Self-employed persons by occupation in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Self-employed persons by occupation was 372 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
372 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 10.1%
World rank
24th
of 45 countries
All-time high
415.2 Thousand persons
in 2000
All-time low
301.3 Thousand persons
in 2021
Years of data
26
2000–2025
Self-employed persons by occupation in Bulgaria, 2000–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, self-employed persons by occupation in Bulgaria stood at 372 Thousand persons.
That represents a change of up 10.1% on the previous year and up 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by occupation in Bulgaria peaked at 415.2 Thousand persons in 2000 and was at its lowest, 301.3 Thousand persons, in 2021.
Bulgaria ranks 24th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 415.2 Thousand persons | — |
| 2001 | 371.1 Thousand persons | -10.6% |
| 2002 | 372.5 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 389.1 Thousand persons | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 401.1 Thousand persons | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 368.6 Thousand persons | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 366.4 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 363.8 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 379 Thousand persons | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 370.7 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 353.5 Thousand persons | -4.6% |
| 2011 | 327.4 Thousand persons | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 314.3 Thousand persons | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 335.6 Thousand persons | +6.8% |
| 2014 | 350.4 Thousand persons | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 344.1 Thousand persons | -1.8% |
| 2016 | 334.4 Thousand persons | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 349 Thousand persons | +4.4% |
| 2018 | 342.1 Thousand persons | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 309.9 Thousand persons | -9.4% |
| 2020 | 306.3 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 301.3 Thousand persons | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 312.3 Thousand persons | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 315.9 Thousand persons | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 337.8 Thousand persons | +6.9% |
| 2025 | 372 Thousand persons | +10.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 372 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95 Thousand persons, 87% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 372 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 478.5 Thousand persons, 78% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 379.75 Thousand persons | 363.8 Thousand persons | 415.2 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 336.07 Thousand persons | 309.9 Thousand persons | 353.5 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 324.27 Thousand persons | 301.3 Thousand persons | 372 Thousand persons | 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 self-employed persons by occupation in Bulgaria?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Bulgaria was 372 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 415.2 Thousand persons in 2000.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 301.3 Thousand persons in 2021.
- How does Bulgaria rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Bulgaria ranks 24th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.1%. 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 Self-employed persons by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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