Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) was 3.12 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
3.12
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
143rd
of 188 countries
All-time high
19.92
in 2001
All-time low
3.12
in 2027
Years of data
37
1991–2027

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Bulgaria, 1991–2027

51015201991200920271991: 11.11992: 15.31993: 16.41994: 12.81995: 11.11996: 12.51997: 13.71998: 12.21999: 14.12000: 16.22001: 19.92002: 18.12003: 13.72004: 122005: 10.12006: 92007: 6.92008: 5.62009: 6.82010: 10.32011: 11.32012: 12.32013: 12.92014: 11.42015: 9.12016: 7.62017: 6.22018: 5.22019: 4.12020: 52021: 5.22022: 4.12023: 4.32024: 4.22025: 3.52026: 3.22027: 3.1

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2027, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Bulgaria stood at 3.12. That is the lowest value across all 37 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 49.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Bulgaria peaked at 19.92 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 3.12, in 2027.

Bulgaria ranks 143rd of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.

Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) in Bulgaria, 1991 to 2027.
Year Value Change
1991 11.1
1992 15.3 +37.8%
1993 16.4 +7.2%
1994 12.8 -22.0%
1995 11.1 -13.3%
1996 12.5 +12.6%
1997 13.7 +9.6%
1998 12.2 -10.9%
1999 14.1 +15.6%
2000 16.22 +15.0%
2001 19.92 +22.8%
2002 18.11 -9.1%
2003 13.73 -24.2%
2004 12.04 -12.3%
2005 10.08 -16.2%
2006 8.95 -11.2%
2007 6.88 -23.2%
2008 5.61 -18.5%
2009 6.82 +21.5%
2010 10.28 +50.8%
2011 11.26 +9.5%
2012 12.27 +9.0%
2013 12.94 +5.5%
2014 11.42 -11.7%
2015 9.14 -20.0%
2016 7.58 -17.1%
2017 6.16 -18.6%
2018 5.21 -15.5%
2019 4.15 -20.4%
2020 5.04 +21.4%
2021 5.17 +2.6%
2022 4.15 -19.7%
2023 4.32 +4.1%
2024 4.2 -2.8%
2025 3.54 -15.8%
2026 3.21 -9.1%
2027 3.12 -3.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 13.24 11.1 16.4 9
2000s 11.84 5.61 19.92 10
2010s 9.04 4.15 12.94 10
2020s 4.09 3.12 5.17 8

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 140 Israel 3.15 compare
  2. 141 El Salvador 3.14 compare
  3. 142 Ghana 3.13 compare
  4. 144 Belarus 3.05 compare
  5. 145 Singapore 3.02 compare
  6. 146 Madagascar 3.02 compare

See the full ranking of 276 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Bulgaria?
Unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) in Bulgaria was 3.12 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 19.92 in 2001.
What is the lowest unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 3.12 in 2027.
How does Bulgaria rank for unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates)?
Bulgaria ranks 143rd out of 188 countries with data for 2027.
Is unemployment rate (ilo modelled estimates) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 49.4%. 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 rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
276 places, 10,188 data points, 1991–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. 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. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.