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Container freight train passing an industrial area in Bulgaria

Investor guides

Bulgaria's Economy in Charts

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.

Growth

Real GDP growth

% change on previous year

Bulgaria, 2025
3.1%
EU average, 2025
1.4%

Change in the volume of goods and services produced, after inflation.

Source: Eurostat (tec00115), updated 10 Oct 2026

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Real GDP growth, % change on previous year
YearBulgariaEU average
20253.1%1.4%
20243.4%1.3%
20231.7%0.4%
20224.1%3.6%
20217.8%6.4%
2020−3.1%−5.5%
20193.8%1.9%
20182.3%2.1%
20172.7%2.8%
20163.0%1.9%
20153.4%2.4%
20140.9%1.6%
Bulgaria, 2025
68

Output per person adjusted for price levels; how fast Bulgaria is catching up with the EU average.

Source: Eurostat (tec00114), updated 10 Jul 2026

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GDP per person in purchasing power, EU average = 100
YearBulgaria
202568
202466
202363
202262
202159
202057
201955
201853
201752
201651
201549
201448

Prices

Inflation

% change in consumer prices (HICP), annual average

Bulgaria, 2025
3.5%
EU average, 2025
2.5%

Source: Eurostat (prc_hicp_aind), updated 7 Feb 2026

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Inflation, % change in consumer prices (HICP), annual average
YearBulgariaEU average
20253.5%2.5%
20242.6%2.6%
20238.6%6.4%
202213.0%9.2%
20212.8%2.9%
20201.2%0.7%
20192.5%1.4%
20182.6%1.8%
20171.2%1.6%
2016−1.3%0.2%
2015−1.1%0.1%
2014−1.6%0.4%
20130.4%1.3%
20122.4%2.6%
20113.4%2.9%
20103.0%1.8%
20092.5%0.8%
200812.0%3.7%

House prices

% change on previous year

Bulgaria, 2025
14.6%
EU average, 2025
5.5%

All dwellings bought by households, new and existing.

Source: Eurostat (prc_hpi_a), updated 1 Oct 2026

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House prices, % change on previous year
YearBulgariaEU average
202514.6%5.5%
202416.5%3.4%
20239.9%−0.3%
202213.8%8.0%
20218.7%8.4%
20204.6%5.6%
20196.0%4.9%
20186.6%5.0%
20178.7%4.8%
20167.0%4.3%
20152.8%2.3%
20141.4%0.7%
2013−2.2%−1.7%
2012−1.9%−2.1%
2011−5.5%0.6%
2010−10.2%0.5%

Labour

Labour cost per hour

EUR per hour worked

Bulgaria, 2025
€12.0
EU average, 2025
€34.9

Wages plus employer social contributions, whole economy except agriculture and public administration.

Source: Eurostat (lc_lci_lev), updated 24 Apr 2026

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Labour cost per hour, EUR per hour worked
YearBulgariaEU 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

Monthly minimum wage

EUR per month

Bulgaria, 2026
€620

Source: Eurostat (earn_mw_cur), updated 31 Jul 2026

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Monthly minimum wage, EUR per month
YearBulgaria
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

Unemployment rate

% of the labour force aged 15–74

Bulgaria, 2025
3.5%
EU average, 2025
6.0%

Source: Eurostat (une_rt_a), updated 11 Sep 2026

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Unemployment rate, % of the labour force aged 15–74
YearBulgariaEU average
20253.5%6.0%
20244.2%6.0%
20234.3%6.1%
20224.2%6.2%
20215.2%7.1%
20206.1%7.2%
20195.2%6.8%
20186.2%7.4%
20177.2%8.3%
20168.6%9.3%
201510.1%10.2%
201412.4%11.0%
201313.9%11.6%
201213.3%11.1%
201112.3%10.1%
201011.3%10.1%
20097.9%9.3%

Employment rate

% of people aged 20–64 in work

Bulgaria, 2025
77.0%
EU average, 2025
76.1%

Source: Eurostat (lfsi_emp_a), updated 11 Sep 2026

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Employment rate, % of people aged 20–64 in work
YearBulgariaEU average
202577.0%76.1%
202476.8%75.7%
202376.2%75.3%
202275.9%74.6%
202173.3%73.0%
202072.7%71.7%
201974.3%72.7%
201871.7%71.9%
201770.6%70.9%
201667.0%69.6%
201566.5%68.5%
201464.4%67.5%
201362.9%66.7%
201262.4%66.9%
201162.3%67.1%
201064.1%67.0%
200968.2%67.3%

Trade and investment

Foreign direct investment into Bulgaria

EUR million, net inflows in the year

Bulgaria, 2024
€2.8bn

Direct investment liabilities: new equity, reinvested earnings and loans from foreign parent companies.

Source: Eurostat (bop_fdi6_flow), updated 4 Aug 2026

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Foreign direct investment into Bulgaria, EUR million, net inflows in the year
YearBulgaria
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

Exports and imports of goods and services

EUR million, current prices

Exports, 2025
€58.9bn
Imports, 2025
€60.1bn

Source: Eurostat (nama_10_gdp), updated 10 Oct 2026

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Exports and imports of goods and services, EUR million, current prices
YearExportsImports
2025€58.9bn€60.1bn
2024€59.1bn€56.4bn
2023€58.6bn€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
Bulgaria, 2025
−6.1%

Source: Eurostat (tipsbp20), updated 2 Oct 2026

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Current account balance, % of GDP
YearBulgaria
2025−6.1%
2024−0.7%
2023−0.9%
2022−1.4%
20210.2%
20201.6%
20191.7%
20180.7%
20173.2%
20163.0%
20150.0%
20142.1%
20131.3%
2012−0.8%
20110.3%
2010−1.7%
2009−8.3%
2008−22.0%

Public finances

Government debt

% of GDP

Bulgaria, 2025
29.9%
EU average, 2025
81.7%

Source: Eurostat (gov_10dd_edpt1), updated 22 Apr 2026

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Government debt, % of GDP
YearBulgariaEU average
202529.9%81.7%
202423.8%80.7%
202322.9%80.5%
202222.5%82.4%
202123.8%86.7%
202024.5%89.5%
201920.1%77.5%
201822.2%79.5%
201725.1%81.5%
201629.1%84.1%
201525.9%85.1%
201427.0%86.9%
201317.0%86.8%
201216.6%85.0%
201115.2%81.7%
201015.3%80.4%
200913.7%75.7%
200813.0%65.1%

Budget balance

% of GDP

Bulgaria, 2025
−3.5%
EU average, 2025
−3.1%

Government surplus (+) or deficit (−).

Source: Eurostat (gov_10dd_edpt1), updated 22 Apr 2026

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Budget balance, % of GDP
YearBulgariaEU average
2025−3.5%−3.1%
2024−3.0%−3.1%
2023−2.0%−3.4%
2022−2.9%−3.2%
2021−4.0%−4.6%
2020−3.8%−6.7%
20192.2%−0.5%
20181.7%−0.4%
20171.6%−0.9%
20160.3%−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%
20081.4%−2.1%

Tax revenue

% of GDP, including social contributions

Bulgaria, 2024
30.5%
EU average, 2024
40.3%

Source: Eurostat (gov_10a_taxag), updated 21 Jul 2026

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Tax revenue, % of GDP, including social contributions
YearBulgariaEU average
202430.5%40.3%
202330.0%39.9%
202231.1%40.7%
202130.7%41.2%
202030.4%41.1%
201930.5%41.0%
201829.8%41.1%
201729.8%41.0%
201629.2%41.0%
201528.9%40.8%
201428.4%41.0%
201328.1%41.0%
201226.1%40.4%
201125.5%39.4%
201025.4%39.0%
200926.7%39.2%
200830.6%39.5%

All figures are from Eurostat, the EU's statistics office, and the latest year can be revised. Last read from Eurostat on 13 October 2026. Information only, not investment advice.