Women in Bulgaria have an employment rate higher than the EU average

The proportion of working women in Bulgaria exceeds the European Union average, but the gender gaps in pay and pensions remain significant. This is shown in the 2025 Report on Gender Equality in Bulgaria, approved by the government.

Last year 73.2% of women aged 20 to 64 in Bulgaria were employed. By comparison, the EU average is 71.4%.

However, employment among men in Bulgaria remains higher - 80.6% in the 20-to-64 age group. Thus, the gender gap in Bulgaria is 7.4 percentage points. This is lower than the European Union average, which stands at 9.6 percentage points.

Significant inequality persists in pensions based on contribution history and age. The average pension for men is 1,101.97 BGN, while for women it is 809.54 BGN. The gap stands at 36.1%, although it has narrowed compared to the previous year, when it was 37.4%.

Women, however, receive pensions for a significantly longer period. The average duration for women is 26.5 years - nearly seven years longer than for men.

A gender gap is also observed in insured earnings. In 2025 the national average reached 1,854.22 BGN, or nearly 200 BGN more than in 2024. For men the average insured income was 1,901.58 BGN, which is 5.4% higher than that of women.

Inequality remains evident in wages as well. The latest available preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute are for 2024 and show that the gender pay gap is 11.5% in favor of men.

However, the indicator is improving, compared to 2023, the pay gap has narrowed by 1.6 percentage points.