Labor force, female in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Labor force, female was 1.45 million in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force, female in Bulgaria, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in Bulgaria stood at 1.45 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Bulgaria peaked at 1.65 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.43 million, in 2021.
Bulgaria ranks 102nd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.60 million | — |
| 1991 | 1.59 million | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 1.58 million | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 1.57 million | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 1.57 million | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 1.57 million | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 1.57 million | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 1.58 million | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 1.58 million | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 1.59 million | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 1.58 million | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 1.64 million | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 1.60 million | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 1.55 million | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 1.57 million | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 1.53 million | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 1.59 million | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 1.63 million | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 1.65 million | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 1.61 million | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 1.59 million | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 1.55 million | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 1.57 million | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 1.55 million | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 1.53 million | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 1.52 million | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 1.46 million | -4.0% |
| 2017 | 1.50 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 1.47 million | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 1.48 million | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 1.44 million | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 1.43 million | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 1.46 million | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 1.46 million | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 1.45 million | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 1.45 million | -0.2% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 1.45 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 million, 100% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 1.45 million is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.57 million, 92% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.58 million | 1.57 million | 1.60 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.59 million | 1.53 million | 1.65 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.52 million | 1.46 million | 1.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.45 million | 1.43 million | 1.46 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More gender data for Bulgaria
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 907.24 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.48 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 5,551 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 5,551 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate -0.7319 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 29,446 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 31,195 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 29,990 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 31,775 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 30,724 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Bulgaria?
- Labor force, female in Bulgaria was 1.45 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.65 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.43 million in 2021.
- How does Bulgaria rank for labor force, female?
- Bulgaria ranks 102nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Female labor force comprises women 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.