Labor force participation rate — all countries

Labor force participation rate — Bulgaria

Labor force participation rate in Bulgaria in 2025 — 56.12%. Ranked 133 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 5.86 pp.

2025 56.12% −0.16 pp vs 2024
World rank 133of 182
Period maximum 56.9%2023
Period minimum 49.44%1996

Trend over time

1990–2025 · % of population aged 15+

Labor force participation rate — Bulgaria, 1990–202548505254565819901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 50.26%1991: 50.14%1992: 50.07%1993: 49.91%1994: 49.79%1995: 49.66%1996: 49.44%1997: 50.01%1998: 49.79%1999: 50.18%2000: 49.95%2001: 51.47%2002: 50.96%2003: 50.16%2004: 50.91%2005: 50.13%2006: 52.01%2007: 53.55%2008: 54.86%2009: 54.1%2010: 53.5%2011: 52.55%2012: 53.17%2013: 53.94%2014: 53.97%2015: 54.21%2016: 53.31%2017: 55.41%2018: 55.32%2019: 56.66%2020: 55.88%2021: 55.39%2022: 56.74%2023: 56.9%2024: 56.28%2025: 56.12%
Change over the period: +5.86 pp Annual average: 0.17 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Bulgaria 56.12%
World 60.98%
Eastern Europe computed 59.89%
Labor force participation rate — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 56.12 −0.16 pp
2024 56.28 −0.62 pp
2023 56.9 +0.16 pp
2022 56.74 +1.34 pp
2021 55.39 −0.49 pp
2020 55.88 −0.78 pp
2019 56.66 +1.34 pp
2018 55.32 −0.09 pp
2017 55.41 +2.1 pp
2016 53.31 −0.9 pp
2015 54.21 +0.24 pp
2014 53.97 +0.03 pp
2013 53.94 +0.76 pp
2012 53.17 +0.62 pp
2011 52.55 −0.95 pp
2010 53.5 −0.6 pp
2009 54.1 −0.76 pp
2008 54.86 +1.32 pp
2007 53.55 +1.53 pp
2006 52.01 +1.89 pp
2005 50.13 −0.78 pp
2004 50.91 +0.75 pp
2003 50.16 −0.8 pp
2002 50.96 −0.51 pp
2001 51.47 +1.52 pp
2000 49.95 −0.23 pp
1999 50.18 +0.39 pp
1998 49.79 −0.22 pp
1997 50.01 +0.57 pp
1996 49.44 −0.21 pp
1995 49.66 −0.14 pp
1994 49.79 −0.12 pp
1993 49.91 −0.16 pp
1992 50.07 −0.08 pp
1991 50.14 −0.12 pp
1990 50.26

Eastern Europe, 2025

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

About the indicator

The share of the population aged 15 and over that belongs to the labor force. It shows how fully a country uses its labor potential. The decline in advanced countries comes from an aging population and longer years of schooling, while low values in developing ones usually come from limited participation by women.

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