External debt stocks in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: External debt stocks was 55.1% in 2022. ▲ Rising
External debt stocks in Bulgaria, 1981–2022
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of GNI.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt stocks in Bulgaria is 55.1%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 42.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks in Bulgaria peaked at 171.3% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 1981.
That places Bulgaria 41st out of 122 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
External debt stocks in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % of GNI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 3.9% | — |
| 1982 | 6.8% | +74.2% |
| 1983 | 10.5% | +54.1% |
| 1984 | 14.7% | +39.5% |
| 1985 | 22.5% | +53.1% |
| 1986 | 29.2% | +29.4% |
| 1987 | 29.7% | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 40.4% | +35.8% |
| 1989 | 47.5% | +17.5% |
| 1990 | 57.3% | +20.7% |
| 1991 | 171.3% | +198.8% |
| 1992 | 139.9% | -18.3% |
| 1993 | 114.5% | -18.2% |
| 1994 | 103.3% | -9.8% |
| 1995 | 55.9% | -45.9% |
| 1996 | 87.1% | +55.8% |
| 1997 | 101.3% | +16.2% |
| 1998 | 77.3% | -23.6% |
| 1999 | 87.7% | +13.4% |
| 2000 | 92.9% | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 79.4% | -14.6% |
| 2002 | 73.5% | -7.3% |
| 2003 | 66.4% | -9.8% |
| 2004 | 62.8% | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 61.8% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 83.5% | +35.2% |
| 2007 | 106.5% | +27.5% |
| 2008 | 102.4% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 110.6% | +8.0% |
| 2010 | 102.2% | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 85.4% | -16.4% |
| 2012 | 96.0% | +12.3% |
| 2013 | 94.6% | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 83.4% | -11.9% |
| 2015 | 82.2% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 76.7% | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 71.0% | -7.4% |
| 2018 | 62.8% | -11.5% |
| 2019 | 60.9% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 68.9% | +13.1% |
| 2021 | 55.5% | -19.5% |
| 2022 | 55.1% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 22.8% | 3.9% | 47.5% | 9 |
| 1990s | 99.6% | 55.9% | 171.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.0% | 61.8% | 110.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.5% | 60.9% | 102.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.8% | 55.1% | 68.9% | 3 |
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)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 15.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.2121 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 4,312 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 11.15 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 0.1882 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 3,825 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) -1.44 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 0.093 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks in Bulgaria?
- External debt stocks in Bulgaria was 55.1% in 2022, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 171.3% in 1991.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 1981.
- How does Bulgaria rank for external debt stocks?
- Bulgaria ranks 41st out of 122 countries with data for 2022.
- Is external debt stocks rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 42.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks (% of GNI). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total external debt stocks to gross national income. Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt. Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. GNI (formerly GNP) is the sum of value added by all resident producers plus any product taxes (less subsidies) not included in the valuation of output plus net receipts of primary income (compensation of employees and property income) from abroad.