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Investor guides
The figures investors ask about most, compared with the EU average where Eurostat publishes one. They are read automatically from Eurostat, so they stay current.
What the figures mean for investors: Bulgarian Economy and GDP Growth.
% change on previous year
Change in the volume of goods and services produced, after inflation.
Source: Eurostat (tec00115), updated 23 Oct 2026
| Year | Bulgaria | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.0% | 1.4% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | 1.4% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | 0.4% |
| 2022 | 3.3% | 3.6% |
| 2021 | 6.1% | 6.4% |
| 2020 | −2.5% | −5.5% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | 1.9% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | 2.1% |
| 2017 | 2.7% | 2.9% |
| 2016 | 3.0% | 2.0% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | 2.4% |
| 2014 | 0.9% | 1.6% |
EU average = 100
Output per person adjusted for price levels; how fast Bulgaria is catching up with the EU average.
Source: Eurostat (tec00114), updated 10 Jul 2026
| Year | Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 68 |
| 2024 | 66 |
| 2023 | 63 |
| 2022 | 62 |
| 2021 | 59 |
| 2020 | 57 |
| 2019 | 55 |
| 2018 | 53 |
| 2017 | 52 |
| 2016 | 51 |
| 2015 | 49 |
| 2014 | 48 |
% change in consumer prices (HICP), annual average
Source: Eurostat (prc_hicp_aind), updated 7 Feb 2026
| Year | Bulgaria | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.5% | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | 2.6% |
| 2023 | 8.6% | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 13.0% | 9.2% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | 2.9% |
| 2020 | 1.2% | 0.7% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | 1.4% |
| 2018 | 2.6% | 1.8% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | 1.6% |
| 2016 | −1.3% | 0.2% |
| 2015 | −1.1% | 0.1% |
| 2014 | −1.6% | 0.4% |
| 2013 | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| 2012 | 2.4% | 2.6% |
| 2011 | 3.4% | 2.9% |
| 2010 | 3.0% | 1.8% |
| 2009 | 2.5% | 0.8% |
| 2008 | 12.0% | 3.7% |
% change on previous year
All dwellings bought by households, new and existing.
Source: Eurostat (prc_hpi_a), updated 1 Oct 2026
| Year | Bulgaria | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14.6% | 5.5% |
| 2024 | 16.5% | 3.4% |
| 2023 | 9.9% | −0.3% |
| 2022 | 13.8% | 8.0% |
| 2021 | 8.7% | 8.4% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2019 | 6.0% | 4.9% |
| 2018 | 6.6% | 5.0% |
| 2017 | 8.7% | 4.8% |
| 2016 | 7.0% | 4.3% |
| 2015 | 2.8% | 2.3% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | 0.7% |
| 2013 | −2.2% | −1.7% |
| 2012 | −1.9% | −2.1% |
| 2011 | −5.5% | 0.6% |
| 2010 | −10.2% | 0.5% |
EUR per hour worked
Wages plus employer social contributions, whole economy except agriculture and public administration.
Source: Eurostat (lc_lci_lev), updated 24 Apr 2026
| Year | Bulgaria | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | €12.0 | €34.9 |
| 2024 | €10.6 | €33.5 |
| 2023 | €9.3 | €31.9 |
| 2022 | €8.2 | €30.2 |
| 2021 | €7.1 | €28.8 |
| 2020 | €6.6 | €28.4 |
| 2016 | €4.5 | €25.6 |
| 2012 | €3.4 | €24.4 |
| 2008 | €2.6 | €21.6 |
EUR per month
Source: Eurostat (earn_mw_cur), updated 31 Jul 2026
| Year | Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| 2026 | €620 |
| 2025 | €551 |
| 2024 | €477 |
| 2023 | €399 |
| 2022 | €332 |
| 2021 | €332 |
| 2020 | €312 |
| 2019 | €286 |
| 2018 | €261 |
| 2017 | €235 |
| 2016 | €215 |
| 2015 | €184 |
| 2014 | €174 |
| 2013 | €159 |
| 2012 | €138 |
| 2011 | €123 |
| 2010 | €123 |
% of the labour force aged 15–74
Source: Eurostat (une_rt_a), updated 27 Oct 2026
| Year | Bulgaria | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.5% | 6.0% |
| 2024 | 4.2% | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | 6.1% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | 6.2% |
| 2021 | 5.2% | 7.1% |
| 2020 | 6.1% | 7.2% |
| 2019 | 5.2% | 6.8% |
| 2018 | 6.2% | 7.4% |
| 2017 | 7.2% | 8.3% |
| 2016 | 8.6% | 9.3% |
| 2015 | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 2014 | 12.4% | 11.0% |
| 2013 | 13.9% | 11.6% |
| 2012 | 13.3% | 11.1% |
| 2011 | 12.3% | 10.1% |
| 2010 | 11.3% | 10.1% |
| 2009 | 7.9% | 9.3% |
% of people aged 20–64 in work
Source: Eurostat (lfsi_emp_a), updated 27 Oct 2026
| Year | Bulgaria | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 77.0% | 76.1% |
| 2024 | 76.8% | 75.7% |
| 2023 | 76.2% | 75.3% |
| 2022 | 75.9% | 74.6% |
| 2021 | 73.3% | 73.0% |
| 2020 | 72.7% | 71.7% |
| 2019 | 74.3% | 72.7% |
| 2018 | 71.7% | 71.9% |
| 2017 | 70.6% | 70.9% |
| 2016 | 67.0% | 69.6% |
| 2015 | 66.5% | 68.5% |
| 2014 | 64.4% | 67.5% |
| 2013 | 62.9% | 66.7% |
| 2012 | 62.4% | 66.9% |
| 2011 | 62.3% | 67.1% |
| 2010 | 64.1% | 67.0% |
| 2009 | 68.2% | 67.3% |
EUR million, net inflows in the year
Direct investment liabilities: new equity, reinvested earnings and loans from foreign parent companies.
Source: Eurostat (bop_fdi6_flow), updated 4 Aug 2026
| Year | Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| 2024 | €2.8bn |
| 2023 | €4.6bn |
| 2022 | €4.1bn |
| 2021 | €1.4bn |
| 2020 | €2.8bn |
| 2019 | €1.6bn |
| 2018 | €968m |
| 2017 | €1.6bn |
| 2016 | €940m |
| 2015 | €2.0bn |
| 2014 | €347m |
| 2013 | €1.2bn |
EUR million, current prices
Source: Eurostat (nama_10_gdp), updated 23 Oct 2026
| Year | Exports | Imports |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | €59.3bn | €60.5bn |
| 2024 | €59.6bn | €56.5bn |
| 2023 | €59.2bn | €54.7bn |
| 2022 | €60.2bn | €59.3bn |
| 2021 | €44.1bn | €42.4bn |
| 2020 | €34.9bn | €33.4bn |
| 2019 | €39.3bn | €37.3bn |
| 2018 | €36.9bn | €35.4bn |
| 2017 | €35.2bn | €32.9bn |
| 2016 | €31.1bn | €28.7bn |
| 2015 | €29.2bn | €28.8bn |
| 2014 | €27.8bn | €28.3bn |
| 2013 | €27.2bn | €27.4bn |
| 2012 | €25.5bn | €26.9bn |
| 2011 | €24.4bn | €24.3bn |
| 2010 | €19.2bn | €20.4bn |
| 2009 | €15.8bn | €18.9bn |
| 2008 | €19.5bn | €26.9bn |
% of GDP
Source: Eurostat (tipsbp20), updated 29 Oct 2026
| Year | Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| 2025 | −6.1% |
| 2024 | −0.7% |
| 2023 | −0.9% |
| 2022 | −1.4% |
| 2021 | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 1.6% |
| 2019 | 1.7% |
| 2018 | 0.7% |
| 2017 | 3.2% |
| 2016 | 3.0% |
| 2015 | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | 1.3% |
| 2012 | −0.8% |
| 2011 | 0.3% |
| 2010 | −1.7% |
| 2009 | −8.3% |
| 2008 | −22.0% |
% of GDP
Source: Eurostat (gov_10dd_edpt1), updated 21 Oct 2026
| Year | Bulgaria | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29.9% | 81.5% |
| 2024 | 23.7% | 80.3% |
| 2023 | 22.8% | 80.3% |
| 2022 | 22.4% | 82.3% |
| 2021 | 23.8% | 86.6% |
| 2020 | 24.4% | 89.4% |
| 2019 | 20.1% | 77.4% |
| 2018 | 22.2% | 79.4% |
| 2017 | 25.1% | 81.5% |
| 2016 | 29.1% | 84.0% |
| 2015 | 25.9% | 85.0% |
| 2014 | 27.0% | 86.9% |
| 2013 | 17.0% | 86.8% |
| 2012 | 16.6% | 85.0% |
| 2011 | 15.2% | 81.7% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | 80.4% |
| 2009 | 13.7% | 75.7% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | 65.1% |
% of GDP
Government surplus (+) or deficit (−).
Source: Eurostat (gov_10dd_edpt1), updated 21 Oct 2026
| Year | Bulgaria | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | −4.0% | −3.1% |
| 2024 | −3.0% | −3.1% |
| 2023 | −2.0% | −3.4% |
| 2022 | −2.9% | −3.1% |
| 2021 | −4.0% | −4.6% |
| 2020 | −3.8% | −6.7% |
| 2019 | 2.2% | −0.5% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | −0.4% |
| 2017 | 1.6% | −0.9% |
| 2016 | 0.3% | −1.4% |
| 2015 | −1.9% | −1.9% |
| 2014 | −5.4% | −2.4% |
| 2013 | −0.7% | −3.1% |
| 2012 | −0.8% | −3.7% |
| 2011 | −1.7% | −4.1% |
| 2010 | −3.7% | −6.0% |
| 2009 | −4.4% | −6.1% |
| 2008 | 1.4% | −2.1% |
% of GDP, including social contributions
Source: Eurostat (gov_10a_taxag), updated 28 Oct 2026
| Year | Bulgaria | EU average |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30.6% | 40.7% |
| 2024 | 30.3% | 40.2% |
| 2023 | 29.8% | 39.9% |
| 2022 | 31.0% | 40.6% |
| 2021 | 30.7% | 41.2% |
| 2020 | 30.3% | 41.0% |
| 2019 | 30.5% | 40.9% |
| 2018 | 29.7% | 41.1% |
| 2017 | 29.8% | 41.0% |
| 2016 | 29.2% | 40.9% |
| 2015 | 28.9% | 40.8% |
| 2014 | 28.4% | 41.0% |
| 2013 | 28.1% | 41.0% |
| 2012 | 26.1% | 40.4% |
| 2011 | 25.5% | 39.4% |
| 2010 | 25.4% | 39.0% |
| 2009 | 26.7% | 39.2% |
| 2008 | 30.6% | 39.5% |
All figures are from Eurostat, the EU’s statistics office, and the latest year can be revised. Last read from Eurostat on 3 November 2026. Information only, not investment advice.
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