Press releases

In February 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 499.0 thousand, or 10.7% above the registered in February 2023.

The trips with other purposes (as a guest, education and visiting cultural and sports events) composed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 49.4%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purposes - 26.6%, and with professional purpose - 23.0%.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 698.9 thousand, or 15.6% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. The predominant share of the visits was with other purposes - 47.2%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purposes - 39.1%, and with professional purpose - 13.7%.

Transit passes through the country were 31.5% (220.0 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

In 2023, Luxembourg and Ireland recorded the highest level of GDP per capita in the EU, at 140% and 112% above the EU average. Bulgaria was the Member State with the lowest GDP per capita, at 36% below the EU average.

The total export price index during the fourth quarter of 2023 is 89.6%, which is a 38.3 percentage points decrease in the index compared to the same period of the previous year.

The total export price index in 2023 is 92.9%, which is a 33.0 percentage points decrease in the index compared to the previous year.

The total import price index for the reporting period is 95.9%, which is a 23.2 percentage points decrease in the index compared to the same period of the previous year.

The total import price index in 2023 is 96.2%, which is a 23.1 percentage points decrease in the index compared to the previous year.

Preliminary data on export and import price indices for the fourth quarter of 2023 by sectors of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC, rev. 4) are published on the NSI website under the heading heading ‘Exports and Imports price indices’.

The housing prices increased by 1.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the previous quarter. The highest increase was recorded in Stara Zagora (+8.2%), followed by Burgas (+6.3%) and Varna (+1.7%). A decrease was registered in Plovdiv (-0.5%) and Sofia (-0.1%).

In the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, housing prices rose by 10.1%.

Detailed data are published on the NSI website under the heading 'Housing price statistics'.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022, the total hourly labour cost rose by 11.7% (preliminary data). The total hourly labour cost increased by 10.6% in industry, by 10.4% in services and by 19.5% in construction.

The highest annual growth in total labour costs was recorded in ‘Public administration and defence; compulsory social security’ - by 19.8%, ‘Construction’ - by 19.5%, and ‘Education’ - by 17.0%.

According to the results of the Labour Force Survey, in 2023:

- The activity rate of the population aged 15 - 64 was 73.9%, increasing by 0.2 percentage points in comparison with 2022.

- The employment rate of the population aged 15 - 64 was 70.7%.

- The unemployment rate was 4.3%, or 0.2 percentage points higher in comparison with 2022.

The Labour Force Survey is a sample statistical survey. It is carried out over a sample of non-institutional households. Quarterly, about 19.6 thousand households, randomly selected, are observed through a face-to-face interview.

In 2023, the goods carried by road freight transport were over 165 million tonnes, which was 3.0% more compared to 2022. An increase of 4.4% was registered for domestic transport, while for international transport, a decrease by 3.0% was observed.

The transport performance, measured in tonne-kilometers, decreased by 5.7% in comparison with the previous year, which is due to an 11.8% drop in international transport. The domestic transport recorded a 12.2% rise.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Transport', Road freight transport.

In February 2024, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.3% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in February 2024 compared to February 2023 was 3.3%.

The highest increase was registered for Transport (+1.5%), Restaurants and hotels (+0.9%), Alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+0.8%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+0.6%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Clothing and footwear (-2.5%), Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (-0.6%) and Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-0.1%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.3% and the annual inflation rate was 3.5%.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 11.6% compared to January 2023 and amounted to 2 147.0 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries dropped by 18.2% and added up to 2 911.1 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports was recorded in the sections ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (35.7%) and ‘Chemical and related products n.e.c.’ (13.9%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (66.5%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the section ‘Food and live animals’ (9.1%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (38.1%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 6 240.3 million BGN in January 2024, which is 15.2% less than the same month of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 7 467.8 million BGN and dropped by 8.2%.

In 2023, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU decreased by 9.0% compared to 2022 and amounted to 55 142.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU decreased by 2.5% and reached 58 124.8 million BGN.

In December 2023, the exports to the EU decreased by 7.8% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 3 898.2 million BGN, while the imports fell by 2.8% and added up to 4 763.6 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU compared to the same period of 2022 was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (10.7%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (63.8%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (15.7%), while the most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (60.7%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.