Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 10.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 10.2% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 18.7% on the previous year and down 53.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria peaked at 39.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 2019.
That places Bulgaria 114th 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.6% | — |
| 1992 | 31.0% | +37.0% |
| 1993 | 33.2% | +7.2% |
| 1994 | 26.0% | -21.7% |
| 1995 | 22.7% | -12.9% |
| 1996 | 25.6% | +13.1% |
| 1997 | 27.8% | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 24.9% | -10.4% |
| 1999 | 28.5% | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 33.2% | +16.5% |
| 2001 | 39.1% | +17.7% |
| 2002 | 35.6% | -8.9% |
| 2003 | 27.1% | -24.0% |
| 2004 | 24.5% | -9.5% |
| 2005 | 22.4% | -8.6% |
| 2006 | 19.6% | -12.6% |
| 2007 | 15.2% | -22.4% |
| 2008 | 12.8% | -15.7% |
| 2009 | 16.3% | +27.0% |
| 2010 | 21.9% | +35.0% |
| 2011 | 25.1% | +14.2% |
| 2012 | 28.1% | +12.2% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 23.8% | -16.2% |
| 2015 | 21.7% | -8.9% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | -20.5% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | -24.9% |
| 2018 | 12.7% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 8.8% | -30.8% |
| 2020 | 14.1% | +61.1% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | +11.0% |
| 2022 | 10.6% | -32.6% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | +13.9% |
| 2024 | 12.5% | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 10.2% | -18.7% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 10.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 74% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 10.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.4%, 71% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.9% | 22.6% | 33.2% | 9 |
| 2000s | 24.6% | 12.8% | 39.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.1% | 8.8% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.5% | 10.2% | 15.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 111 Zambia 10.5% compare
- 112 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 10.4% compare
- 113 Eritrea 10.2% compare
- 115 Central African Republic 10.1% compare
- 116 Turkmenistan 10.0% compare
- 117 Saudi Arabia 10.0% 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria was 10.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 39.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.8% in 2019.
- How does Bulgaria rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Bulgaria ranks 114th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 53.1%. 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 total (% of total 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.