External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) was -1.36 billion current US$ 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 US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Bulgaria is -1.36 billion current US$, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 147.6% on the previous year and down 419.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Bulgaria peaked at 4.20 billion current US$ in 2023 and was at its lowest, -10.75 billion current US$, in 2008.
Bulgaria ranks 118th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1.00 billion current US$ | — |
| 1981 | 224.22 million current US$ | -77.7% |
| 1982 | 210.95 million current US$ | -5.9% |
| 1983 | 35.60 million current US$ | -83.1% |
| 1984 | 327.96 million current US$ | +821.2% |
| 1985 | -71.66 million current US$ | -121.9% |
| 1986 | -696.49 million current US$ | +871.9% |
| 1987 | -522.09 million current US$ | -25.0% |
| 1988 | -76.27 million current US$ | -85.4% |
| 1989 | -378.29 million current US$ | +396.0% |
| 1990 | -747.54 million current US$ | +97.6% |
| 1991 | 326.13 million current US$ | -143.6% |
| 1992 | -501.28 million current US$ | -253.7% |
| 1993 | -826.21 million current US$ | +64.8% |
| 1994 | -60.70 million current US$ | -92.7% |
| 1995 | 1.79 billion current US$ | -3046.3% |
| 1996 | 1.37 billion current US$ | -23.2% |
| 1997 | 1.44 billion current US$ | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 1.03 billion current US$ | -28.4% |
| 1999 | -623.98 million current US$ | -160.7% |
| 2000 | -703.13 million current US$ | +12.7% |
| 2001 | -1.32 billion current US$ | +88.0% |
| 2002 | -1.31 billion current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2003 | -2.15 billion current US$ | +64.6% |
| 2004 | -2.92 billion current US$ | +35.5% |
| 2005 | -4.38 billion current US$ | +50.1% |
| 2006 | -5.88 billion current US$ | +34.2% |
| 2007 | -8.36 billion current US$ | +42.3% |
| 2008 | -10.75 billion current US$ | +28.6% |
| 2009 | -4.29 billion current US$ | -60.1% |
| 2010 | -1.61 billion current US$ | -62.4% |
| 2011 | 91.32 million current US$ | -105.7% |
| 2012 | -1.78 billion current US$ | -2049.6% |
| 2013 | -311.89 million current US$ | -82.5% |
| 2014 | -654.61 million current US$ | +109.9% |
| 2015 | 424.52 million current US$ | -164.9% |
| 2016 | 2.65 billion current US$ | +524.6% |
| 2017 | 2.57 billion current US$ | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 1.77 billion current US$ | -31.4% |
| 2019 | 2.29 billion current US$ | +29.6% |
| 2020 | 1.78 billion current US$ | -22.2% |
| 2021 | 2.10 billion current US$ | +17.7% |
| 2022 | 1.01 billion current US$ | -51.9% |
| 2023 | 4.20 billion current US$ | +316.6% |
| 2024 | 2.85 billion current US$ | -32.2% |
| 2025 | -1.36 billion current US$ | -147.6% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's -1.36 billion current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.43 billion current US$. (72 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's -1.36 billion current US$ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -50.32 million current US$, 27.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current US$) (US current) 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 | +3046.3% | -60.70 million current US$ | 1.79 billion current US$ |
| 2012 | -2049.6% | 91.32 million current US$ | -1.78 billion current US$ |
| 1984 | +821.2% | 35.60 million current US$ | 327.96 million current US$ |
| 1986 | -871.9% | -71.66 million current US$ | -696.49 million current US$ |
| 2016 | +524.6% | 424.52 million current US$ | 2.65 billion current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.85 million current US$ | -696.49 million current US$ | 1.00 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 319.24 million current US$ | -826.21 million current US$ | 1.79 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -4.21 billion current US$ | -10.75 billion current US$ | -703.13 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 543.24 million current US$ | -1.78 billion current US$ | 2.65 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.76 billion current US$ | -1.36 billion current US$ | 4.20 billion current US$ | 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0156 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 316.82 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.1831 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0114 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 231.34 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0084 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Bulgaria?
- External balance on goods and services in Bulgaria was -1.36 billion current US$ 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 4.20 billion current US$ in 2023.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -10.75 billion current US$ in 2008.
- How does Bulgaria rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Bulgaria ranks 118th 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 419.5%. 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 US$). 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 indicator is expressed in United States dollars.