Persons outside the labour force in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Persons outside the labour force was 2,145 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Persons outside the labour force in Bulgaria, 2007–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for persons outside the labour force in Bulgaria is 2,145, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force in Bulgaria peaked at 2,565 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 2,128, in 2023.
That places Bulgaria 36th out of 57 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2,465 | — |
| 2008 | 2,565 | +4.1% |
| 2009 | 2,494 | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 2,506 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 2,538 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 2,513 | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 2,461 | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 2,443 | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 2,400 | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 2,429 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 2,373 | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 2,357 | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 2,326 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 2,292 | -1.5% |
| 2021 | 2,225 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 2,189 | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 2,128 | -2.8% |
| 2024 | 2,143 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 2,145 | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2,508 | 2,465 | 2,565 | 3 |
| 2010s | 2,435 | 2,326 | 2,538 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,187 | 2,128 | 2,292 | 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 persons outside the labour force in Bulgaria?
- Persons outside the labour force in Bulgaria was 2,145 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 2,565 in 2008.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,128 in 2023.
- How does Bulgaria rank for persons outside the labour force?
- Bulgaria ranks 36th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Persons outside the labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Persons outside the labour force comprise all persons of working age who, during the specified reference period, were not in the labour force (that is, were not employed or unemployed). The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.