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.
Unemployment rate in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | 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 | 16.2% | +15.0% |
| 2001 | 19.9% | +22.8% |
| 2002 | 18.1% | -9.1% |
| 2003 | 13.7% | -24.2% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | -12.3% |
| 2005 | 10.1% | -16.2% |
| 2006 | 9.0% | -11.2% |
| 2007 | 6.9% | -23.2% |
| 2008 | 5.6% | -18.5% |
| 2009 | 6.8% | +21.5% |
| 2010 | 10.3% | +50.8% |
| 2011 | 11.3% | +9.5% |
| 2012 | 12.3% | +9.0% |
| 2013 | 12.9% | +5.5% |
| 2014 | 11.4% | -11.7% |
| 2015 | 9.1% | -20.0% |
| 2016 | 7.6% | -17.1% |
| 2017 | 6.2% | -18.6% |
| 2018 | 5.2% | -15.5% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | -20.4% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +21.4% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -19.7% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | -2.8% |
| 2025 | 3.5% | -15.8% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 3.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 70% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 3.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 64% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.