Press releases

In 2022, the average monthly poverty line for the country is 525.92 BGN per person. The number of persons who are below this line is 1 571.9 thousand representing 22.9% of the population. From 2021, a new indicator of severe material and social deprivation is included in the poverty indicators 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. This indicator is part of the combined indicator ‘Population at risk of poverty and social exclusion’ for regular monitoring of the progress of countries in meeting national sub-targets in the Europe 2030 strategy.

In 2021, 2.4% of persons aged 15 - 74 have already decided to change their current place of residence in the country, and 2.9% intend to move, but do not have a final decision yet. Migrants with weak expressed willingness are 8.5%. 86.2% of persons in the respective age group are not willing to migrate.

The share of potential migrants within the country is highest among the young 15 - 19 years (7.1%) and 20 - 29 years (6.1%).

In 2021, 11.9% of persons aged 15 - 74 are very or somewhat likely to move to live abroad. Compared to 2011, the share of potential migrants has increased both among men and among women.

Potential labour emigrants are 3.3% of persons, with men predominating (3.8%). Compared to 2011, this group decreased for both sexes. Very or somewhat likely to go abroad to work/study for a few months, but not more than a year, refers to 4.7% of the population aged 15 - 74 years.

The share of persons who would go abroad as tourists is increasing, with no gender differences being observed. The largest share of tourists is in the age group 40 - 49 years - 24.0%, and the smallest - among persons aged 15 - 19 years and 70 - 74 years.

The share of non-travellers is decreasing - from 66.8% for men and 70.4% for women in 2011 to 58.1% for men and 61.6% for women in 2021.

The number of detached crèches and groups in kindergartens functioning in the country as of 31.12.2022 was 835, with 33 193 places in them.

The number of children accommodated in crèches at the end of the year was 30 544. 15 857 of them were boys, and 14 687 - girls.

The total number of places in crèches per 100 children aged up to 3 years as of 31.12.2022 was 19.5, and the coverage of children brought up in crèches - 17.9 per 100 children aged up to 3 years.

In 2022, the government deficit and debt of the EU decreased in relative terms compared with 2021. In the EU, the government deficit to GDP ratio shrank from -4.8% in 2021 to -3.4% in 2022. The government debt to GDP ratio in the EU decreased from 88.0% in 2021 to 84.0% at the end of 2022.

In 2022, the General Government Institutional Sector reported a deficit of -4 648 million BGN, or 2.8% of GDP, according to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute.

The Government Debt of Bulgaria for 2022 is 37 848 million BGN, or 22.9% of GDP.

The annual total income average per capita is 9 008 BGN in 2022, an increase of 16.9% compared to 2021.

Bulgarian households spent an average of 8 389 BGN per capita in 2022, or 19.1% more compared to 2021.

The consumption of most basic food products average per household member in 2022 decreased compared to 2021. The biggest decrease is in the consumption of bread and paste products - by 2.6 kg, of fruit - by 2.8 kg, and vegetables - by 0.8 kg.

The purchasing power of households decreases for most kinds of food in 2022. The biggest decrease in purchasing power is observed for sigar, eggs, white cheese, yellow cheese and bread.

In March 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.5% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in March 2023 compared to March 2022 was 14.0%.

In March 2023, compared to the previous month, the highest price increase was registered for Miscellaneous goods and services (+2.9%), Restaurants and hotels (+1.2%), Alcoholic beverages and tobacco (+1.1%), Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house (+1.0%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+0.9%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Clothing and footwear (-0.8%), Transport (-0.7%), Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-0.5%) and Recreation and culture (-0.5%).

In March 2023, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.6% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in March 2023 compared to March 2022 was 12.1%.

In January 2023 the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 19.3% compared to the same month of 2022 and amounted to 4 941.8 million BGN, while the imports of goods from the EU grew by 11.1% and reached 4 600.9 million BGN.

The most notable growth in the exports of goods to the EU in January 2023 compared to the same month of 2022 was recorded in sections ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (71.6%) and ‘Miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (53.2%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (15.6%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from the EU was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (70.7%). Data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 14.7% compared to the period January - February 2022 and amounted to 5 181.8 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 2.6% and added up to 6 989.6 million BGN.

Тhe most notable growth in the exports of goods to third countries compared to the period January - February 2022 was recorded in the sections ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (80.8%) and ‘Food and live animals’ (58.7%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Crude materials, inedible (except fuel)’ (23.0%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the sections ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (104.8%) and ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (53.1%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Mineral fuel, lubricants and related materials’ (19.1%). The data are by the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 14 769.3 million BGN in the period January - February 2023, which is 13.9% more 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 16 458.6 million BGN and grew by 7.2%.

In February 2023, 27 072 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation with more than 10 bed-places, functioned in the country with 60.2 thousand rooms and 124.0 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with February 2022, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) increased by 23.7% and the bed-places in them - by 22.5%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments in February 2023 was 1 195.9 thousand, or by 50.6% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

In February 2023, the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 48.7% compared to the same month of 2022 and reached 470.2 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent in February 2023 reached 92.4 million BGN or by 70.6% more compared to February 2022.