Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) was 11.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, 1997–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria is 11.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and down 47.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria peaked at 35.4% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 8.2%, in 2019.
That places Bulgaria 97th out of 157 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 31.9% | — |
| 2000 | 29.6% | -7.2% |
| 2001 | 35.4% | +19.6% |
| 2002 | 31.5% | -11.1% |
| 2003 | 24.1% | -23.6% |
| 2004 | 23.8% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 21.0% | -11.5% |
| 2006 | 20.3% | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | -21.4% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | -28.7% |
| 2009 | 13.8% | +21.6% |
| 2010 | 20.1% | +45.4% |
| 2011 | 23.6% | +17.5% |
| 2012 | 26.0% | +10.1% |
| 2013 | 25.7% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 23.7% | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 22.3% | -6.3% |
| 2016 | 16.9% | -24.0% |
| 2017 | 12.4% | -26.4% |
| 2018 | 11.9% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | -31.0% |
| 2020 | 13.7% | +66.8% |
| 2021 | 15.1% | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 10.4% | -31.4% |
| 2023 | 11.1% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | 11.7% | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 11.8% | +1.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 11.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.6%, 87% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 11.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.4%, 82% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.9% | 31.9% | 31.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 22.7% | 11.4% | 35.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.1% | 8.2% | 26.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.3% | 10.4% | 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 11.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 35.4% 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 97th out of 157 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 47.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth female (% of female labor force ages 15-24) (national 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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.