Press releases

In May 2023, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 772.5 thousand, or 5.9% above the registered in May 2022.

The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) in May 2023 composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 43.9%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purpose - 37.1%, and with professional purpose - 19.0%.

In May 2023, the number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 930.5 thousand, or 15.8% more in comparison with May 2022. An increase in the trips with all observed purposes was registered. Transit passes through the country were 36.5% (340.1 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

The total export price index during the first quarter of 2023 by sections of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) is 97.9%, which is a 20.6% percentage points decrease in the index compared to the same period of the previous year.

The total import price index for the reporting period by sections of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) is 99.8%, which is a 16.6% percentage points decrease in the index compared to the same period of the previous year.

In 2022 the average price of arable land transactions in Bulgaria reaches BGN 1 428 per decare, and the average price of arable land rents - BGN 63 per decare. Compared to the previous year, the price of arable land increased by 21.6%, and the rent payments - by 21.2%.

Compared to the previous year, there was an increase in the price of arable land transactions and in the price paid for rent/lease of one decare in all six statistical regions of the country.

In the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022 the total hourly labour cost rose by 15.1% (preliminary data). The total hourly labour cost increased by 18.2% in industry, 15.7% in services and 14.1% in construction.

The highest annual growth in total labour costs was recorded in ‘Transportation and storage’ - by 23.6%, ‘Accommodation and food service activities’ - by 23.5%, and ‘Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities’ - by 19.6%.

As of September 7, 2021 there are 2 866 657 households in Bulgaria - private and institutional. Nearly three-quarters (74.9 %) of all households live in cities. The average size of a household decreased from 5.6 persons in 1900 to 2.2 persons in 2021. As of September 7, 2021, 949 institutional households were counted in Bulgaria, in which 25 866 people live, or 0.4% of the country's population. Their average size is 27.3 persons. 

In 2022, price levels for household final consumption expenditure differed widely across the EU.

The highest price levels were recorded in Ireland (146% of the EU average), Denmark (145%) and Luxembourg (137%). Meanwhile, the lowest levels were recorded in Romania (58%), Bulgaria (59%) and Poland (62%).

GDP per capita ranged from 59% to 261% of EU average.

At the end of 2022, the number of health establishments for hospital aid was 341 with 54 707 beds. The number of beds in these establishments has increased by 216, or by 0.4% compared to the previous year.

The number of hospital beds was 848.5 per 100 000 persons of the total population as the highest values of that indicator were registered in districts Pleven (1 184.5 per 100 000 persons of the population), Smolyan (1 135.5) and Plovdiv (1 069.5).

The number of out-patient health establishments was 2 172 with 1 303 beds. In comparison with the previous year the number of these establishments has increased by 39 (1.8%), and the number of beds by 18 (1.4%).

The other health establishments were 148 with 1 751 beds in them, as they has decreased by 9.7% in comparison with 2021.

As of 31.12.2022, 29 599 physicians were in practice under a basic labour contract in health establishments as the number remains relatively constant in recent years. Dentists were 7 602, as 6 624 worked in practices that had signed а contract with the National Health Insurance Fund. Medical specialists on ‘Health cares’ who worked on a basic labour contract in health establishments were 44 493. 28 827 of them were nurses and 3 285 - midwives.

The number of physicians per 10 000 persons of the total population was 45.9. In a regional aspect, the indicator varied from 26.2 to 72.4 per 10 000 as the highest values were registered in districts with Medical universities and Universities’ hospitals - Pleven (72.4 per 10 000 persons of the population), Sofia (stolitsa) (55.9), Plovdiv (55.3) and Varna (54.6).

In the structure of physicians by age, the highest number and share of physicians is in the age group 55 - 64 years - 10 015 persons, or 33.8%. At second place, is the group of elderly (aged 65 and over) - 5 943, or 20.1%. The young practicing physicians, aged up to 35 years, were 5 170 persons or 17.5%.

Only in five districts is the relative share of young physicians aged up to 35 years higher than the national share, and these are the districts with Medical universities - Sofia (stolitsa) and Varna (24% each), Pleven (23.6%), Plovdiv (23.4%) and Burgas (18.9%). In all other districts, the indicator is less favourable than the national one, with Vidin, Lovech and Montana standing out in particular, where the share is 0.7%, 2.1% and 2.5%, respectively.

In May 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was -0.1% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in May 2023 compared to May 2022 was 10.1%.

In May 2023, compared to the previous month, the highest decrease was recorded in the prices for Recreation and culture (-3.4%), Transport (-2.5%) and Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-0.4%). The highest increase was registered for Alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+1.1%), Clothing and footwear (+1.0%), Miscellaneous goods and services (+0.5%), Health (+0.5%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+0.5%).

In May 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was -0.2% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in May 2023 compared to May 2022 was 8.6%.

In the period January - March 2023, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 5.1% compared to the same period of 2022 and amounted to 14 673.3 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 8.2% and reached 14 959.9 million BGN.

In March 2023, the exports to the EU decreased by 7.5% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 5 090.9 million BGN, while the imports grew by 3.8% and added up to 5 488.4 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU in the period January - March 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 was recorded in the section ‘Miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (40.3%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (43.8%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (29.9%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (61.6%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.