | 57.9% | 62.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 62.3% | 61.1% | 63.0% | 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 participation rates by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria?
- Labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria was 62.9% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 63.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.8% in 2000.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region?
- Bulgaria ranks 34th out of 48 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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