Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total was 43.0% in 2026. ▼ Falling

Latest (2026)
43.0%
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
8th
of 45 countries
All-time high
66.4%
in 2003
All-time low
43.0%
in 2009
Years of data
27
2000–2026

Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Bulgaria, 2000–2026

02040602000201320262000: 58.7 Percentage2001: 63.6 Percentage2002: 66.3 Percentage2003: 66.4 Percentage2004: 60.1 Percentage2005: 60.5 Percentage2006: 55.9 Percentage2007: 63.1 Percentage2008: 53 Percentage2009: 43 Percentage2010: 52.3 Percentage2011: 55.9 Percentage2012: 55.1 Percentage2013: 59.9 Percentage2014: 64 Percentage2015: 59.7 Percentage2016: 58 Percentage2017: 55.6 Percentage2018: 62.7 Percentage2019: 54.1 Percentage2020: 49.9 Percentage2021: 55.3 Percentage2022: 52.6 Percentage2023: 51.2 Percentage2024: 49.1 Percentage2025: 43.9 Percentage2026: 43 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

In 2026, persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Bulgaria stood at 43.0%. That is the lowest value across all 27 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 25.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Bulgaria peaked at 66.4% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 43.0%, in 2009.

Bulgaria ranks 8th of 45 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.

Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total unemployment - quarterly data in Bulgaria, 2000 to 2026.
Year Percentage Change
2000 58.7%
2001 63.6% +8.3%
2002 66.3% +4.2%
2003 66.4% +0.2%
2004 60.1% -9.5%
2005 60.5% +0.7%
2006 55.9% -7.6%
2007 63.1% +12.9%
2008 53.0% -16.0%
2009 43.0% -18.9%
2010 52.3% +21.6%
2011 55.9% +6.9%
2012 55.1% -1.4%
2013 59.9% +8.7%
2014 64.0% +6.8%
2015 59.7% -6.7%
2016 58.0% -2.8%
2017 55.6% -4.1%
2018 62.7% +12.8%
2019 54.1% -13.7%
2020 49.9% -7.8%
2021 55.3% +10.8%
2022 52.6% -4.9%
2023 51.2% -2.7%
2024 49.1% -4.1%
2025 43.9% -10.6%
2026 43.0% -2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 59.1% 43.0% 66.4% 10
2010s 57.7% 52.3% 64.0% 10
2020s 49.3% 43.0% 55.3% 7

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 6 Greece 49.9% compare
  2. 7 Italy 48.6% compare
  3. 9 Latvia 38.9% compare
  4. 9 Latvia 38.9% compare
  5. 11 Serbia 37.1% compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Bulgaria?
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Bulgaria was 43.0% in 2026, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 66.4% in 2003.
What is the lowest persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 43.0% in 2009.
How does Bulgaria rank for persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total?
Bulgaria ranks 8th out of 45 countries with data for 2026.
Is persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 25.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total unemployment - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/persons-in-long-term-unemployment-12-months-or-more-percent-of-total-unemployment/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Persons in long-term unemployment (12 months or more) - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,235 data points, 1998–2026
Last refreshed