External balance on goods and services in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: External balance on goods and services was -1.20 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Bulgaria, 1980–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Bulgaria stood at -1.20 billion current LCU.
The figure is down 145.7% on the previous year and down 414.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Bulgaria peaked at 3.89 billion current LCU in 2023 and was at its lowest, -7.35 billion current LCU, in 2008.
That places Bulgaria 92nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 661,000 current LCU | — |
| 1981 | 159,000 current LCU | -75.9% |
| 1982 | 158,000 current LCU | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 32,000 current LCU | -79.7% |
| 1984 | 305,000 current LCU | +853.1% |
| 1985 | -68,000 current LCU | -122.3% |
| 1986 | -605,000 current LCU | +789.7% |
| 1987 | -343,000 current LCU | -43.3% |
| 1988 | -65,000 current LCU | -81.0% |
| 1989 | -352,000 current LCU | +441.5% |
| 1990 | -837,000 current LCU | +137.8% |
| 1991 | 2.97 million current LCU | -454.4% |
| 1992 | -5.98 million current LCU | -301.7% |
| 1993 | -11.66 million current LCU | +94.9% |
| 1994 | -1.68 million current LCU | -85.6% |
| 1995 | 61.42 million current LCU | -3755.8% |
| 1996 | 124.95 million current LCU | +103.4% |
| 1997 | 1.23 billion current LCU | +888.2% |
| 1998 | 925.03 million current LCU | -25.1% |
| 1999 | -585.84 million current LCU | -163.3% |
| 2000 | -763.29 million current LCU | +30.3% |
| 2001 | -1.48 billion current LCU | +93.4% |
| 2002 | -1.39 billion current LCU | -5.9% |
| 2003 | -1.91 billion current LCU | +37.3% |
| 2004 | -2.35 billion current LCU | +23.2% |
| 2005 | -3.52 billion current LCU | +50.0% |
| 2006 | -4.68 billion current LCU | +33.0% |
| 2007 | -6.11 billion current LCU | +30.4% |
| 2008 | -7.35 billion current LCU | +20.3% |
| 2009 | -3.09 billion current LCU | -58.0% |
| 2010 | -1.22 billion current LCU | -60.5% |
| 2011 | 65.66 million current LCU | -105.4% |
| 2012 | -1.39 billion current LCU | -2209.9% |
| 2013 | -234.98 million current LCU | -83.0% |
| 2014 | -493.38 million current LCU | +110.0% |
| 2015 | 382.95 million current LCU | -177.6% |
| 2016 | 2.40 billion current LCU | +525.9% |
| 2017 | 2.28 billion current LCU | -4.8% |
| 2018 | 1.50 billion current LCU | -34.5% |
| 2019 | 2.04 billion current LCU | +36.7% |
| 2020 | 1.56 billion current LCU | -23.6% |
| 2021 | 1.77 billion current LCU | +13.5% |
| 2022 | 958.97 million current LCU | -45.9% |
| 2023 | 3.89 billion current LCU | +305.2% |
| 2024 | 2.63 billion current LCU | -32.2% |
| 2025 | -1.20 billion current LCU | -145.7% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's -1.20 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.18 billion current LCU. (72 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's -1.20 billion current LCU is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 96.00 million current LCU. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services in Bulgaria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +3755.8% | -1.68 million current LCU | 61.42 million current LCU |
| 2012 | -2209.9% | 65.66 million current LCU | -1.39 billion current LCU |
| 1997 | +888.2% | 124.95 million current LCU | 1.23 billion current LCU |
| 1984 | +853.1% | 32,000 current LCU | 305,000 current LCU |
| 1986 | -789.7% | -68,000 current LCU | -605,000 current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -11,800 current LCU | -605,000 current LCU | 661,000 current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | 174.31 million current LCU | -585.84 million current LCU | 1.23 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -3.26 billion current LCU | -7.35 billion current LCU | -763.29 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 533.44 million current LCU | -1.39 billion current LCU | 2.40 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.60 billion current LCU | -1.20 billion current LCU | 3.89 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More economy & growth data for Bulgaria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.48 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.58 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.51 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0116 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 234.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.88 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 60.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0373 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 759.02 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Bulgaria?
- External balance on goods and services in Bulgaria was -1.20 billion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 3.89 billion current LCU in 2023.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -7.35 billion current LCU in 2008.
- How does Bulgaria rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Bulgaria ranks 92nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 414.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.