Employment-to-population ratio — all countries

Employment-to-population ratio — Bulgaria

Employment-to-population ratio in Bulgaria in 2025 — 54.13%. Ranked 119 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 9.55 pp.

2025 54.13% +0.22 pp vs 2024
World rank 119of 182
Period maximum 54.44%2023
Period minimum 41.22%2001

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Employment-to-population ratio — Bulgaria, 1991–20254045505519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 44.58%1992: 42.41%1993: 41.72%1994: 43.42%1995: 44.14%1996: 43.26%1997: 43.16%1998: 43.72%1999: 43.11%2000: 41.85%2001: 41.22%2002: 41.73%2003: 43.27%2004: 44.78%2005: 45.08%2006: 47.36%2007: 49.86%2008: 51.79%2009: 50.41%2010: 48%2011: 46.63%2012: 46.65%2013: 46.96%2014: 47.8%2015: 49.25%2016: 49.27%2017: 51.99%2018: 52.43%2019: 54.31%2020: 53.06%2021: 52.53%2022: 54.38%2023: 54.44%2024: 53.91%2025: 54.13%
Change over the period: +9.55 pp Annual average: 0.28 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Bulgaria

Bulgaria 54.13%
World 58.06%
Eastern Europe computed 58.22%
Employment-to-population ratio — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 54.13 +0.22 pp
2024 53.91 −0.53 pp
2023 54.44 +0.06 pp
2022 54.38 +1.85 pp
2021 52.53 −0.53 pp
2020 53.06 −1.25 pp
2019 54.31 +1.88 pp
2018 52.43 +0.44 pp
2017 51.99 +2.72 pp
2016 49.27 +0.02 pp
2015 49.25 +1.45 pp
2014 47.8 +0.84 pp
2013 46.96 +0.31 pp
2012 46.65 +0.02 pp
2011 46.63 −1.37 pp
2010 48 −2.41 pp
2009 50.41 −1.37 pp
2008 51.79 +1.92 pp
2007 49.86 +2.51 pp
2006 47.36 +2.28 pp
2005 45.08 +0.29 pp
2004 44.78 +1.51 pp
2003 43.27 +1.54 pp
2002 41.73 +0.51 pp
2001 41.22 −0.63 pp
2000 41.85 −1.26 pp
1999 43.11 −0.61 pp
1998 43.72 +0.55 pp
1997 43.16 −0.1 pp
1996 43.26 −0.88 pp
1995 44.14 +0.73 pp
1994 43.42 +1.69 pp
1993 41.72 −0.68 pp
1992 42.41 −2.17 pp
1991 44.58

Eastern Europe, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The ratio of the employed to the population aged 15 and over. Unlike the unemployment rate it does not depend on whether a person is looking for work, so it captures the actual involvement of the population in the economy better. Employment and unemployment together give the full picture: low unemployment alongside low employment means mass withdrawal from the labor force.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.