Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 127.45 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
127.45
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
56th
of 78 countries
All-time high
436.26
in 2013
All-time low
127.45
in 2024
Years of data
15
2006–2024

Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria, 2006–2024

1002003004002006201520242006: 305.72007: 240.22008: 199.72009: 2382010: 352.32011: 376.22012: 410.32013: 436.32014: 384.52017: 206.92018: 173.32020: 155.52021: 292.62023: 132.42024: 127.4

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Bulgaria recorded 127.45 for unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 66.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria peaked at 436.26 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 127.45, in 2024.

Bulgaria ranks 56th of 78 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.

Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Bulgaria, 2006 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2006 305.73
2007 240.23 -21.4%
2008 199.72 -16.9%
2009 238.01 +19.2%
2010 352.34 +48.0%
2011 376.23 +6.8%
2012 410.35 +9.1%
2013 436.26 +6.3%
2014 384.51 -11.9%
2017 206.95 -46.2%
2018 173.33 -16.2%
2020 155.53 -10.3%
2021 292.64 +88.2%
2023 132.36 -54.8%
2024 127.45 -3.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 245.92 199.72 305.73 4
2010s 334.28 173.33 436.26 7
2020s 177 127.45 292.64 4

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 53 Ireland 137.16 compare
  2. 54 Norway 136.32 compare
  3. 55 Israel 130.34 compare
  4. 57 Albania 108.25 compare
  5. 58 Lithuania 107.83 compare
  6. 59 New Zealand 96.6 compare

See the full ranking of 78 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria?
Unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria was 127.45 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 436.26 in 2013.
What is the lowest unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 127.45 in 2024.
How does Bulgaria rank for unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
Bulgaria ranks 56th out of 78 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 66.9%. 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 Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
78 places, 1,366 data points, 1987–2025
Last refreshed

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. For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.