Yordan Tsonev was born on 5 November 1956 in the village of Karapelit, Varna region.
He completed his higher education with a degree in economics and organization of construction.
Between 1991 and 1995 he served as municipal councillor.
1991 - 1995 - chairman of the commission  for economic, financial and budgetary affairs of the Bourgas municipal council.
1995 - 1997 - president of the boards of managers of commercial companies in the sphere of private business.
1997 - MP in the 38th National Assembly, elected from the UDF list.
Chairman of the Committee on the Matters of Budget, Finance, and Financial Control.
Tsonev was elected member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the UDF at the 11th National Conference of the Party held on 26 February 2000.

2005 - joins the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and wins a seat in the 40 National Assembly.
2009 - elected MP from the MRF, 41 National Assembly.

Married, with one child.