Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Unemployment rate of men vs. women was 3.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Bulgaria, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Bulgaria stood at 3.8%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 15.4% on the previous year and down 61.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Bulgaria peaked at 20.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2025.
Bulgaria ranks 121st of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 11.2% | — |
| 1992 | 15.5% | +37.8% |
| 1993 | 16.6% | +7.2% |
| 1994 | 13.0% | -22.0% |
| 1995 | 11.2% | -13.3% |
| 1996 | 12.7% | +12.6% |
| 1997 | 13.9% | +9.6% |
| 1998 | 12.6% | -9.5% |
| 1999 | 14.1% | +11.8% |
| 2000 | 16.6% | +17.8% |
| 2001 | 20.9% | +26.0% |
| 2002 | 18.8% | -10.0% |
| 2003 | 14.2% | -24.4% |
| 2004 | 12.4% | -12.7% |
| 2005 | 10.3% | -17.0% |
| 2006 | 8.6% | -16.0% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | -24.6% |
| 2008 | 5.5% | -16.0% |
| 2009 | 7.0% | +27.4% |
| 2010 | 10.9% | +55.5% |
| 2011 | 12.3% | +12.9% |
| 2012 | 13.5% | +10.3% |
| 2013 | 13.9% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | -11.4% |
| 2015 | 9.8% | -20.6% |
| 2016 | 8.1% | -17.2% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | -21.5% |
| 2018 | 5.7% | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | -21.7% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +20.1% |
| 2021 | 5.4% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 4.3% | -19.3% |
| 2023 | 4.4% | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 4.4% | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 3.8% | -15.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.4% | 11.2% | 16.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 12.1% | 5.5% | 20.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.7% | 4.5% | 13.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 3.8% | 5.4% | 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 unemployment rate of men vs. women in Bulgaria?
- Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Bulgaria was 3.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 20.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2025.
- How does Bulgaria rank for unemployment rate of men vs. women?
- Bulgaria ranks 121st out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate of men vs. women rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate of men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.