LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment was 4.52 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
4.52
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
84th
of 90 countries
All-time high
20.41
in 2001
All-time low
4.49
in 2022
Years of data
24
2001–2024

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Bulgaria, 2001–2024

51015202001201220242001: 20.42002: 18.52003: 14.12004: 12.42005: 10.32006: 9.22007: 7.12008: 6.32009: 7.62010: 11.42011: 12.22012: 13.32013: 142014: 12.62015: 102016: 8.32017: 6.92018: 5.82019: 4.72020: 5.52021: 5.52022: 4.52023: 4.72024: 4.5

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2024, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Bulgaria stood at 4.52.

The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 64.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Bulgaria peaked at 20.41 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 4.49, in 2022.

Bulgaria ranks 84th of 90 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.

LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Bulgaria, 2001 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2001 20.41
2002 18.54 -9.1%
2003 14.12 -23.8%
2004 12.45 -11.8%
2005 10.32 -17.1%
2006 9.22 -10.7%
2007 7.07 -23.3%
2008 6.26 -11.4%
2009 7.6 +21.3%
2010 11.41 +50.2%
2011 12.16 +6.6%
2012 13.33 +9.6%
2013 14.04 +5.3%
2014 12.64 -9.9%
2015 9.97 -21.2%
2016 8.33 -16.4%
2017 6.88 -17.4%
2018 5.81 -15.5%
2019 4.7 -19.1%
2020 5.48 +16.5%
2021 5.54 +1.2%
2022 4.49 -19.0%
2023 4.7 +4.7%
2024 4.52 -3.9%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 4.52 is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.92, 51% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 4.52 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9.4, 48% of the median. (39 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.78 6.26 20.41 9
2010s 9.93 4.7 14.04 10
2020s 4.95 4.49 5.54 5

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 81 United States 5.04 compare
  2. 82 Germany 4.6 compare
  3. 83 Seychelles 4.53 compare
  4. 85 Poland 3.82 compare
  5. 86 Belarus 3.4 compare
  6. 87 Czechia 3.23 compare

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Bulgaria?
Lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Bulgaria was 4.52 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 20.41 in 2001.
What is the lowest lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 4.49 in 2022.
How does Bulgaria rank for lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment?
Bulgaria ranks 84th out of 90 countries with data for 2024.
Is lu2: combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 64.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 22 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu2-combined-rate-of-time-related-underemployment-and-unemployment-previous-ilo/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
LU2: Combined rate of time-related underemployment and unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
90 places, 1,574 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU2 represents the share of the labour force that are either in unemployment or time-related underemployment. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.