Unemployed population — Unemployment in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Unemployed population — Unemployment was 106.85 Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployed population — Unemployment in Bulgaria, 2000–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 106.85 Persons for unemployed population — unemployment in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 16.2% on the previous year and down 65.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployed population — unemployment in Bulgaria peaked at 688.95 Persons in 2001 and was at its lowest, 106.85 Persons, in 2025.
Bulgaria ranks 33rd of 35 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployed population — Unemployment in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 569.05 Persons | — |
| 2001 | 688.95 Persons | +21.1% |
| 2002 | 608.98 Persons | -11.6% |
| 2003 | 449.18 Persons | -26.2% |
| 2004 | 400.05 Persons | -10.9% |
| 2005 | 334.35 Persons | -16.4% |
| 2006 | 305.73 Persons | -8.6% |
| 2007 | 240.22 Persons | -21.4% |
| 2008 | 199.7 Persons | -16.9% |
| 2009 | 238.03 Persons | +19.2% |
| 2010 | 352.35 Persons | +48.0% |
| 2011 | 376.25 Persons | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 410.35 Persons | +9.1% |
| 2013 | 436.27 Persons | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 384.52 Persons | -11.9% |
| 2015 | 305.1 Persons | -20.7% |
| 2016 | 247.28 Persons | -19.0% |
| 2017 | 206.95 Persons | -16.3% |
| 2018 | 173.32 Persons | -16.2% |
| 2019 | 131.75 Persons | -24.0% |
| 2020 | 155.53 Persons | +18.0% |
| 2021 | 156.75 Persons | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 127.25 Persons | -18.8% |
| 2023 | 132.38 Persons | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 127.45 Persons | -3.7% |
| 2025 | 106.85 Persons | -16.2% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 106.85 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 338.16 Persons, 32% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 106.85 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 307.41 Persons, 35% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 403.42 Persons | 199.7 Persons | 688.95 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 302.42 Persons | 131.75 Persons | 436.27 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 134.37 Persons | 106.85 Persons | 156.75 Persons | 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 unemployed population — unemployment in Bulgaria?
- Unemployed population — unemployment in Bulgaria was 106.85 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 688.95 Persons in 2001.
- What is the lowest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 106.85 Persons in 2025.
- How does Bulgaria rank for unemployed population — unemployment?
- Bulgaria ranks 33rd out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployed population — unemployment 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 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployed population — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the 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.