Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 4.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Bulgaria, 1980–2025
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows in Bulgaria is 4.88 billion BoP, current US$, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 60.1% on the previous year and up 119.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Bulgaria peaked at 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2007 and was at its lowest, 0 BoP, current US$, in 1980.
That places Bulgaria 45th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1981 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1982 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1983 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1984 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1985 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1986 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1987 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1988 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1989 | 0 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1990 | 4.00 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1991 | 55.90 million BoP, current US$ | +1297.5% |
| 1992 | 41.50 million BoP, current US$ | -25.8% |
| 1993 | 40.00 million BoP, current US$ | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 105.40 million BoP, current US$ | +163.5% |
| 1995 | 90.40 million BoP, current US$ | -14.2% |
| 1996 | 109.00 million BoP, current US$ | +20.6% |
| 1997 | 504.80 million BoP, current US$ | +363.1% |
| 1998 | 537.32 million BoP, current US$ | +6.4% |
| 1999 | 818.79 million BoP, current US$ | +52.4% |
| 2000 | 1.00 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.3% |
| 2001 | 812.94 million BoP, current US$ | -18.8% |
| 2002 | 904.66 million BoP, current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2003 | 2.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +131.8% |
| 2004 | 3.07 billion BoP, current US$ | +46.5% |
| 2005 | 4.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +33.4% |
| 2006 | 7.87 billion BoP, current US$ | +92.1% |
| 2007 | 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +76.2% |
| 2008 | 10.30 billion BoP, current US$ | -25.8% |
| 2009 | 3.90 billion BoP, current US$ | -62.2% |
| 2010 | 1.84 billion BoP, current US$ | -52.7% |
| 2011 | 2.10 billion BoP, current US$ | +14.2% |
| 2012 | 1.79 billion BoP, current US$ | -15.0% |
| 2013 | 1.99 billion BoP, current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2014 | 1.09 billion BoP, current US$ | -45.0% |
| 2015 | 2.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +103.1% |
| 2016 | 1.49 billion BoP, current US$ | -33.0% |
| 2017 | 2.01 billion BoP, current US$ | +34.9% |
| 2018 | 1.81 billion BoP, current US$ | -9.8% |
| 2019 | 2.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +22.7% |
| 2020 | 2.80 billion BoP, current US$ | +26.1% |
| 2021 | 2.13 billion BoP, current US$ | -23.8% |
| 2022 | 4.75 billion BoP, current US$ | +122.5% |
| 2023 | 5.17 billion BoP, current US$ | +8.9% |
| 2024 | 3.05 billion BoP, current US$ | -41.0% |
| 2025 | 4.88 billion BoP, current US$ | +60.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 4.88 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.70 billion BoP, current US$, 1.8× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 4.88 billion BoP, current US$ is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.64 billion BoP, current US$, 3.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Bulgaria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +1297.5% | 4.00 million BoP, current US$ | 55.90 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1997 | +363.1% | 109.00 million BoP, current US$ | 504.80 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0 BoP, current US$ | 0 BoP, current US$ | 0 BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 230.71 million BoP, current US$ | 4.00 million BoP, current US$ | 818.79 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.79 billion BoP, current US$ | 812.94 million BoP, current US$ | 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.86 billion BoP, current US$ | 1.09 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.22 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.80 billion BoP, current US$ | 2.13 billion BoP, current US$ | 5.17 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 42 Costa Rica 5.59 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 43 Cambodia 5.10 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 44 Dominican Republic 4.92 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 46 Ireland 4.82 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 47 Croatia 4.54 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 48 Uzbekistan 4.40 billion BoP, 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$), annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Bulgaria?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Bulgaria was 4.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 13.88 billion BoP, current US$ in 2007.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 BoP, current US$ in 1980.
- How does Bulgaria rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Bulgaria ranks 45th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 119.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.