Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 13.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, 1997–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria stood at 13.1%.
The figure is up 6.1% on the previous year and down 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria peaked at 39.3% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 8.8%, in 2019.
Bulgaria ranks 88th of 160 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 32.9% | — |
| 2000 | 33.3% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 39.3% | +17.8% |
| 2002 | 35.6% | -9.3% |
| 2003 | 27.1% | -24.0% |
| 2004 | 24.5% | -9.6% |
| 2005 | 22.3% | -8.7% |
| 2006 | 19.5% | -12.7% |
| 2007 | 15.1% | -22.5% |
| 2008 | 12.7% | -15.8% |
| 2009 | 16.2% | +26.9% |
| 2010 | 21.9% | +35.7% |
| 2011 | 25.0% | +14.2% |
| 2012 | 28.1% | +12.3% |
| 2013 | 28.4% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 23.8% | -16.2% |
| 2015 | 21.6% | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | -20.4% |
| 2017 | 12.9% | -24.9% |
| 2018 | 12.7% | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 8.8% | -30.5% |
| 2020 | 14.2% | +61.4% |
| 2021 | 15.8% | +11.0% |
| 2022 | 10.6% | -32.7% |
| 2023 | 12.1% | +13.9% |
| 2024 | 12.3% | +2.1% |
| 2025 | 13.1% | +6.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 13.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 94% of the median. (70 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 13.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.2%, 86% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 32.9% | 32.9% | 32.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 24.6% | 12.7% | 39.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.0% | 8.8% | 28.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.0% | 10.6% | 15.8% | 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Bulgaria was 13.1% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 39.3% 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 88th out of 160 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 39.5%. 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 total (% of total 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.