Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2026 All Rights Reserved

Employment in Bulgaria is among the highest in the EU, but over 1 million people are unemployed

Photo: BTA

As of December 31, 2024, there were 3,765,000 people of working age, or 58.5% of the country's population. Men are 1,970,000, and women - 1,795,000. This was announced by the Deputy Chair of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) Svilen Kolev. By the end of 2024, there were 1,701,000 people over working age (26.4%). There were 971,000 people under working age, which is 15.1% of the population, Kolev also informed.

The population at the end of 2024 in Bulgaria was 6,437,360 people. Compared to 2023, the population decreased by 8,121 people or 0.13%. The total population decrease since 1985 is 2,512,500 people.

The economically inactive Bulgarians aged 15-64 in the second quarter of 2025 were 1,042,000 people, 456,100 were men and 585,900 were women. Unemployment in Bulgaria is one of the lowest in the EU. In August 2025, it was 3.6%, the National Statistical Institute reported.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photo: BTA



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Delyan Peevski

''DPS – New Beginning'' urges that local taxes remain unchanged in 2026

“I call on all representatives of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms in local government — mayors and municipal councilors — to ensure security and predictability for the people and to take the necessary steps to keep all local taxes and fees..

published on 11/25/25 10:02 AM

Bulgaria rises in global digital quality of life ranking

Bulgaria has climbed to 11th place in this year’s Digital Quality of Life 2025 (DQL) index published by Surfshark, up from 18th last year, BTA reported. The index evaluates countries’ digital well-being across five dimensions: fixed broadband..

published on 11/25/25 9:45 AM
Todor Chobanov

Bulgaria expects the return of over 2,700 antiques from abroad

Around 90% of the antiques seized during an international operation targeting a cultural property trafficking network will be returned to Bulgaria, Deputy Minister of Culture Todor Chobanov told “Nova TV”.   “This is an unprecedented operation in..

published on 11/25/25 9:22 AM