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Economy & jobs Statistics · Country

Labour force participation in Bulgaria

1990 – 2025 · 36 data points 30 of 41 · Countries Updated Oct 22, 2026
Economy & jobs · Bulgaria

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1990 – 2025

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Overview 6 figures People 13 figures Economy 14 figures Housing 1 figure Education 4 figures Tourism 4 figures Climate 1 figure
Latest value · 2025 56.1% −0.2 pp since 2024
Countries · 2025 30 of 41 Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2015 +1.9 pp
vs World −4.9 pp World: 61.0% · 2025
Labour force participation, 1990 – 2025 percent · Bulgaria · World
+1.9 pp since 2015
Bulgaria World

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1990 – 2025

Compared with Labour force participation · percent
Bulgaria
56.1%
World
61.0%

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators

The series at a glance Bulgaria · 1990 – 2025
Latest value 56.1% · 2025
First value 50.3% · 1990
Highest 56.9% · 2023
Lowest 49.4% · 1996
Data points 36

By year

All years · 1990 – 2025

YearBulgariaChange World
2025 56.1% −0.2 pp 61.0%
2024 56.3% −0.6 pp 61.1%
2023 56.9% +0.2 pp 61.2%
2022 56.7% +1.3 pp 60.7%
2021 55.4% −0.5 pp 60.4%
2020 55.9% −0.8 pp 59.6%
2019 56.7% +1.3 pp 61.0%
2018 55.3% −0.1 pp 61.2%
2017 55.4% +2.1 pp 61.3%
2016 53.3% −0.9 pp 61.5%
2015 54.2% +0.2 pp 61.6%
2014 54.0% +0.0 pp 61.8%
2013 53.9% +0.8 pp 62.0%
2012 53.2% +0.6 pp 62.2%
2011 52.6% −1.0 pp 62.4%
2010 53.5% −0.6 pp 62.6%
2009 54.1% −0.8 pp 62.8%
2008 54.9% +1.3 pp 63.1%
2007 53.5% +1.5 pp 63.4%
2006 52.0% +1.9 pp 63.5%
2005 50.1% −0.8 pp 63.8%
2004 50.9% +0.7 pp 63.8%
2003 50.2% −0.8 pp 63.9%
2002 51.0% −0.5 pp 64.1%
2001 51.5% +1.5 pp 64.2%
2000 50.0% −0.2 pp 64.4%
1999 50.2% +0.4 pp 64.6%
1998 49.8% −0.2 pp 64.5%
1997 50.0% +0.6 pp 64.7%
1996 49.4% −0.2 pp 64.7%
1995 49.7% −0.1 pp 64.8%
1994 49.8% −0.1 pp 65.0%
1993 49.9% −0.2 pp 65.0%
1992 50.1% −0.1 pp 65.3%
1991 50.1% −0.1 pp 65.4%
1990 50.3% 65.5%

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1990 – 2025

Ranking · Countries

2017 · Place 1 is the highest value.

Year: 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Highest first Lowest first A–Z
#TerritoryLabour force participation
42 Yemen 32.5%
41 Algeria 42.3%
40 Egypt 45.0%
39 Lebanon 48.0%
38 Italy 49.5%
37 Greece 51.0%
36 Gabon 51.0%
35 Romania 51.8%
34 India 52.7%
33 Türkiye 52.8%
32 Sierra Leone 54.7%
31 France 55.3%
30 Bulgaria 55.4%
29 Poland 57.6%
28 Spain 58.0%
27 Bangladesh 58.3%
26 Finland 58.7%
25 Argentina 58.8%
24 Saudi Arabia 59.0%
23 Philippines 59.1%
22 Czechia 60.1%
21 Mexico 60.2%
20 Hong Kong SAR China 60.5%
19 Lithuania 60.6%
18 Germany 60.7%
17 United Kingdom 62.4%
16 Russia 62.5%
15 United States 62.5%
14 South Korea 62.9%
13 Chile 63.0%
12 Honduras 64.4%
11 Brazil 64.5%
10 Congo - Kinshasa 64.8%
9 Norway 65.7%
8 Canada 65.8%
7 Colombia 66.0%
6 Netherlands 66.1%
5 Indonesia 66.7%
4 Ecuador 68.2%
3 Congo - Brazzaville 68.2%
2 China 68.4%
1 Liberia 76.9%

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 2017

What it means

The share of adults who work or are looking for work.

How it is calculated

Employed plus unemployed people aged 15 and over (16 in the US) divided by the population of that age.