Monthly unemployment levels in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Monthly unemployment levels was 106.83 Persons in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
106.83 Persons
Change on year
down 16.2%
World rank
30th
of 32 countries
All-time high
669.92 Persons
in 2001
All-time low
106.83 Persons
in 2025
Years of data
31
1995–2025

Monthly unemployment levels in Bulgaria, 1995–2025

2004006001995201020251995: 342.8 Persons1996: 328.9 Persons1997: 416.8 Persons1998: 362.4 Persons1999: 401.9 Persons2000: 560.8 Persons2001: 669.9 Persons2002: 614.5 Persons2003: 453.6 Persons2004: 403.8 Persons2005: 337.7 Persons2006: 308.6 Persons2007: 242.3 Persons2008: 201.4 Persons2009: 278.3 Persons2010: 387.7 Persons2011: 410.4 Persons2012: 443.8 Persons2013: 468.6 Persons2014: 416.8 Persons2015: 337.4 Persons2016: 279.9 Persons2017: 240.2 Persons2018: 206.2 Persons2019: 165.2 Persons2020: 187.4 Persons2021: 156.6 Persons2022: 127.3 Persons2023: 132.3 Persons2024: 127.4 Persons2025: 106.8 Persons

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

Analysis

Bulgaria recorded 106.83 Persons for monthly unemployment levels in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.

The figure is down 16.2% on the previous year and down 68.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, monthly unemployment levels in Bulgaria peaked at 669.92 Persons in 2001 and was at its lowest, 106.83 Persons, in 2025.

Bulgaria ranks 30th of 32 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.

Monthly unemployment levels in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Monthly unemployment levels in Bulgaria, 1995 to 2025.
Year Persons Change
1995 342.75 Persons —
1996 328.92 Persons -4.0%
1997 416.83 Persons +26.7%
1998 362.42 Persons -13.1%
1999 401.92 Persons +10.9%
2000 560.75 Persons +39.5%
2001 669.92 Persons +19.5%
2002 614.5 Persons -8.3%
2003 453.58 Persons -26.2%
2004 403.83 Persons -11.0%
2005 337.67 Persons -16.4%
2006 308.58 Persons -8.6%
2007 242.33 Persons -21.5%
2008 201.42 Persons -16.9%
2009 278.33 Persons +38.2%
2010 387.67 Persons +39.3%
2011 410.42 Persons +5.9%
2012 443.83 Persons +8.1%
2013 468.58 Persons +5.6%
2014 416.75 Persons -11.1%
2015 337.42 Persons -19.0%
2016 279.92 Persons -17.0%
2017 240.25 Persons -14.2%
2018 206.25 Persons -14.2%
2019 165.25 Persons -19.9%
2020 187.42 Persons +13.4%
2021 156.58 Persons -16.5%
2022 127.33 Persons -18.7%
2023 132.33 Persons +3.9%
2024 127.42 Persons -3.7%
2025 106.83 Persons -16.2%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 106.83 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 336.92 Persons, 32% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 106.83 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 277.58 Persons, 38% of the median. (21 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 370.57 Persons 328.92 Persons 416.83 Persons 5
2000s 407.09 Persons 201.42 Persons 669.92 Persons 10
2010s 335.63 Persons 165.25 Persons 468.58 Persons 10
2020s 139.65 Persons 106.83 Persons 187.42 Persons 6

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 27 Ireland 137.25 Persons compare
  2. 28 Norway 136.92 Persons compare
  3. 29 Israel 134.28 Persons compare
  4. 31 Luxembourg 22.92 Persons compare
  5. 32 Iceland 10.17 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 45 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is monthly unemployment levels in Bulgaria?
Monthly unemployment levels in Bulgaria was 106.83 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest monthly unemployment levels recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 669.92 Persons in 2001.
What is the lowest monthly unemployment levels recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 106.83 Persons in 2025.
How does Bulgaria rank for monthly unemployment levels?
Bulgaria ranks 30th out of 32 countries with data for 2025.
Is monthly unemployment levels rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 68.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment levels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Monthly unemployment levels in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 12 October 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/monthly-unemployment-levels/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Monthly unemployment levels
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
45 places, 1,684 data points, 1955–2025
Last refreshed

The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.