Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 14.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male 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 male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria is 14.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 9.8% on the previous year and down 34.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria peaked at 42.8% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 2019.
Bulgaria ranks 69th of 157 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 33.7% | — |
| 2000 | 36.1% | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 42.8% | +18.5% |
| 2002 | 39.0% | -8.9% |
| 2003 | 29.4% | -24.5% |
| 2004 | 25.0% | -15.1% |
| 2005 | 23.4% | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 18.9% | -19.1% |
| 2007 | 14.5% | -23.4% |
| 2008 | 13.7% | -5.2% |
| 2009 | 17.8% | +29.5% |
| 2010 | 23.2% | +30.6% |
| 2011 | 26.0% | +12.0% |
| 2012 | 29.5% | +13.5% |
| 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% | -30.1% |
| 2020 | 14.6% | +58.1% |
| 2021 | 16.2% | +10.9% |
| 2022 | 10.8% | -33.4% |
| 2023 | 12.8% | +18.5% |
| 2024 | 12.8% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 14.0% | +9.8% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 14.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 99% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 14.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.3%, 92% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.7% | 33.7% | 33.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 26.0% | 13.7% | 42.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.7% | 9.2% | 30.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.5% | 10.8% | 16.2% | 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 14.0% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 42.8% 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 69th out of 157 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 34.1%. 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 male (% of male 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.