Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment was 106,900 Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
106,900 Persons
Change on year
down 16.1%
World rank
38th
of 46 countries
All-time high
685,600 Persons
in 2001
All-time low
106,900 Persons
in 2025
Years of data
26
2000–2025

Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment in Bulgaria, 2000–2025

200.0k400.0k600.0k2000201220252000: 556.0k Persons2001: 685.6k Persons2002: 619.3k Persons2003: 457.8k Persons2004: 406.4k Persons2005: 334.4k Persons2006: 305.7k Persons2007: 240.2k Persons2008: 199.7k Persons2009: 238.0k Persons2010: 352.3k Persons2011: 376.2k Persons2012: 410.3k Persons2013: 436.3k Persons2014: 384.5k Persons2015: 305.1k Persons2016: 247.2k Persons2017: 206.9k Persons2018: 173.3k Persons2019: 131.7k Persons2020: 155.5k Persons2021: 156.7k Persons2022: 127.3k Persons2023: 132.4k Persons2024: 127.4k Persons2025: 106.9k Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

Bulgaria recorded 106,900 Persons for labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.

That represents a change of down 16.1% on the previous year and down 65.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Bulgaria peaked at 685,600 Persons in 2001 and was at its lowest, 106,900 Persons, in 2025.

Bulgaria ranks 38th of 46 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 404,310 Persons 199,700 Persons 685,600 Persons 10
2010s 302,380 Persons 131,700 Persons 436,300 Persons 10
2020s 134,367 Persons 106,900 Persons 156,700 Persons 6

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 35 Norway 136,300 Persons compare
  2. 36 New Zealand 109,700 Persons compare
  3. 37 Lithuania 107,800 Persons compare
  4. 39 North Macedonia 91,800 Persons compare
  5. 40 Croatia 86,800 Persons compare
  6. 41 Latvia 65,800 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 54 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Bulgaria?
Labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Bulgaria was 106,900 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 685,600 Persons in 2001.
What is the lowest labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 106,900 Persons in 2025.
How does Bulgaria rank for labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment?
Bulgaria ranks 38th out of 46 countries with data for 2025.
Is labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-indicators-levels-regions-unemployment/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
54 places, 1,325 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed

<p>This dataset presents indicators on the size of the labour force, employment, and unemployment in large regions (TL2) and, where available, in small regions (TL3).</p> <p><strong>Data definition and source</strong></p> <p>The labour force status is presented by sex, for 15-64 year-olds and 15+ year-olds age ranges, the latter having less country coverage. Data is based on a labour force survey using ILO guidelines and collected from Eurostat (reg_lmk) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites.</p> <p><strong>Definition of regions</strong></p> <p>Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid <a href="https://webfs-cfe.oecd.org/files/.Stat/region/OECD_territorial-grid_TL2024.pdf">(pdf)</a> and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table <a href="https://webfs-cfe.oecd.org/files/.Stat/region/OECD%20Territorial%20correspondence%20-%20TL2024c.xlsx">(xlsx)</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Cite this dataset</strong></p> <p>OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database&nbsp;<a href="http://oe.cd/geostats">http://oe.cd/geostats</a>.</p> <p><strong>Further information</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://regions-cities-atlas.oecd.org/">OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas</a>&nbsp;</li> <li><a href="https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-regions-and-cities-at-a-glance-2024_f42db3bf-en.html">OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance</a></li> </ul> <p>For questions and/or comments, please email <a href="mailto:RegionStat@oecd.org">RegionStat@oecd.org</a>.</p>