Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 9.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria is 9.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 19.3% on the previous year and down 57.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria peaked at 35.3% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 2019.
Bulgaria ranks 126th of 187 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, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 20.3% | — |
| 1992 | 27.9% | +37.2% |
| 1993 | 29.9% | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 23.5% | -21.7% |
| 1995 | 20.4% | -12.9% |
| 1996 | 23.1% | +13.1% |
| 1997 | 25.1% | +8.7% |
| 1998 | 21.9% | -12.5% |
| 1999 | 26.3% | +19.7% |
| 2000 | 29.6% | +12.6% |
| 2001 | 35.3% | +19.6% |
| 2002 | 31.5% | -10.9% |
| 2003 | 24.0% | -23.7% |
| 2004 | 23.8% | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 21.1% | -11.5% |
| 2006 | 20.4% | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 16.0% | -21.4% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | -28.8% |
| 2009 | 13.9% | +21.6% |
| 2010 | 20.1% | +45.2% |
| 2011 | 23.6% | +17.5% |
| 2012 | 26.0% | +10.0% |
| 2013 | 25.7% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 23.7% | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 22.3% | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 16.9% | -24.1% |
| 2017 | 12.4% | -26.4% |
| 2018 | 11.9% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | -31.2% |
| 2020 | 13.6% | +66.5% |
| 2021 | 15.1% | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 10.3% | -31.3% |
| 2023 | 11.1% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | 11.7% | +5.5% |
| 2025 | 9.4% | -19.3% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 9.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.1%, 72% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 9.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.3%, 66% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 24.3% | 20.3% | 29.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 22.7% | 11.4% | 35.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.1% | 8.2% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.9% | 9.4% | 15.1% | 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, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria?
- Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria was 9.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 35.3% in 2001.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.2% in 2019.
- How does Bulgaria rank for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24)?
- Bulgaria ranks 126th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.