Bulgaria
| FORECAST* | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Economic Indicators | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
| Population, 1000 persons | 6447 | 6441 | 6420 | . | . | . |
| GDP, real change in % | 1.7 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| GDP per capita (EUR at PPP) | 24250 | 26320 | 28340 | . | . | . |
| Gross industrial production, real change in % | -8.3 | -3.1 | -7.7 | . | . | . |
| Unemployment rate - LFS, in %, average | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Average gross monthly wages, EUR | 1043 | 1189 | 1331 | . | . | . |
| Consumer prices, % p.a. | 8.6 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 3.0 |
| Fiscal balance in % of GDP | -2.0 | -3.1 | -3.0 | -3.1 | -4.2 | -3.0 |
| Public debt in % of GDP | 22.9 | 23.8 | 28.0 | . | . | . |
| Current account in % of GDP | -1.2 | -0.5 | -5.7 | -4.6 | -3.3 | -2.1 |
| FDI inflow, EUR m | 4792 | 2819 | 4264 | . | . | . |
| Gross external debt in % of GDP | 48.4 | 48.3 | 50.5 | . | . | . |
Basic data are continuously updated.
* Forecasts are changed beginning of January, April, July and November.
See Press Conferences.
publication_icon
Monthly Report No. 02/2026
Vasily Astrov, Alexandra Bykova, Rumen Dobrinsky, Richard Grieveson, Branimir Jovanović and Olga Pindyuk
wiiw Monthly Report No. 02, February 2026
35 pages including 7 Figures
publication_icon
Executive summary
Olga Pindyuk
in: The Crisis is Over, but its Scarring Effects are Hindering Recovery
wiiw Forecast Report No. Spring 2024, April 2024 , pp. I-VII
Details
Last year, economic growth reached 3.1%, supported by higher disposable income and increased household consumption, although manufacturing and exports posted declines. However, we expect economic growth to slow over the forecast period and inflation to remain elevated, owing to the current energy price shock. The country’s transition to the euro has proceeded smoothly. Former president Rumen Radev emerged as the clear winner of the parliamentary election held on 19 April 2026.