Statistical data

As of 31 December 2024, the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, computed by the National Statistical Institute using the digital models of the cadastral map of the country, is 110 996.76 square kilometres. According to the types of durable land use (specific purpose of use) of the land properties, the largest area is occupied by agricultural areas - 54.5%, and forest areas - 33.3% of the total area of the country. Urbanized areas cover nearly 5 279.4 square kilometres, or 4.8% of the country’s territory.

The population density as of 31.12.2024, on average for the country, is 58.0 persons per square kilometre. In the urbanized areas it is 1 214.7 persons per square kilometre, decreasing by 6.2 persons per square kilometre compared to 2023. The highest population density in the urbanized areas is recorded in the districts of Sofia (stolitsa) - 5 022 persons per square kilometre, Blagoevgrad (1 992.2) and Plovdiv (1 830.9) and the lowest - in the districts of Vidin (534.9), Dobrich (565.5) and Targovishte (613.6).

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Land use distribution of the Republic of Bulgaria'.

In the first quarter of 2025, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.1% compared to the first quarter of 2024 and there was an increase of 0.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 at seasonally adjusted data.

According to the preliminary data, the Gross domestic product (GDP) per person employed increased in real terms by 1.5% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

In April 2025, the turnover in ‘Retail trade, except motor vehicles and motorcycles’ at constant prices increased by 0.6% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

An increase was noted in all major groups: ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 2.5%, ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 0.5%, and ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 0.4%.

The trade turnover rose by 2.4% compared to the same month of 2024 according to the calendar-adjusted data.

In April 2025, compared to the same month of 2024, a rise of the turnover was registered in all groups: ‘Retail sales of automotive fuel in specialised stores’ - by 9.8%, ‘Retail sales of non-food products (except fuel)’ - by 2.7%, and ‘Retail sales of food, beverages and tobacco’ - by 0.1%.

In March 2025, the total production index in Services of the business economy decreased by 2.5% compared to the previous month. The data are preliminary and seasonally adjusted.

Compared to March 2024, a rise of 2.7% was registered in the calendar-adjusted index according to preliminary data.

The preliminary data for 2024, published by NSI, refer to the production and supply of fuels and energy in the country. Changes were observed for individual energy products compared to the reported data for 2023.

A significant decrease was observed in the indigenous production of lignite coal - by 28.5%, which presented 96.4% of the total production of solid fuels. For the same period, their deliveries decreased by 21.7%.

The refinery feedstocks, used in the refineries for the production of petroleum products, increased by 6.3% compared to 2023, as crude oil had the main share -91.6%. Respectively, an increase was also observed in the production of petroleum products - by 6.4%. Deliveries of petroleum products in 2024 increased by 4.9%.

The production of natural gas decreased by 15.7% compared to the previous year, and the deliveries increased by 7.4%.

Compared to 2023, a decrease was observed also for the gross production of electricity - by 5.5%. Predominant share in it in 2024 continued to have the electricity production from nuclear energy and coal - 64.6%, despite the rapidly increasing share of electricity produced by plants using solar energy - 13.3%. At the same time, the deliveries of electricity raised their 2023 level by 1.6%.

The gross production of heat increased by 1.9% compared to the previous year and the deliveries - by 1.8%.

The information is published pursuant to REGULATION (EC) 1099/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy statistics.

Detailed data are published on the website of NSI under the heading 'Energy balances - Energy supply block'.

For April 2025, the reported revenues of sub-sector ‘Central Government’ were in the amount of BGN 5 581.37 million and the expenditures were in the amount of BGN 6 046.19 million, and for the sub-sector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted to BGN 2 980.13 million and the expenditures were BGN 3 009.26 million.

The data for the ‘Central Government’ sub-sector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as on estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the sub-sector, and the data for the ‘Social Security Funds’ sub-sector - on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund.

The information is published on the basis of Article 3 (2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

For August 2024, the reported revenues of subsector ‘Central Government’ amounted to BGN 4 168,08 million and the expenditures - BGN 4 762,09 million, and for the subsector ‘Social Security Funds’ the revenues amounted to BGN 2 840,20 million and the expenditures were BGN 2 846,33 million.

The data for the ‘Central Government’ subsector are formed on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the budget units, as well as on estimates of the state enterprises reclassified in the subsector, and the data for the ‘Social Security Funds’ subsector - on the basis of the monthly cash statements of the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund.

The information is published on the basis of Article 3 (2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In May 2025, the total business climate indicator decreases by 1.7 percentage points in comparison with April. A decrease of the indicator is observed in the industry and retail trade, while in the construction and service sector an improvement is registered.

The uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, costs of materials and the competition in the branch continue to limit with the most extend the business development in the sectors.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry fell by 4.4% in April 2025 compared to the previous month. A decrease of 13.0% was registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, in the manufacturing industry it decreased by 1.0%, and in the mining and quarrying industry - by 0.9%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 5.0% in April 2025 compared to March 2025. The domestic prices fell in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 11.3%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.7%, while in the mining and quarrying industry an increase of 1.0% was reported.

The Total Producer Price Index went up by 12.3% in April 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. An increase was observed in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 39.4%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 23.9%, as well as in the manufacturing industry - by 8.7%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market went up by 16.9% compared to April 2024. The prices rose in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply -
by 47.9%, in the mining and quarrying industry - by 22.2%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 10.1%.

In March 2025, compared to February 2025, in the production of energy products no increase was observed for any of the products. A decrease was reported in the production of: motor gasoline - by 90.6%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 87.5%, transport diesel - by 82.6%, solid fuels - by 48.0%, and electricity - by 17.6%. The production of petroleum products has significantly decreased during the current month due to carried out planned repairs of production facilities. There was no change in the production of natural gas.

Compared to March 2024, an increase was reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 16.5%, and electricity - by 5.0%. A decrease was reported in the production of: motor gasoline - by 92.4%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 87.5%, and transport diesel - by 86.1%. There was no change in the production of natural gas.

In March 2025, compared to February 2025, in the deliveries of energy products no increase was observed for any of the products. A decrease was reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 46.6%, motor gasoline - by 25.0%, electricity - by 18.3%, natural gas - by 15.3%, transport diesel - by 7.6%, and liquefied petroleum gases - by 2.6%.

Compared to March 2024, an increase was reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 17.2%, motor gasoline - by 16.7%, and transport diesel - by 1.4%. A decrease was reported in the deliveries of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 5.1%, natural gas - by 4.4%, and electricity - by 1.0%.