Labor force, total in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labor force, total was 3.09 million in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force, total in Bulgaria, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Bulgaria stood at 3.09 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Bulgaria peaked at 3.56 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 3.08 million, in 2021.
That places Bulgaria 107th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.49 million | — |
| 1991 | 3.47 million | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 3.45 million | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 3.43 million | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 3.43 million | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 3.43 million | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 3.41 million | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 3.45 million | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 3.43 million | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 3.46 million | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 3.44 million | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 3.49 million | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 3.40 million | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 3.34 million | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 3.38 million | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 3.31 million | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 3.42 million | +3.2% |
| 2007 | 3.50 million | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 3.56 million | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 3.49 million | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 3.42 million | -1.9% |
| 2011 | 3.34 million | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 3.36 million | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 3.33 million | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 3.29 million | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 3.26 million | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 3.16 million | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 3.24 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 3.18 million | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 3.21 million | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 3.13 million | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 3.08 million | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 3.13 million | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 3.13 million | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 3.10 million | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 3.09 million | -0.3% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 3.09 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 3.09 million is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.31 million, 93% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.45 million | 3.41 million | 3.49 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.43 million | 3.31 million | 3.56 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.28 million | 3.16 million | 3.42 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.11 million | 3.08 million | 3.13 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More education data for Bulgaria
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 43,834 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,173 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 111,576 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 105,281 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 485,226 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 234,521 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.7644 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0364 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Bulgaria?
- Labor force, total in Bulgaria was 3.09 million in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.56 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.08 million in 2021.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labor force, total?
- Bulgaria ranks 107th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.