External debt stocks, total in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: External debt stocks, total was 47.21 billion DOD, current US$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
47.21 billion DOD, current US$
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
30th
of 122 countries
All-time high
55.68 billion DOD, current US$
in 2009
All-time low
772.74 million DOD, current US$
in 1981
Years of data
42
1981–2022
External debt stocks, total in Bulgaria, 1981–2022
Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in DOD, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for external debt stocks, total in Bulgaria is 47.21 billion DOD, current US$, measured in 2022.
The figure is up 5.0% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external debt stocks, total in Bulgaria peaked at 55.68 billion DOD, current US$ in 2009 and was at its lowest, 772.74 million DOD, current US$, in 1981.
That places Bulgaria 30th out of 122 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External debt stocks, total in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | DOD, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 772.74 million DOD, current US$ | — |
| 1982 | 1.31 billion DOD, current US$ | +69.9% |
| 1983 | 1.74 billion DOD, current US$ | +32.4% |
| 1984 | 2.58 billion DOD, current US$ | +48.6% |
| 1985 | 3.85 billion DOD, current US$ | +49.1% |
| 1986 | 5.87 billion DOD, current US$ | +52.3% |
| 1987 | 8.27 billion DOD, current US$ | +40.9% |
| 1988 | 8.94 billion DOD, current US$ | +8.2% |
| 1989 | 10.14 billion DOD, current US$ | +13.3% |
| 1990 | 10.89 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.4% |
| 1991 | 11.74 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.8% |
| 1992 | 11.84 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 12.18 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 9.83 billion DOD, current US$ | -19.3% |
| 1995 | 10.38 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.6% |
| 1996 | 10.37 billion DOD, current US$ | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 11.10 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.1% |
| 1998 | 11.40 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 11.79 billion DOD, current US$ | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 12.01 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.8% |
| 2001 | 11.27 billion DOD, current US$ | -6.1% |
| 2002 | 12.31 billion DOD, current US$ | +9.2% |
| 2003 | 14.26 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.8% |
| 2004 | 16.62 billion DOD, current US$ | +16.6% |
| 2005 | 18.51 billion DOD, current US$ | +11.4% |
| 2006 | 28.01 billion DOD, current US$ | +51.3% |
| 2007 | 43.82 billion DOD, current US$ | +56.5% |
| 2008 | 53.07 billion DOD, current US$ | +21.1% |
| 2009 | 55.68 billion DOD, current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 50.70 billion DOD, current US$ | -9.0% |
| 2011 | 47.74 billion DOD, current US$ | -5.8% |
| 2012 | 51.43 billion DOD, current US$ | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 51.65 billion DOD, current US$ | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 47.07 billion DOD, current US$ | -8.9% |
| 2015 | 40.38 billion DOD, current US$ | -14.2% |
| 2016 | 39.99 billion DOD, current US$ | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 40.99 billion DOD, current US$ | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 40.10 billion DOD, current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 40.50 billion DOD, current US$ | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 46.87 billion DOD, current US$ | +15.7% |
| 2021 | 44.95 billion DOD, current US$ | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 47.21 billion DOD, current US$ | +5.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 47.21 billion DOD, current US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.14 billion DOD, current US$, 3.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 4.83 billion DOD, current US$ | 772.74 million DOD, current US$ | 10.14 billion DOD, current US$ | 9 |
| 1990s | 11.15 billion DOD, current US$ | 9.83 billion DOD, current US$ | 12.18 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.56 billion DOD, current US$ | 11.27 billion DOD, current US$ | 55.68 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.06 billion DOD, current US$ | 39.99 billion DOD, current US$ | 51.65 billion DOD, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.34 billion DOD, current US$ | 44.95 billion DOD, current US$ | 47.21 billion DOD, current US$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 27 Sri Lanka 56.83 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 28 Dominican Republic 53.29 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 29 Serbia 51.98 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 31 Senegal 47.15 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 32 Jordan 46.97 billion DOD, current US$ compare
- 33 Kenya 42.89 billion DOD, current US$ 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)
- 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$), annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external debt stocks, total in Bulgaria?
- External debt stocks, total in Bulgaria was 47.21 billion DOD, current US$ in 2022, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest external debt stocks, total recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 55.68 billion DOD, current US$ in 2009.
- What is the lowest external debt stocks, total recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 772.74 million DOD, current US$ in 1981.
- How does Bulgaria rank for external debt stocks, total?
- Bulgaria ranks 30th out of 122 countries with data for 2022.
- Is external debt stocks, total rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of External debt stocks, total (DOD, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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. Data are in current U.S. dollars.