Bulgaria is among the European Union countries where retirees are most likely to remain in the workforce because they cannot afford to stop working. According to the latest data, 53.6% of working pensioners in the country say financial necessity is the main reason they continue to have a job after retirement, placing Bulgaria among the most affected member states.
The figure is well above the EU average of 28.6%, indicating that Bulgarian retirees are nearly twice as likely as the average European pensioner to keep working because of financial pressure. The findings point to persistent concerns over the adequacy of pension incomes in relation to the cost of living.
Across the European Union, 12.9% of people remain employed during the first six months after retiring. However, their motivations differ considerably. While 36.3% continue working because they enjoy it or wish to stay socially active, only 28.6% cite financial reasons. In Bulgaria, by contrast, economic necessity is the dominant factor behind post-retirement employment.
The country's results also reflect a broader trend across Southeastern and Eastern Europe, where pension systems generally provide lower income replacement than in many Western European nations. Romania records the highest share in the EU, with 54.3% of working retirees saying they remain employed because of financial hardship, narrowly ahead of Bulgaria. Croatia follows with 48.2%, while Latvia reports 47.9%. Other countries with relatively high shares include Portugal at 39%, Hungary at 38.1%, France at 37.7%, and Germany at 35.8%.
