Press releases

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.

According to data from the Household Budget Survey, the annual total income average per capita is 10 846 BGN in 2023, an increase of 20.4% compared to 2022.

Bulgarian households spent an average of 10 044 BGN per capita in 2023, or 19.7% more compared to 2022.

In 2023, there were changes in the consumption of basic food products on average per person compared to 2022. The biggest decrease was in the consumption of bread and paste products and yoghurt. The consumption of meat products, of fruit, of non-alcoholic beverages, and of alcoholic beverages increased.

The purchasing power of households increased for most kinds of food in 2023. The biggest increase in purchasing power is observed for butter, dry beans and bread.

In the first quarter of 2024, the newly registered legal entities in the country were 12 229, and those declared bankrupt - 992. Compared to the same quarter of 2023, the total number of newly registered decreased by 7.4%, and that of bankrupts - by 14.1%.

The distribution by economic sectors shows that the relative share of newly registered legal entities is the largest in sector G ‘Trade; car and motorcycle repair’ - 88.4% of all newly registered units in the second quarter of 2023. Among the companies declaring bankrupt, the largest share is in sector G ‘Trade; repair of cars and motorcycles’ - 78.3% of the total number of bankrupted legal entities.

In March 2024, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.2% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in March 2024 compared to March 2023 was 3.0%.

In March 2024, compared to the previous month, the highest increase was registered for Recreation and culture (+0.9%), Communications (+0.9%) and Transport (+0.8%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Clothing and footwear (-0.6%), Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-0.5%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.1%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.2% and the annual inflation rate was 3.1%.

According to the second estimate of Economic Accounts for Agriculture, the final output of the agricultural 'industry' at basic prices in 2023 amounted to 10.7 billion BGN. Gross value added at basic prices decreased by 28.1% on an annual basis and reached 4.2 billion BGN, and net entrepreneurial income amounted to 1.2 billion BGN.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Economic accounts for agriculture – annual data'.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 9.3% compared to the same period of 2023 and amounted to 4 465.0 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 13.2% and added up to 5 886.5 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports was recorded in the sections ‘Chemical and related products n.e.c.’ (12.9%) and ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (7.9%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (47.6%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (6.2%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (27.1%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 12 808.8 million BGN in the period January - February 2024, which is 11.4% less than the same period of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 15 097.0 million BGN and dropped by 6.8%.

In January 2024, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 17.0% compared to January 2023 and amounted to 4 094.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 0.5% and reached 4 556.7 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU compared to the same month of 2023 was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (38.3%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (54.3%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (252.2%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Chemical and related products n.e.c.’ (18.0%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.