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Economy & jobs Statistics · Country

Labour force participation in Bulgaria

1990 – 2025 · 36 data points 30 of 41 · Countries Updated Oct 21, 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

2016 · 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
1 Liberia 76.9%
2 China 68.9%
3 Congo - Brazzaville 68.1%
4 Ecuador 67.7%
5 Colombia 66.4%
6 Indonesia 66.3%
7 Netherlands 66.3%
8 Norway 66.2%
9 Canada 65.6%
10 Congo - Kinshasa 65.0%
11 Brazil 64.3%
12 Honduras 63.3%
13 Russia 62.9%
14 South Korea 62.6%
15 United States 62.4%
16 United Kingdom 62.4%
17 Chile 62.3%
18 Philippines 61.6%
19 Saudi Arabia 60.7%
20 Mexico 60.4%
21 Germany 60.4%
22 Hong Kong SAR China 60.4%
23 Lithuania 60.3%
24 Czechia 59.8%
25 Argentina 59.0%
26 Finland 58.5%
27 Spain 58.3%
28 Poland 57.3%
29 Bangladesh 56.1%
30 Sierra Leone 55.4%
31 France 55.4%
32 Bulgaria 53.3%
33 India 52.9%
34 Türkiye 52.0%
35 Greece 51.1%
36 Romania 50.9%
37 Gabon 50.8%
38 Italy 49.2%
39 Lebanon 47.5%
40 Egypt 46.6%
41 Algeria 42.3%
42 Yemen 32.3%

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 2016

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.