Unemployment rate in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Unemployment rate was 3.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate in Bulgaria, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Bulgaria is 3.5%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.8% on the previous year and down 61.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Bulgaria peaked at 19.9% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 2025.
Bulgaria ranks 128th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.2% | 11.1% | 16.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.8% | 5.6% | 19.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.0% | 4.1% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.4% | 3.5% | 5.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 125 Iceland 3.6% compare
- 126 Cameroon 3.6% compare
- 127 North Korea 3.5% compare
- 129 Kyrgyzstan 3.5% compare
- 130 Israel 3.5% compare
- 131 Burkina Faso 3.5% compare
More work & labour data for Bulgaria
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 56.1% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 62.4% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 80.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 50.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 73.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 76.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 69.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Bulgaria?
- Unemployment rate in Bulgaria was 3.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 19.9% in 2001.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 2025.
- How does Bulgaria rank for unemployment rate?
- Bulgaria ranks 128th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.3%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.