Male unemployment — all countries

Male unemployment — Bulgaria

Male unemployment in Bulgaria in 2025 — 3.75%. Ranked 66 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 7.5 pp.

2025 3.75% −0.68 pp vs 2024
World rank 66of 182
Period maximum 20.86%2001
Period minimum 3.75%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of male labor force

Male unemployment — Bulgaria, 1991–2025010203019911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 11.25%1992: 15.51%1993: 16.62%1994: 12.97%1995: 11.25%1996: 12.67%1997: 13.88%1998: 12.57%1999: 14.05%2000: 16.56%2001: 20.86%2002: 18.77%2003: 14.2%2004: 12.4%2005: 10.3%2006: 8.65%2007: 6.52%2008: 5.48%2009: 6.98%2010: 10.86%2011: 12.26%2012: 13.52%2013: 13.9%2014: 12.31%2015: 9.78%2016: 8.1%2017: 6.35%2018: 5.69%2019: 4.45%2020: 5.35%2021: 5.38%2022: 4.34%2023: 4.41%2024: 4.44%2025: 3.75%
Change over the period: −7.5 pp Annual average: -0.22 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Bulgaria

Bulgaria 3.75%
World 4.69%
Eastern Europe computed 2.77%
Male unemployment — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 3.75 −0.68 pp
2024 4.44 +0.03 pp
2023 4.41 +0.07 pp
2022 4.34 −1.04 pp
2021 5.38 +0.03 pp
2020 5.35 +0.9 pp
2019 4.45 −1.24 pp
2018 5.69 −0.66 pp
2017 6.35 −1.74 pp
2016 8.1 −1.68 pp
2015 9.78 −2.53 pp
2014 12.31 −1.59 pp
2013 13.9 +0.38 pp
2012 13.52 +1.26 pp
2011 12.26 +1.41 pp
2010 10.86 +3.87 pp
2009 6.98 +1.5 pp
2008 5.48 −1.04 pp
2007 6.52 −2.13 pp
2006 8.65 −1.65 pp
2005 10.3 −2.1 pp
2004 12.4 −1.8 pp
2003 14.2 −4.57 pp
2002 18.77 −2.09 pp
2001 20.86 +4.3 pp
2000 16.56 +2.51 pp
1999 14.05 +1.49 pp
1998 12.57 −1.32 pp
1997 13.88 +1.22 pp
1996 12.67 +1.42 pp
1995 11.25 −1.72 pp
1994 12.97 −3.65 pp
1993 16.62 +1.12 pp
1992 15.51 +4.26 pp
1991 11.25

Eastern Europe, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

The share of the male labor force that is unemployed. The gap between the sexes shows up only when this series is compared with the female one, and it is not universal — in Southern Europe and Latin America female unemployment is markedly higher, while in a number of countries of Eastern Europe and Africa male unemployment is higher, because men work in industries sensitive to a downturn.

Important: The denominator is the male labor force, not the whole male population: men who neither work nor look for work are not in it.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.