Press releases

In the period January - February 2022, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to the EU increased by 29.7% compared to the same period of 2021 and amounted to 8 598.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods to Bulgaria from the EU grew by 30.2% and reached 8 546.4 million BGN.

In February 2022, the exports to the EU increased by 32.0% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year and amounted to 4 381.5 million BGN, while the imports grew by 28.0% and added up to 4 397.3 million BGN.

In the period January - March 2022, the exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries increased by 28.3% compared to the same period of 2021 and amounted to 6 761.7 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries grew by 58.0% and added up to 10 447.0 million BGN.

In the period January - March 2022, the total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 20 962.2 million BGN, which is 34.0% 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 24 281.7 million BGN and grew by 41.4%.

In March 2022, during the continuing epidemic situation, 1 717 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. The total number of rooms in them was 51.2 thousand and the bed-places were 104.1 thousand. In comparison with March 2021, the total number of accommodation establishments (functioned during the period) remained the same and the bed-places in them increased by 5.4%.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in March 2022 was 796.6 thousand, or by 81.2% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year.

The total revenues from nights spent in March 2022 reached 52.0 million BGN and increased by 111.3% compared to the same month of the previous year.

According to the preliminary data, in March 2022, the index of production in section ‘Construction’ calculated on the basis of seasonally adjusted data was 0.4% below the level of the previous month. In March 2022, the calendar adjusted index of production in construction increased by 1.6% in comparison with the same month of 2021.

According to the preliminary seasonally adjusted data in March 2022, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 1.6% compared to the previous month. The calendar-adjusted turnover rose by 9.6% compared to the same month of the previous year.

According to the preliminary data, in March 2022, the Industrial Production Index, seasonally adjusted, increased by 5.0% compared to February 2022.

In March 2022, the calendar adjusted Industrial Production Index rose by 19.0% in comparison with the same month of 2021.

According to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute in the first quarter of 2022, the number of newly built residential buildings was 1 206, and the newly built dwellings in them were 4 299. Compared to the first quarter of 2021, the buildings were by 254 more (or by 26.7%), and the newly built dwellings in them decreased by 174, or by 3.9%.

In April 2022, the survey shows an increase in pessimism in consumers’ assessments and expectations in comparison with January. The total consumer confidence indicator decreases by 4.9 percentage points compared to its level 3 months ago, which is due to the decreased confidence among both rural and urban inhabitants - by 5.7 and 4.6 percentage points, respectively.

In the first quarter of 2022, the municipal authorities issued building permits for the construction of 1 850 residential buildings with 9 489 dwellings, 18 administrative buildings/offices and 1 071 other buildings. The construction of 1 269 residential buildings with 7 657 dwellings, 11 administrative buildings/offices and 572 other buildings was started.

As of 31 December 2021, the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria is administratively divided into 28 administrative districts and 265 municipalities, within which there are 3 160 individual mayoralties. Тhere were 5 257 settlements in the Republic of Bulgaria, of which 257 towns and 5 000 villages, while the settlement formations were 165 (including 8 of national and 157 of local importance).

Тhe smallest administrative district by area is Sofia (stolitsa), which at the same time is the biggest by population, with 1 307 439 inhabitants, making it the only district with a population above 1 000 000. The smallest administrative district by population is Vidin, with 78 814 inhabitants.