External balance on goods and services in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: External balance on goods and services was -1.0% 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 % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external balance on goods and services in Bulgaria is -1.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 141.3% on the previous year and down 224.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Bulgaria peaked at 12.7% in 1997 and was at its lowest, -19.7%, in 2008.
Bulgaria ranks 88th 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 in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.0% | — |
| 1981 | 1.1% | -77.7% |
| 1982 | 1.1% | -4.7% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | -80.3% |
| 1984 | 1.9% | +797.3% |
| 1985 | -0.4% | -121.7% |
| 1986 | -3.4% | +742.4% |
| 1987 | -1.8% | -46.6% |
| 1988 | -0.3% | -81.9% |
| 1989 | -1.7% | +424.7% |
| 1990 | -3.6% | +107.3% |
| 1991 | 4.3% | -218.5% |
| 1992 | -5.8% | -236.3% |
| 1993 | -7.6% | +30.9% |
| 1994 | -0.6% | -91.8% |
| 1995 | 9.4% | -1606.2% |
| 1996 | 11.2% | +18.7% |
| 1997 | 12.7% | +13.6% |
| 1998 | 6.8% | -46.1% |
| 1999 | -4.6% | -166.9% |
| 2000 | -5.3% | +16.0% |
| 2001 | -9.3% | +75.6% |
| 2002 | -8.0% | -14.4% |
| 2003 | -10.2% | +27.6% |
| 2004 | -11.2% | +9.5% |
| 2005 | -14.7% | +31.4% |
| 2006 | -17.1% | +16.6% |
| 2007 | -18.8% | +10.1% |
| 2008 | -19.7% | +4.8% |
| 2009 | -8.3% | -58.2% |
| 2010 | -3.2% | -61.4% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | -105.0% |
| 2012 | -3.3% | -2171.2% |
| 2013 | -0.6% | -83.0% |
| 2014 | -1.1% | +105.2% |
| 2015 | 0.8% | -172.9% |
| 2016 | 4.9% | +487.9% |
| 2017 | 4.3% | -11.6% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | -38.6% |
| 2019 | 3.3% | +25.1% |
| 2020 | 2.5% | -24.4% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 1.1% | -55.2% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | +269.0% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | -38.8% |
| 2025 | -1.0% | -141.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.2% | -3.4% | 5.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.2% | -7.6% | 12.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | -12.2% | -19.7% | -5.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.8% | -3.3% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | -1.0% | 4.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 85 Canada -0.8% compare
- 86 Japan -0.9% compare
- 87 Tanzania, United Republic of -1.0% compare
- 89 New Zealand -1.3% compare
- 90 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland -1.3% compare
- 91 India -1.7% compare
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)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 13.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 0.519 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 10,549 current LCU per person (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 67.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.583 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 11,851 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 18.77 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.7932 current US$ 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 -1.0% 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 12.7% in 1997.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -19.7% in 2008.
- How does Bulgaria rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Bulgaria ranks 88th 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 224.1%. 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 (% of GDP). 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 as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.