Share of workers in informal employment in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Share of workers in informal employment was 1.2% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of workers in informal employment in Bulgaria, 2007–2024
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of workers in informal employment in Bulgaria stood at 1.2%. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 80.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Bulgaria peaked at 9.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 1.2%, in 2024.
That places Bulgaria 79th out of 82 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of workers in informal employment in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 9.5% | — |
| 2008 | 6.8% | -28.6% |
| 2009 | 7.0% | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 6.3% | -9.9% |
| 2011 | 5.9% | -5.7% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | -18.6% |
| 2013 | 4.5% | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 6.0% | +33.8% |
| 2015 | 4.8% | -19.8% |
| 2016 | 4.4% | -8.5% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | -28.2% |
| 2018 | 3.3% | +2.2% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | -9.2% |
| 2020 | 2.7% | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 1.3% | -53.8% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | -4.6% |
| 2024 | 1.2% | -3.2% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 1.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.4%, 50% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 1.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.8%, 43% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.7% | 6.8% | 9.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 4.6% | 3.0% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.2% | 2.7% | 5 |
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 share of workers in informal employment in Bulgaria?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Bulgaria was 1.2% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.2% in 2024.
- How does Bulgaria rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Bulgaria ranks 79th out of 82 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.