SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 8.96 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Bulgaria, 2007–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Bulgaria is 8.96, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 19 years on record.
The figure is down 8.0% on the previous year and down 52.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Bulgaria peaked at 24.19 in 2007 and was at its lowest, 8.96, in 2025.
Bulgaria ranks 12th of 57 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 19 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 24.19 | — |
| 2008 | 15.56 | -35.7% |
| 2009 | 15.53 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 17.14 | +10.4% |
| 2011 | 18.3 | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 19.31 | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 19.95 | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 19.32 | -3.1% |
| 2015 | 18.7 | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 17.51 | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 15.48 | -11.6% |
| 2018 | 13.51 | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 12.21 | -9.6% |
| 2020 | 12.91 | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 12.86 | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 11.92 | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 10.33 | -13.3% |
| 2024 | 9.74 | -5.7% |
| 2025 | 8.96 | -8.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 8.96 is above the median for high income countries, which is 6.26, 1.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 8.96 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.65, 1.3× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18.43 | 15.53 | 24.19 | 3 |
| 2010s | 17.14 | 12.21 | 19.95 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.12 | 8.96 | 12.91 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More work & labour data for Bulgaria
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7248 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.7055 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7441 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.5 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.5166 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,606 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 817.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 1,761 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 1,770 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 3,531 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Bulgaria?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Bulgaria was 8.96 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 24.19 in 2007.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.96 in 2025.
- How does Bulgaria rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- Bulgaria ranks 12th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 52.1%. 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 SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.