Bulgaria Economy

Europe & Central Asia · High income · Capital: Sofia

Updated 17 Oct 2026

GDP Annual Growth Rate in Bulgaria decreased to 3.10 percent in 2025 from 3.39 percent in 2024. Inflation Rate in Bulgaria increased to 5.07 percent in Aug 2026 from 4.52 percent in Jul 2026.

GDP Growth
3.1%
▼ −0.3 pp 2025 · World Bank
Inflation Rate
5.1%
▲ +0.6 pp Aug 2026 · BIS
Interest Rate
2.50%
▲ +0.25 pp Sep 2026 · BIS (ECB)
Unemployment
3.5%
■ 0.0 pp Aug 2026 · OECD

GDP Growth Rate

Real GDP, annual % change. Hatched bars are IMF projections.

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Inflation vs Interest Rate

Monthly data, %. Source: BIS, BIS (ECB).

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Key Highlights

  • Real GDP grew 3.1% in 2025 (previous year: 3.4%).
  • Consumer price inflation was 5.1% in Aug 2026, compared with 4.5% in the previous period.
  • The ECB policy rate (which applies to all euro-area members) stood at 2.50% at the end of Sep 2026 (previous: 2.25%).
  • The unemployment rate was 3.5% in Aug 2026 (previous: 3.5%).
  • General government debt was 29.9% of GDP in 2025.
  • The IMF projects real GDP growth of 2.6% for 2026 (World Economic Outlook projection).

Main Indicators

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
GDP Annual Growth Rate3.1%3.4%2025World Bank
Interest Rate2.50%2.25%Sep 2026BIS (ECB)
Inflation Rate5.1%4.5%Aug 2026BIS
Unemployment Rate3.5%3.5%Aug 2026OECD
Government Debt to GDP29.9%23.8%2025IMF
Balance of Trade-$1.4B$2.8B2025World Bank
Current Account to GDP-5.8%-0.5%2025World Bank
GDP$130.8B$113.3B2025World Bank

GDP

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
GDP per Capita$20,328$17,5972025World Bank
GDP per Capita PPP$44,451$41,9702025World Bank
Gross National Income$124.1B$107.6B2025World Bank
GDP from Agriculture2.5%2.4%2025World Bank
GDP from Industry21.2%21.1%2025World Bank
GDP from Services63.3%63.8%2025World Bank
Gross Fixed Capital Formation20.1%18.3%2025World Bank
Household Consumption to GDP58.5%57.3%2025World Bank

Labour

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Youth Unemployment Rate10.2%12.5%2025World Bank
Labour Force Participation Rate56.1%56.3%2025World Bank
Employment Rate54.1%53.9%2025World Bank
Population6.43M6.44M2025World Bank

Prices

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
GDP Deflator Growth7.4%7.2%2025World Bank
Core Inflation Rate5.0%5.6%Dec 2025OECD
Inflation Rate MoM0.14%0.47%Dec 2025OECD
Food Inflation5.6%5.0%Dec 2025OECD

Money

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Lending Rate4.24%4.54%2025World Bank
Deposit Interest Rate0.25%0.33%2025World Bank
Broad Money Growth8.7%8.7%2024World Bank
Foreign Exchange Reserves$47.1B$43.7B2025World Bank
Government Bond 10Y Yield4.09%4.09%Aug 2026OECD
Interbank Rate2.64%2.51%Sep 2026OECD

Trade

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Current Account-$7.6B-$0.6B2025World Bank
Exports$66.4B$63.9B2025World Bank
Imports$67.7B$61.0B2025World Bank
Foreign Direct Investment$4.88B$3.05B2025World Bank
External Debt$47.2B$44.9B2022World Bank
Remittances$2.75B$2.64B2025World Bank
Terms of Trade92.796.02024World Bank
Tourist Arrivals4.97M12.55M2020World Bank
Tourism Revenues$1.79B$4.83B2020World Bank

Government

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Government Budget-3.0%-3.0%2025IMF
Government Revenues to GDP33.6%34.4%2024IMF
Government Spending to GDP36.7%37.4%2024IMF
Tax Revenue to GDP20.7%20.5%2024World Bank
Military Expenditure2.01%1.93%2025World Bank

Business

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Industrial Production-5.9%-3.1%Jul 2026OECD
Business Confidence100.32100.20Sep 2026OECD

Consumer

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Retail Sales YoY6.5%6.3%Aug 2026OECD

Housing

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Residential Property Prices14.8%12.6%Q1 2026BIS

Bulgaria economy explained in simple words

Size of the economy

The economy of Bulgaria produced goods and services worth $130.8B in 2025, making it the 63rd largest of 214 economies with data.

With a population of about 6.4 million, GDP per person is $20,328. The World Bank classifies Bulgaria as a “high income” economy.

Economic growth

Real GDP grew 3.1% in 2025, compared with world growth of 3.5% (IMF).

Over the last 10 years growth averaged 2.9% a year, ranging from -3.1% to 7.8%.

The IMF projects growth of 2.6% in 2026.

Prices and interest rates

Consumer price inflation was 5.1% in Aug 2026 (reference: the European Central Bank’s 2% target).

The European Central Bank policy rate, which applies to all euro-area members, was 2.50% at the end of Sep 2026.

The difference between the two — the real interest rate — is about -2.57%.

Jobs

The unemployment rate was 3.5% in Aug 2026 (world: 4.8%).

About 56.1% of people aged 15 and over are in the labour force (working or looking for work).

Government finances

General government debt was 29.9% of GDP in 2025, compared with a median of 52.9% across 191 economies.

The government budget balance was -3.0% of GDP (2025) — a deficit, meaning spending exceeded revenue.

Trade and external position

The current account was -5.8% of GDP in 2025 — a deficit with the rest of the world.

Exports of goods and services were $66.4B and imports $67.7B.

Foreign exchange reserves (including gold) stood at $47.1B.

Structure of the economy

By sector, value added is split roughly as: services 63.3%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 2.5% of GDP.

How to read this page

The four boxes at the top show the most-watched numbers: GDP growth (how fast the economy is expanding), inflation (how fast prices are rising), the central bank policy rate (the base cost of borrowing) and unemployment (the share of job-seekers without work). The small arrow shows the change from the previous reading.

The tabs group all available indicators by topic — GDP, labour, prices, money, trade, government and housing. Each row shows the latest value, the previous value, the period it refers to, a small trend line and the source. Click any indicator to open its full history, chart, statistics and comparison with other countries.

Monthly and quarterly figures come from national statistics offices and central banks — via the OECD, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and, for India, the Ministry of Statistics (MoSPI); annual figures come from the World Bank and the IMF. Different indicators are published at different times, so the periods shown can differ.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GDP growth rate of Bulgaria?
The latest GDP growth rate of Bulgaria is 3.1% (2025), compared with 3.4% in the previous period. Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators.
What is the inflation rate of Bulgaria?
The latest inflation rate of Bulgaria is 5.1% (Aug 2026), compared with 4.5% in the previous period. Source: Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
What is the interest rate of Bulgaria?
The latest interest rate of Bulgaria is 2.50% (Sep 2026), compared with 2.25% in the previous period. Source: BIS / European Central Bank (euro area policy rate).
What is the unemployment rate of Bulgaria?
The latest unemployment rate of Bulgaria is 3.5% (Aug 2026), compared with 3.5% in the previous period. Source: OECD — Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the government debt to GDP ratio of Bulgaria?
The latest government debt to GDP ratio of Bulgaria is 29.9% (2025), compared with 23.8% in the previous period. Source: IMF — World Economic Outlook.

Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.