Working-age population in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Working-age population was 5,466 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Working-age population in Bulgaria, 2007–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for working-age population in Bulgaria is 5,466, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
That represents a change of down 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, working-age population in Bulgaria peaked at 6,530 in 2008 and was at its lowest, 5,466, in 2025.
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.
Working-age population in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 6,318 | — |
| 2008 | 6,530 | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 6,491 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 6,453 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 6,398 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 6,249 | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 6,223 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 6,214 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 6,093 | -1.9% |
| 2016 | 6,090 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 6,039 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 5,984 | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 5,933 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 5,885 | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 5,852 | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 5,779 | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 5,470 | -5.4% |
| 2024 | 5,468 | -0.0% |
| 2025 | 5,466 | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6,446 | 6,318 | 6,530 | 3 |
| 2010s | 6,168 | 5,933 | 6,453 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,653 | 5,466 | 5,885 | 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 working-age population in Bulgaria?
- Working-age population in Bulgaria was 5,466 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest working-age population recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 6,530 in 2008.
- What is the lowest working-age population recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,466 in 2025.
- How does Bulgaria rank for working-age population?
- Bulgaria ranks 36th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is working-age population rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.3%. 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 Working-age population. 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. The working-age population is commonly defined as persons aged 15 years and older, but this varies from country to country. 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.