Labour market slack by NUTS 2 region in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labour market slack by NUTS 2 region was 173.1 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
173.1 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 12.6%
World rank
29th
of 48 countries
All-time high
751.7 Thousand persons
in 2013
All-time low
173.1 Thousand persons
in 2025
Years of data
18
2008–2025
Labour market slack by NUTS 2 region in Bulgaria, 2008–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, labour market slack by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria stood at 173.1 Thousand persons. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.
That represents a change of down 12.6% on the previous year and down 69.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour market slack by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria peaked at 751.7 Thousand persons in 2013 and was at its lowest, 173.1 Thousand persons, in 2025.
That places Bulgaria 29th out of 48 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Labour market slack by NUTS 2 region in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 449.5 Thousand persons | — |
| 2009 | 518 Thousand persons | +15.2% |
| 2010 | 684.7 Thousand persons | +32.2% |
| 2011 | 713.9 Thousand persons | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 734 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 751.7 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 674.9 Thousand persons | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 569.3 Thousand persons | -15.6% |
| 2016 | 495.8 Thousand persons | -12.9% |
| 2017 | 408.4 Thousand persons | -17.6% |
| 2018 | 341.2 Thousand persons | -16.5% |
| 2019 | 255.5 Thousand persons | -25.1% |
| 2020 | 288.6 Thousand persons | +13.0% |
| 2021 | 282.2 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 237.2 Thousand persons | -15.9% |
| 2023 | 222.3 Thousand persons | -6.3% |
| 2024 | 198.1 Thousand persons | -10.9% |
| 2025 | 173.1 Thousand persons | -12.6% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 173.1 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 416.15 Thousand persons, 42% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 173.1 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 443.3 Thousand persons, 39% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 483.75 Thousand persons | 449.5 Thousand persons | 518 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2010s | 562.94 Thousand persons | 255.5 Thousand persons | 751.7 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 233.58 Thousand persons | 173.1 Thousand persons | 288.6 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 26 Bosnia and Herzegovina 235.2 Thousand persons compare
- 27 Slovakia 186.8 Thousand persons compare
- 27 Slovakia 186.8 Thousand persons compare
- 30 Lithuania 153.3 Thousand persons compare
- 30 Lithuania 153.3 Thousand persons compare
- 32 Croatia 140 Thousand persons compare
- 32 Croatia 140 Thousand persons compare
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 market slack by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria?
- Labour market slack by nuts 2 region in Bulgaria was 173.1 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest labour market slack by nuts 2 region recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 751.7 Thousand persons in 2013.
- What is the lowest labour market slack by nuts 2 region recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 173.1 Thousand persons in 2025.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labour market slack by nuts 2 region?
- Bulgaria ranks 29th out of 48 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour market slack by nuts 2 region rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.6%. 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 market slack by NUTS 2 region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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