Press releases

The main results from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) annual comprehensive surveys characterizing the activity of educational institutions are as follows:

• In 2023/2024 school year in pre-primary education (kindergartens and preparatory groups at schools) were enrolled 216.9 thousand children.
• In 2023, the number of basic education graduates was 63.4 thousand students and the number of upper-secondary education graduates from general and vocational programmes was respectively 24.2 and 15.4 thousand students.
• In 2023/2024 academic year, there were 190.5 thousand students enrolled at the different tertiary education levels (professional bachelor, bachelor and master’s).
• As of 31.12.2023, for acquiring a doctor’s educational and scientific degree in the country 6 095 persons were trained, of whom 651 were non-residents.

In 2023, the average monthly poverty line for the country was 637.92 BGN per person. The number of persons who were below this line was 1 325.9 thousand, representing 20.6% of the population.

The general indicators of poverty assessment include subjective indicators related to material deprivation. They show the subjective assessment and personal attitude of the persons and households related to the possibility to meet individual needs. By 2020, nine questions related to the consumption of specific goods and services were used to assess the material deprivation of households. From 2021, a new indicator of severe material and social deprivation is included which shows the lack of necessary and desirable items for living a worthy life. It is calculated as the share of persons in the population who cannot afford 7 out of 13 items - 6 at the individual level and 7 at the household level. In 2023, 18.0% of the population live in severe material and social deprivation (limitations in 7 out of 13 items) or 0.7 percentage points less compared to 2022.

In relation to the goals set in key areas in strategy ‘Europe 2030’ a combined indicator for regular monitoring of countries’ progress in implementing the national targets is calculated using data from the Survey of Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC). The indicator includes at-risk-of-poverty rate, severe material and social deprivation rate and rate of people living in households with low work intensity. The combining of the three indicators shows that in 2023 30.0% of the population, or 1 933.1 thousand persons, were at-risk-of-poverty or social exclusion.

The number of minors and juveniles registered in the Child pedagogical rooms for anti-social acts and crimes committed in 2023 was 8 520. In comparison with 2022, their number decreased by 106, or by 1.2%.

The number of minors and juveniles new entrants in the Child pedagogical rooms in 2023 was 2 772, and 2 362 persons were removed from the Child pedagogical rooms.

The number of detached crèches and groups in kindergartens functioning in the country as of 31.12.2023 was 835, with 33 373 places in them.

The number of children accommodated in crèches at the end of the year was 30 586. 15 810 of them were boys, and 14 776 - girls.

The total number of places in crèches per 100 children aged up to 3 years as of 31.12.2023 was 19.5, and the coverage of children brought up in crèches - 17.9 per 100 children aged up to 3 years.

The data for the fourth quarter of 2023 have been published for revenues, expenses and deficit/surplus of the ‘General Government’ sector by sub-sectors: sub-sector ‘Central Government’, sub-sector ‘Local Government’ and sub-sector ‘Social Insurance Funds’, in accordance with Article 3 (2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

The data are based on cash reports and trial balances on an accrual basis of the budgetary units, as well as quarterly data on the public enterprises reclassified in the sector.

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

In 2023, the government deficit and debt of the EU increased in relative terms compared to 2022. In the EU, the government deficit to GDP ratio increased from -3.4% in 2022 to -3.5% in 2023. The government debt to GDP ratio in the EU decreased from 83.4% in 2022 to 81.7% at the end of 2023.

In 2023, revenues of the general government sector amounting to BGN 69 696,59 million and expenditures amounting to BGN 73 151,05  million were reported in the preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute.

The data of the "General Government" sector are developed using the reports on the implementation of the consolidated fiscal program provided by the Ministry of Finance, as well as assessments of the government enterprises reclassified in the sector.

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

In the fourth quarter of 2023, revenues of the general government sector amounting to BGN 20 835,12 million and expenditures amounting to BGN 22 035,07 million were reported.

The data of the "General Government" sector are developed using the reports on the implementation of the consolidated fiscal program provided by the Ministry of Finance, as well as assessments of the government enterprises reclassified in the sector.

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

For the fourth quarter of 2023 reported Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) are as follows:

• "Total economy" sector: -504,6  million BGN
• "Rest of the World" sector: 504,6 million BGN

The quarterly non-financial accounts of the "General Government" and the "Rest of the World" sectors present, on the basis of national accounts, the economic activity of the government and non-resident units in a manner comparable to other European countries, according to the European System of National Accounts 2010. For this purpose, tables showing revenues and expenses of the "General Government" and "Rest of the World" sectors are developed.

The "State Government" sector data are derived by using the reports on the implementation of the consolidated fiscal program provided by the Ministry of Finance, as well as estimates of the government units requalified in the sector.

Rest of the World sector data is developed using the Balance of Payments provided by the Bulgarian National Bank, as well as estimates developed by the National Statistical Institute.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the topic 'Non-financial national accounts by institutional sectors'.

In 2023, the General Government Institutional Sector reported a deficit of -3 454 million BGN, or 1.9% of GDP, according to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute.

The Government Debt of Bulgaria for 2023 is 42 383 million BGN, or 23.1% of GDP.