Statistical data

As of 31 December 2023, the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is 110 996.76 sq. km. According to the types of durable land use (specific purpose of use) of the land properties, the largest area is occupied by agricultural areas - 54.5% and forest areas - 33.3% of the total area of the country. Urbanized areas cover nearly 5 279.4 sq. km or 4.8% of the country's territory. The average population density in the country is 58.1 persons per sq. km.

The National Statistical Institute publishes information on the land use distribution in the Republic of Bulgaria as of 31 December 2023, based on spatial data from the cadastral map of the country. The results are available by territorial units for statistical purposes (NUTS) and administrative-territorial units. In addition, information on population density on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is also provided.

In April 2024, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 1.9% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

An increase was reported in all major groups: ‚Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 6.8%, ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 2.3% and ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 1.2%.

The calendar-adjusted turnover rose by 9.9% compared to April 2023.

In April 2024, compared to the same month of 2023, an increase in turnover was registered in the ‚Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 14.8% and in the ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 11.1%. А decrease was reported in the ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’  - by 9.6%.

The total production index in Services of the business economy in March 2024 remained unchanged compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

During March 2024, the production index in Services of the business economy increased by 3.2% compared to the same month of 2023. The data are preliminary and calendar-adjusted.

The preliminary data for 2023, published by NSI, refer to the production and supply of fuels and energy in the country. The following changes are observed compared to the reported data for 2022:

A significant decrease is observed in the indigenous production of brown and lignite coal - 41.0%, which present 97.7% of the total production of solid fuels. For the same period, their deliveries decreased by 43.4%.

The refinery feedstocks, used in the refineries for the production of petroleum products, decreased by 10.8% compared to 2022, as crude oil has the main share of 92.2%. Respectively, a decrease is also observed in the production of petroleum products - by 11.0%. Deliveries of petroleum products in 2023 remain stable, with a minimal increase of 0.4%.

The production of natural gas decreased by 46.0% compared to the previous year, as a decrease is also observed in the deliveries - by 7.1%.

Compared to 2022, a decrease is observed also for the gross production of electricity - by 20.8%. At the same time, the deliveries of electricity keep their level from 2022 with a slight decrease of 1.4%.

The gross production of heat decreases by 3.0% compared to the previous year and deliveries - by 2.7%.

The information is published pursuant to Regulation (EC) 1099/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy statistics.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Energy balances - Energy supply block'.

At the end of March 2024 the number of employees under labour contract and contract according to the Civil Servants Act reached 98.3 thousands. The employees in Central administration were 56.1 thousands (57.1%) and in Territorial administration - 42.2 thousands (42.9%).

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Labour Market'.

For April 2024, revenues of the subsector ‘Central Government’ were reported in the amount of BGN 5 148.2 million and expenditures - BGN 5 138.7 million, and for the subsector ‘Social Security Funds’, the revenues amounted to BGN 3 052.9 million, and the expenditures are BGN 3 092.3 million.

The data of the ‘Central Government’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the subsector, and the data of the ‘Social Security Funds’ subsector - on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund.

The information is published on the basis of Article 3 (2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

EU represented 15.2% of world’s GDP in 2021.

In May 2024, the total business climate indicator increases by 0.6 percentage points compared to the previous month. An improvement of the indicator is observed in the construction, retail trade and service sector, while in the industry a reduction is registered.

The uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch, costs of materials and the insufficient demand continue to be the main obstacles to business development in the sectors.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry fell by 0.1% in April 2024 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 4.5%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 6.1%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.9%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 0.8% in April 2024 compared to March 2024. The domestic prices went down in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 4.1%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 4.9%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.4%.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 6.6% in April 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. There was a considerable decrease in prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 28.3%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 8.2%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.6%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 10.6% compared to April 2023. A drop was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 28.4%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 2.8%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.1%.

In March 2024, compared to February 2024, an increase is reported in the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 60.0%, transport diesel - by 21.9%, solid fuels - by 16.9%, electricity - by 3.8%, and motor gasoline - by 2.9%. A decrease is not reported for the production of any of the products. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 60.0%, transport diesel - by 54.5%, and motor gasoline - by 30.9%. A decrease is reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 41.6%, and electricity - by 10.8%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

In March 2024, compared to February 2024, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 20.1%, solid fuels - by 16.3%, natural gas - by 9.6%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 8.3%, and electricity - by 0.2%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of motor gasoline - by 28%.

Compared to the same month of 2023, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 31.1%, motor gasoline - by 5.9%, and natural gas - by 5.4%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 34.2%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 9.3%, and electricity - by 2.2%.