Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates was 80.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Bulgaria, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Bulgaria stood at 80.8%.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Bulgaria peaked at 82.4% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 78.9%, in 2020.
Bulgaria ranks 86th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 80.4% | — |
| 1991 | 80.1% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 79.9% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 79.8% | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 79.8% | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 79.8% | -0.0% |
| 1996 | 79.8% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 79.4% | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 79.4% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 79.2% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 79.2% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 82.4% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 82.4% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 80.3% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 80.9% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 79.7% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 81.0% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 80.9% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 79.9% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 79.3% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 80.2% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 81.0% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 81.6% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 81.2% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 80.7% | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 81.1% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 79.5% | -1.9% |
| 2017 | 80.4% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 79.4% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 79.4% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 78.9% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 79.2% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 80.4% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 80.6% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 80.7% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 80.8% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 79.8% | 79.2% | 80.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.6% | 79.2% | 82.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.5% | 79.4% | 81.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.1% | 78.9% | 80.8% | 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 ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Bulgaria?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates in Bulgaria was 80.8% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 82.4% in 2001.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rates recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.9% in 2020.
- How does Bulgaria rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rates?
- Bulgaria ranks 86th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rates rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This ratio is calculated by dividing the labor force participation rate among women by the corresponding rate for men. The labor force participation rate is the share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).