Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 58.31 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
58.31
Change on year
down 19.7%
World rank
56th
of 88 countries
All-time high
482.63
in 2003
All-time low
10.38
in 2000
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria, 2000–2024

01002003004005002000201220242000: 10.42001: 436.32002: 456.92003: 482.62004: 429.42005: 436.32006: 358.52007: 280.12008: 213.22009: 234.62010: 2832011: 304.22012: 290.32013: 261.62014: 256.92015: 226.32016: 226.22017: 159.62018: 133.42019: 98.12020: 972021: 112.52022: 95.92023: 72.62024: 58.3

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2024, potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria stood at 58.31.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.7% on the previous year and down 77.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria peaked at 482.63 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 10.38, in 2000.

Bulgaria ranks 56th of 88 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Bulgaria, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 10.38
2001 436.29 +4102.7%
2002 456.95 +4.7%
2003 482.63 +5.6%
2004 429.36 -11.0%
2005 436.32 +1.6%
2006 358.51 -17.8%
2007 280.12 -21.9%
2008 213.23 -23.9%
2009 234.65 +10.0%
2010 282.97 +20.6%
2011 304.24 +7.5%
2012 290.26 -4.6%
2013 261.62 -9.9%
2014 256.86 -1.8%
2015 226.35 -11.9%
2016 226.18 -0.1%
2017 159.59 -29.4%
2018 133.37 -16.4%
2019 98.13 -26.4%
2020 97.03 -1.1%
2021 112.51 +15.9%
2022 95.92 -14.7%
2023 72.58 -24.3%
2024 58.31 -19.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 333.84 10.38 482.63 10
2010s 223.96 98.13 304.24 10
2020s 87.27 58.31 112.51 5

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 53 Bolivia 82.37 compare
  2. 54 Belarus 69.29 compare
  3. 55 Hungary 65.52 compare
  4. 57 Cambodia 52.05 compare
  5. 58 Singapore 50.76
  6. 59 Uruguay 50.34 compare

See the full ranking of 88 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria?
Potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria was 58.31 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 482.63 in 2003.
What is the lowest potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 10.38 in 2000.
How does Bulgaria rank for potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
Bulgaria ranks 56th out of 88 countries with data for 2024.
Is potential labour force (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 77.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/potential-labour-force-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Potential labour force (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
88 places, 1,493 data points, 1987–2025
Last refreshed

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. The potential labour force refers to persons not in employment who express an interest in this form of work but for whom existing conditions limit their active job search and/or their availability. This group is used to calculate alternative measures of labour underutilization. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.