Press releases

In 2023, the total amount of expenditure on research and development activity (R&D) was 1 467.5 million BGN, which was 15.9% more than the previous year. The annual growth tendency is retained for the period 2019 - 2023.  

R&D intensity (R&D expenditure as a percentage of the gross domestic product) amounted to 0.79% and it was 0.04 percentage points higher than in 2022.

Regarding R&D expenditure by fields of science in 2023, as in the previous year, the highest share belonged to the R&D expenditure in engineering and technology sciences - 47.2% (693.5 million BGN), followed by medical and health sciences with a share of 22.3% (326.9 million BGN) and the natural sciences - 18.7% (273.9 million BGN).

In 2023, the personnel engaged in research and development activity amounted to 25 411 persons (in full-time equivalent), which was 6.2% less than the previous year. The share of women in total R&D personnel was 48.6%. The number of researchers in full-time equivalent was 16 357 persons, which was 6.5% less compared to 2022.

In 2023 the Net financial transactions for the total economy are BGN 3 212.56 mln., while the Financial net worth of the total economy is negative and amounts to BGN -14 155.65 mln.

The Annual national financial accounts for Bulgaria are compiled in compliance with the requirements of the European system of national and regional accounts 2010 (ESA 2010).

Data on Annual financial accounts include assets and liabilities for stocks and transactions of financial instruments, broken down by institutional sectors of the economy, as well as balancing items - Financial net worth and Net financial transactions.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Financial national accounts'.

Data on Taxes and social contributions as part of the General Government sector for 2023 have been published. The collected revenues amount to BGN 55 073.94 million. The largest share is domestic Value added tax (VAT) in the amount of BGN 16 280.57 million and the revenues from Mandatory social security contributions (MSCC) in the amount to BGN 15 753.88 million.

Taxes and social contributions as part of the General Government sector are classified in the following main categories: taxes on production and imports, taxes on income and wealth, taxes on capital and Social security contributions. The indicators are presented in accordance with the Europeans System of National Accounts (ESA) 2010 and the Eurostat transmission programme.

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

Non-performing loans of ‘General Government’ Institutional Sector

In 2023, the non-performing loans of General government sector increase to BGN 29.55 million from BGN 29.16 million in 2022. The share of non-performing loans remains the same, amounting to 0.02% of Gross domestic product (GDP).

According to ESA 2010, sector ‘General government’ consist of three sub-sectors: ‘General government’, ‘Local government’ and ‘Social security funds’. The data are published under the requirements of Directive 85/2011 of the EU.

Participation of government in the capital of corporations

In 2023, the Participation of government in the capital of corporations increases to BGN 8.74 million compared to BGN 7.98 million in 2022. This data are derived from the annual reports of enterprises that NSI of Bulgaria collects on the basis of the Law on Statistics. The enterprises are broken down by institutional sectors according to the European system of national and regional accounts (ESA) 2010 into sector S.11 ‘Non-financial enterprises’, sector S.12 ‘Financial enterprises’ and sector S.2 ‘Rest of the world’. For the purposes of this publication, a government enterprise is an enterprise where the government participation in its capital is at least 50%. The data are published under the requirements of Directive 85/2011 of the EU.

Guaranteed Debt of ‘General Government’ Institutional Sector

In 2023 the guaranteed debt of ‘General government’ institutional sector amounts to BGN 696.3 mln. BGN compared to BGN 603.9 mln. BGN for 2022.

The data on guaranteed debt are published under the requirements of Directive 85/2011 of the EU and cover the period 2008 - 2023.

Data are broken down by sub-sectors of General government – ‘Central government’ and ‘Local government’, as well as by individual and standardized guarantees.

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

In 2022, the number of active enterprises in Bulgaria is 394 135, and the newborn enterprises are 39 445. According to the distribution of enterprises by statistical regions and districts, the largest number of active enterprises are located in the territory of the Yugozapaden region - 161 962, as the largest share is concentrated in the district of Sofia (capital) - 30.7%. The number of enterprises in the Severozapaden region is the smallest - 26 453, and Vidin district has the smallest relative share - 0.7%. The distribution of newborn enterprises is similar. The largest number of enterprises was born in the Yugozapaden region - 16 935, and the smallest in the Severozapaden region - 2 476.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Business demography'.

In 2022, the total value of the produced environmental goods and services amounted to 11 252 million BGN, which is 32.3% more compared to 2021 (8 505 million BGN). The output increased the most in the sector of specialized producers of environmental goods and services, which includes sectors „Production and distribution of electrical and thermal energy and gaseous fuels; Water supply; Sewerage services, waste management and recovery“ (sectors D and E) - by 39.8%, and has the largest decrease in the „Construction“ sector (sector F) - by 37.3%. The gross value added of the environmental goods and services sector increases in all economic sectors, from 3 286 million BGN in 2021 to 4 492 million BGN in 2022, with the greatest growth observed again in the sectors „Production and distribution of electricity, heat, and gaseous fuels; Water supply; Sewage services, waste management and recovery“ (sectors D and E) - 2 588 million BGN, or by 45.8% compared to 2021 (1 775 million BGN). The employment in the activities of environmental protection and natural resource management has the largest increase in the „Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries“ sector (sector A) - by 39.8%, and the largest decrease in the „Construction“ sector (sector F) - by 36.5%.

The environmental goods and services sector (EGSS) comprises all sectors of the economy that produce goods and services aimed at environmental protection and resource management. Environmental protection activities include the prevention, reduction, and removal of pollution in nature. Natural resource management activities aim to protect natural resources from depletion. The environmental goods and services sector provides data on output, value-added, exports, and employment, according to the System of Environmental Economic Accounts - Central Framework, which is an international statistical standard for measuring the environment and its relationship with the economy.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Environment', Environmental goods and services.

In October 2024, the total business climate indicator decreases by 5.6 percentage points in comparison with September, as a reduction of the indicator is registered in all observed sectors - industry, construction, retail trade and services.

The most serious problems for the business development in the sectors remain the uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, costs of materials and competition in the branch.

Since July 2024, NSI has started publishing Producer Prices Indices in Industry by base year 2021 = 100 in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council for European Business Statistics and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry fell by 0.8% in September 2024 compared to the previous month. A decrease of 1.8% was registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, as well as in the manufacturing industry - by 0.8%, while the prices in the mining and quarrying industry rose by 2.8%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 0.6% in September 2024 compared to August 2024. The domestic prices fell in the manufacturing industry - by 0.7%, and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 0.6%. In the mining and quarrying industry an increase of 0.2% was reported.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 0.8% in September 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. There was a price reduction in the manufacturing industry - by 2.3%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 13.5%, as well as in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 1.6%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 0.7% in September 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. The prices fell in the manufacturing industry - by 2.8%. A growth was reported in the mining and quarrying industry - by 11.3%, and in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 0.7%.

In August 2024, compared to July 2024, an increase is reported in the production of motor gasoline - by 2.1%. A decrease is reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 16.5%, transport diesel - by 7.0%, and electricity - by 3.6%. There is no change in the production of liquefied petroleum gases and natural gas.

Compared to August 2023, an increase is reported in the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 62.5%, and electricity - by 3.2%. A decrease is reported in the production of: motor gasoline - by 16.4%, solid fuels - by 6.5%, and transport diesel - by 3.8%. There is no change in the production of natural gas. 

In August 2024, compared to July 2024, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: motor gasoline - by 22.8%, natural gas - by 19.5%, and transport diesel - by 8.9%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 25.0%, solid fuels - by 15.2%, and electricity - by 4.5%.

Compared to August 2023, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: natural gas - by 10.2%, transport diesel - by 9.3%, and electricity - by 1.3%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 21.7%, motor gasoline - by 11.4%, and solid fuels - by 6.4%.

In September 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 858.6 thousand, or 5.2% above the registered in September 2023. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered: holiday and recreation - by 10.5%, professional - by 2.7%, and with other purposes - by 0.8%.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 1 261.7 thousand, or 4.6% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered: professional - by 9.2%, holiday and recreation - by 7.1%, and with other purposes - by 1.3%.

Transit passes through the country were 33.0% (417.0 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.