Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 4.17 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
4.17
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
60th
of 78 countries
All-time high
12.94
in 2013
All-time low
4.17
in 2024
Years of data
15
2006–2024

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

46810122006201520242006: 92007: 6.92008: 5.62009: 6.82010: 10.32011: 11.32012: 12.32013: 12.92014: 11.42017: 6.22018: 5.22020: 52021: 9.92023: 4.32024: 4.2

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

In 2024, unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria stood at 4.17. That is the lowest value across all 15 years on record.

That represents a change of down 3.6% on the previous year and down 63.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria peaked at 12.94 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 4.17, in 2024.

Bulgaria ranks 60th of 78 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Bulgaria, 2006 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2006 8.95
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%
2017 6.16 -46.0%
2018 5.21 -15.5%
2020 5.04 -3.3%
2021 9.91 +96.7%
2023 4.32 -56.4%
2024 4.17 -3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7.06 5.61 8.95 4
2010s 9.94 5.21 12.94 7
2020s 5.86 4.17 9.91 4

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 57 Cyprus 4.35 compare
  2. 58 United States of America 4.28 compare
  3. 59 Australia 4.17 compare
  4. 61 Trinidad and Tobago 4.01 compare
  5. 62 Ghana 3.97 compare
  6. 63 Belize 3.88 compare

See the full ranking of 78 places →

More work & labour data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria?
Unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Bulgaria was 4.17 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 12.94 in 2013.
What is the lowest unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 4.17 in 2024.
How does Bulgaria rank for unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
Bulgaria ranks 60th out of 78 countries with data for 2024.
Is unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 63.5%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-rate-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
78 places, 1,367 data points, 1987–2025
Last refreshed

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 International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.