LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to was 5.67 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
5.67
Change on year
down 4.3%
World rank
48th
of 56 countries
All-time high
24.98
in 2001
All-time low
5.67
in 2024
Years of data
24
2001–2024

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to in Bulgaria, 2001–2024

5101520252001201220242001: 252002: 24.52003: 21.72004: 19.62005: 17.92006: 15.42007: 11.82008: 9.92009: 11.22010: 15.12011: 16.62012: 16.72013: 16.62014: 162015: 13.42016: 12.22017: 9.82018: 82019: 6.22020: 7.32021: 7.62022: 6.52023: 5.92024: 5.7

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to in Bulgaria is 5.67, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.

That represents a change of down 4.3% on the previous year and down 64.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to in Bulgaria peaked at 24.98 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 5.67, in 2024.

Bulgaria ranks 48th of 56 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to 54 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria, 2001 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2001 24.98
2002 24.49 -2.0%
2003 21.65 -11.6%
2004 19.65 -9.3%
2005 17.92 -8.8%
2006 15.39 -14.1%
2007 11.76 -23.6%
2008 9.91 -15.7%
2009 11.17 +12.8%
2010 15.07 +34.9%
2011 16.58 +10.0%
2012 16.69 +0.7%
2013 16.55 -0.8%
2014 16.01 -3.3%
2015 13.4 -16.3%
2016 12.15 -9.3%
2017 9.83 -19.1%
2018 8.02 -18.4%
2019 6.22 -22.4%
2020 7.31 +17.5%
2021 7.62 +4.2%
2022 6.51 -14.6%
2023 5.92 -9.0%
2024 5.67 -4.3%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 5.67 is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.74, 58% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 5.67 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.46, 54% of the median. (28 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 17.44 9.91 24.98 9
2010s 13.05 6.22 16.69 10
2020s 6.61 5.67 7.62 5

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 45 Croatia 6.43 compare
  2. 46 El Salvador 6.19 compare
  3. 47 Malta 5.96 compare
  4. 49 Sri Lanka 5.6 compare
  5. 50 Hungary 5.18 compare
  6. 51 Pakistan 4.68 compare

See the full ranking of 56 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to in Bulgaria?
Lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to in Bulgaria was 5.67 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 24.98 in 2001.
What is the lowest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 5.67 in 2024.
How does Bulgaria rank for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to?
Bulgaria ranks 48th out of 56 countries with data for 2024.
Is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 64.6%. 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 LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to 54 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu4-composite-rate-of-labour-underutilization-for-persons-ages-25-to-54-previous-ilo/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization for persons ages 25 to 54 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
56 places, 849 data points, 2000–2025
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. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force, in this case for persons of prime age (i.e., persons ages 25 to 54), that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Indicators (GEND) database description.