Bulgaria: Government debt

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Bulgaria

Government debt as percent of GDP

 Latest value 23.10
 Year 2023
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1997 - 2023
 Average 33.42
 Min - Max 13.00 - 96.20
 Source Bulgarian National Bank
The latest value from 2023 is 23.1 percent, an increase from 22.6 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 62.82 percent, based on data from 126 countries. Historically, the average for Bulgaria from 1997 to 2023 is 33.42 percent. The minimum value, 13 percent, was reached in 2008 while the maximum of 96.2 percent was recorded in 1997. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Recent data
Bulgaria - Government debt - Recent values chart

Historical series
Bulgaria - Government debt - historical chart - 1997-2023




The government debt in Bulgaria and other countries is calculated as the total amount owed by the national government to domestic and international lenders. It is reported as percent of GDP so that we can evaluate its magnitude relative to the size of the economy.

Government debt of about 60 percent or less of GDP is not considered a problem. The government can make payments without strain and even has some room to borrow more. If debt levels reach 80-90 percent that may have negative effects on the economy. Debt above 120 percent of GDP is quite detrimental.
Definition: Debt is the entire stock of direct government fixed-term contractual obligations to others outstanding on a particular date. It includes domestic and foreign liabilities such as currency and money deposits, securities other than shares, and loans. It is the gross amount of government liabilities reduced by the amount of equity and financial derivatives held by the government. Because debt is a stock rather than a flow, it is measured as of a given date, usually the last day of the fiscal year.

Selected articles from our guide:

What factors determine the exchange rates

International lending and sovereign debt

All articles



 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Government spending, percent of GDP 18.18 2023 percent
 Government spending, in dollars 18.47 2023 billion U.S. dollars
 Fiscal balance, percent of GDP -1.90 2023 percent
 Government debt 23.10 2023 percent
 Government expenditure 9.65 Q2/2024 billion
 Long-term interest rate 3.93 8/2024 percent
 Tax revenue 21.80 2022 percent
 Commercial tax rate 28.30 2019 percent
 Tax preparation time 441 2019 hours
 Number of taxes 14 2019 taxes
 Taxes on goods and services 47.33 2022 percent
 Taxes on international trade 7.28 2022 percent
 Income and profits taxes 20.99 2022 percent
 Foreign aid 618.37 2004 million U.S. dollars
This site uses cookies.
Learn more here


OK