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Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Europe GEC: BU ISO: BG

Key Economic Indicators

GDP (PPP)
$270.34 billion
GDP Per Capita
$41,969
GDP Growth Rate
3.39%
Inflation Rate
2.45%
Unemployment
3.54%
GDP (Nominal)
$112.212 billion (2024 est.)
Public Debt
<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP
Current Account
$-1,741,000,000

Economic Overview

<p>upper-middle-income EU economy; currency pegged to the euro, with eurozone accession pending; declining energy prices helping lower inflation rate; EU structural funds contributing to investment recovery; skilled labor shortage driven by emigration and aging population</p>

All Economic Data

Agricultural products
wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, barley, milk, rapeseed, grapes, potatoes, triticale, tomatoes (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Average household expenditures
On alcohol and tobacco: 4.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On food: 20.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget
Expenditures: $37.546 billion (2023 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $35.615 billion (2023 est.)
Currency
code: BGN
name: Bulgarian lev (BGN) [лв]
Current account balance
$-1,741,000,000
Current account balance 2022: -$2.43 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$894.86 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: -$2.014 billion (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
$47.21 billion
Debt - external 2022: $14.277 billion (2022 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
Currency: leva (BGN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 1.716 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 1.654 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 1.86 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 1.809 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 1.808 (2024 est.)
Exports
$63.89 billion
Exports 2022: $63.246 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $63.415 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $62.661 billion (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, garments, refined copper, wheat, natural gas (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
Germany 14%, Romania 11%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Foreign direct investment
net inflows: $3.55 billion
GDP - composition, by end use
Exports of goods and services: 55.8% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 19.7% (2024 est.)
Household consumption: 57.6% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -53.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Industry: 22.5% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 62.6% (2024 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$112.212 billion (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP per capita (nominal)
$17,596
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
41.3 (2018)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 38.2 (2022 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
GNI (gross national income)
$107.61 billion
GNI per capita
$15,370
Gross domestic investment
20 % of GDP
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10%: 30.1% (2022 est.)
Lowest 10%: 2.1% (2022 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports
$61.04 billion
Imports 2022: $62.261 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $59.158 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $60.029 billion (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, copper ore, cars, packaged medicine, electricity (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
Germany 12%, Turkey 8%, Romania 8%, Russia 7%, Italy 6% (2023)
note: <b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
1.9% (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, automotive parts, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel; outsourcing centers
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.45%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 15.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
3.124 million (2024 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 3.07 million persons
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 4.69%
industry: 27.88%
services: 67.43%
Population below poverty line
20.6% (2022 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt
Note: <b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023: 30.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$270.34 billion
Note: <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $209.683 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $213.64 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $219.645 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
3.39%
Note: <b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$41,969
Note: <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $32,400 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $33,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $34,100 (2024 est.)
Remittances
$2.64 billion
Note: <b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$43.7 billion
Note: <b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $40.989 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $46.334 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $43.698 billion (2024 est.)
Revenue (excl grants)
35 % of GDP
Tax revenue
21 % of GDP
Taxes and other revenues
20.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: <b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Unemployment rate
3.54%
Note: <b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
Female: 11.8% (2024 est.)
Male: 12.4% (2024 est.)
Note: <b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 12.1% (2024 est.)
Map of Bulgaria

Economic Rankings

External Debt #30
Inflation Rate #37
Reserves #44
GDP per Capita #52
Gini Index #58
Exports #60
Imports #61
GDP (Nominal) #68
GDP (PPP) #69
Unemployment Rate #119
GDP Growth Rate #134

Quick Facts

Industries
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, automotive parts, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel; outsourcing centers
Agricultural products
wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, barley, milk, rapeseed, grapes, potatoes, triticale, tomatoes (2023)
Labor force
3.124 million (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 14%, Romania 11%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
Germany 12%, Turkey 8%, Romania 8%, Russia 7%, Italy 6% (2023)
Exchange rates
leva (BGN) per US dollar -

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