Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 10.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male 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 male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria is 10.6%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.4% on the previous year and down 50.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria peaked at 42.2% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 2019.
That places Bulgaria 107th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 24.2% | — |
| 1992 | 33.1% | +37.0% |
| 1993 | 35.5% | +7.2% |
| 1994 | 27.8% | -21.7% |
| 1995 | 24.2% | -12.9% |
| 1996 | 27.4% | +13.1% |
| 1997 | 29.7% | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 27.0% | -9.3% |
| 1999 | 30.0% | +11.3% |
| 2000 | 35.7% | +18.8% |
| 2001 | 42.2% | +18.4% |
| 2002 | 38.8% | -8.1% |
| 2003 | 29.3% | -24.5% |
| 2004 | 25.0% | -14.7% |
| 2005 | 23.4% | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 19.0% | -18.9% |
| 2007 | 14.5% | -23.3% |
| 2008 | 13.8% | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 17.9% | +29.6% |
| 2010 | 23.2% | +29.7% |
| 2011 | 26.0% | +12.0% |
| 2012 | 29.5% | +13.4% |
| 2013 | 30.2% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 23.8% | -21.2% |
| 2015 | 21.2% | -10.7% |
| 2016 | 17.4% | -18.0% |
| 2017 | 13.2% | -24.0% |
| 2018 | 13.2% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 9.2% | -30.3% |
| 2020 | 14.5% | +57.8% |
| 2021 | 16.1% | +10.9% |
| 2022 | 10.7% | -33.3% |
| 2023 | 12.7% | +18.5% |
| 2024 | 13.0% | +2.0% |
| 2025 | 10.6% | -18.4% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 10.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 76% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 10.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.0%, 70% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.8% | 24.2% | 35.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.0% | 13.8% | 42.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.7% | 9.2% | 30.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.9% | 10.6% | 16.1% | 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 male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria was 10.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 42.2% in 2001.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 2019.
- How does Bulgaria rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Bulgaria ranks 107th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.2%. 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 male (% of male 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.