Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation was 106.9 Thousand persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
106.9 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 16.1%
World rank
31st
of 45 countries
All-time high
685.6 Thousand persons
in 2001
All-time low
106.9 Thousand persons
in 2025
Years of data
26
2000–2025

Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Bulgaria, 2000–2025

2004006002000201220252000: 556 Thousand persons2001: 685.6 Thousand persons2002: 619.3 Thousand persons2003: 457.8 Thousand persons2004: 406.4 Thousand persons2005: 334.4 Thousand persons2006: 305.7 Thousand persons2007: 240.2 Thousand persons2008: 199.7 Thousand persons2009: 238 Thousand persons2010: 352.3 Thousand persons2011: 376.2 Thousand persons2012: 410.3 Thousand persons2013: 436.3 Thousand persons2014: 384.5 Thousand persons2015: 305.1 Thousand persons2016: 247.2 Thousand persons2017: 206.9 Thousand persons2018: 173.3 Thousand persons2019: 131.7 Thousand persons2020: 155.5 Thousand persons2021: 156.7 Thousand persons2022: 127.3 Thousand persons2023: 132.4 Thousand persons2024: 127.4 Thousand persons2025: 106.9 Thousand persons

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.

Analysis

In 2025, unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Bulgaria stood at 106.9 Thousand persons. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.1% on the previous year and down 65.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Bulgaria peaked at 685.6 Thousand persons in 2001 and was at its lowest, 106.9 Thousand persons, in 2025.

That places Bulgaria 31st out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Bulgaria, 2000 to 2025.
Year Thousand persons Change
2000 556 Thousand persons
2001 685.6 Thousand persons +23.3%
2002 619.3 Thousand persons -9.7%
2003 457.8 Thousand persons -26.1%
2004 406.4 Thousand persons -11.2%
2005 334.4 Thousand persons -17.7%
2006 305.7 Thousand persons -8.6%
2007 240.2 Thousand persons -21.4%
2008 199.7 Thousand persons -16.9%
2009 238 Thousand persons +19.2%
2010 352.3 Thousand persons +48.0%
2011 376.2 Thousand persons +6.8%
2012 410.3 Thousand persons +9.1%
2013 436.3 Thousand persons +6.3%
2014 384.5 Thousand persons -11.9%
2015 305.1 Thousand persons -20.7%
2016 247.2 Thousand persons -19.0%
2017 206.9 Thousand persons -16.3%
2018 173.3 Thousand persons -16.2%
2019 131.7 Thousand persons -24.0%
2020 155.5 Thousand persons +18.1%
2021 156.7 Thousand persons +0.8%
2022 127.3 Thousand persons -18.8%
2023 132.4 Thousand persons +4.0%
2024 127.4 Thousand persons -3.8%
2025 106.9 Thousand persons -16.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 404.31 Thousand persons 199.7 Thousand persons 685.6 Thousand persons 10
2010s 302.38 Thousand persons 131.7 Thousand persons 436.3 Thousand persons 10
2020s 134.37 Thousand persons 106.9 Thousand persons 156.7 Thousand persons 6

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 28 Norway 136.3 Thousand persons compare
  2. 29 Lithuania 107.8 Thousand persons compare
  3. 29 Lithuania 107.8 Thousand persons compare
  4. 32 North Macedonia 91.8 Thousand persons compare
  5. 33 Croatia 86.8 Thousand persons compare
  6. 33 Croatia 86.8 Thousand persons compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Bulgaria?
Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Bulgaria was 106.9 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 685.6 Thousand persons in 2001.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 106.9 Thousand persons in 2025.
How does Bulgaria rank for unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation?
Bulgaria ranks 31st out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-citizenship-and-degree-of-urbanisation/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by citizenship and degree of urbanisation
Unit
Thousand persons
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 1,284 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed