Bulgaria: Labor force participation

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Bulgaria

Labor force participation rate

 Latest value 56.12
 Year 2025
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1990 - 2025
 Average 52.69
 Min - Max 49.44 - 56.90
 Source The World Bank
The latest value from 2025 is 56.12 percent, a decline from 56.28 percent in 2024. In comparison, the world average is 60.86 percent, based on data from 176 countries. Historically, the average for Bulgaria from 1990 to 2025 is 52.69 percent. The minimum value, 49.44 percent, was reached in 1996 while the maximum of 56.9 percent was recorded in 2023. See the global rankings or world map for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Recent data
Bulgaria - Labor force participation - Recent values chart

Historical series
Bulgaria - Labor force participation - historical chart - 1990-2025




The labor force participation rate is the percent of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active. That includes the employed and the unemployed individuals.
Definition: Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Labor force 3.07 2025 million people
 Unemployment rate 3.54 2025 percent
 Female unemployment 3.29 2025 percent
 Male unemployment 3.75 2025 percent
 Youth unemployment 10.15 2025 percent
 Labor force participation 56.12 2025 percent
 Labor force: percent female 46.79 2025 percent
 Female labor force participation 50.38 2025 percent
 Male labor force participation 62.36 2025 percent
 Hours worked 1,617.68 2023 hours
 Self-employment 11.29 2023 percent
 Employment 2.91 Q1/2026 million employed people
 Unemployment rate 3.00 5/2026 percent
 Labor cost 198.00 Q1/2026 index points
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