Female labor force participation rate — all countries

Female labor force participation rate — Bulgaria

Female labor force participation rate in Bulgaria in 2025 — 50.38%. Ranked 117 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 5.47 pp.

2025 50.38% −0.11 pp vs 2024
World rank 117of 182
Period maximum 51.03%2023
Period minimum 44.03%1996

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of women aged 15+

Female labor force participation rate — Bulgaria, 1990–2025444648505219901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 44.91%1991: 44.73%1992: 44.61%1993: 44.45%1994: 44.34%1995: 44.22%1996: 44.03%1997: 44.45%1998: 44.24%1999: 44.55%2000: 44.32%2001: 46.66%2002: 46.2%2003: 44.87%2004: 45.71%2005: 44.65%2006: 46.74%2007: 48.07%2008: 48.92%2009: 48.06%2010: 47.82%2011: 47.2%2012: 47.96%2013: 48.53%2014: 48.39%2015: 48.73%2016: 47.44%2017: 49.6%2018: 49.18%2019: 50.39%2020: 49.52%2021: 49.19%2022: 50.8%2023: 51.03%2024: 50.49%2025: 50.38%
Change over the period: +5.47 pp Annual average: 0.16 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Bulgaria 50.38%
World 48.94%
Eastern Europe computed 53.21%
Female labor force participation rate — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 50.38 −0.11 pp
2024 50.49 −0.54 pp
2023 51.03 +0.23 pp
2022 50.8 +1.61 pp
2021 49.19 −0.32 pp
2020 49.52 −0.87 pp
2019 50.39 +1.21 pp
2018 49.18 −0.43 pp
2017 49.6 +2.17 pp
2016 47.44 −1.29 pp
2015 48.73 +0.34 pp
2014 48.39 −0.14 pp
2013 48.53 +0.58 pp
2012 47.96 +0.76 pp
2011 47.2 −0.62 pp
2010 47.82 −0.24 pp
2009 48.06 −0.86 pp
2008 48.92 +0.85 pp
2007 48.07 +1.33 pp
2006 46.74 +2.1 pp
2005 44.65 −1.07 pp
2004 45.71 +0.85 pp
2003 44.87 −1.33 pp
2002 46.2 −0.47 pp
2001 46.66 +2.34 pp
2000 44.32 −0.23 pp
1999 44.55 +0.31 pp
1998 44.24 −0.21 pp
1997 44.45 +0.42 pp
1996 44.03 −0.18 pp
1995 44.22 −0.12 pp
1994 44.34 −0.11 pp
1993 44.45 −0.16 pp
1992 44.61 −0.13 pp
1991 44.73 −0.18 pp
1990 44.91

Eastern Europe, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of women aged 15 and over who belong to the labor force. The spread across countries runs from under 10% to over 80%, and it is one of the strongest dividing lines between socioeconomic models. Historically the rate rose together with falling fertility and wider access to education.

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