Annual growth of GDP per capita in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Annual growth of GDP per capita was 3.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Bulgaria, 1981–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, annual growth of gdp per capita in Bulgaria stood at 3.2%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% on the previous year and down 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth of gdp per capita in Bulgaria peaked at 10.8% in 1988 and was at its lowest, -13.6%, in 1997.
That places Bulgaria 74th out of 212 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth of GDP per capita in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 4.6% | — |
| 1982 | 2.0% | -55.3% |
| 1983 | 3.2% | +56.1% |
| 1984 | 3.2% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 2.7% | -14.9% |
| 1986 | 4.2% | +57.7% |
| 1987 | 5.9% | +39.3% |
| 1988 | 10.8% | +83.4% |
| 1989 | -2.2% | -119.9% |
| 1990 | -7.5% | +246.9% |
| 1991 | -7.5% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | -6.3% | -16.8% |
| 1993 | -0.7% | -89.0% |
| 1994 | 2.2% | -413.1% |
| 1995 | 3.4% | +55.3% |
| 1996 | 5.7% | +71.0% |
| 1997 | -13.6% | -336.4% |
| 1998 | 4.5% | -133.0% |
| 1999 | -7.9% | -275.8% |
| 2000 | 5.1% | -164.8% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | +15.8% |
| 2002 | 8.2% | +38.6% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | -25.9% |
| 2004 | 7.3% | +20.5% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | -7.6% |
| 2009 | -2.7% | -139.6% |
| 2010 | 2.2% | -181.8% |
| 2011 | 2.7% | +23.4% |
| 2012 | 1.3% | -51.4% |
| 2013 | 1.5% | +11.2% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +47.1% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | +116.2% |
| 2016 | 4.4% | -7.4% |
| 2017 | 4.1% | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | -9.0% |
| 2019 | 5.3% | +40.8% |
| 2020 | -2.2% | -140.9% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | -496.3% |
| 2022 | 4.8% | -44.3% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | -58.6% |
| 2024 | 3.5% | +75.9% |
| 2025 | 3.2% | -7.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 3.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.7%, 1.9× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 3.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.8%, 1.8× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual growth of GDP per capita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +496.3% | -2.2% | 8.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.8% | -2.2% | 10.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | -2.8% | -13.6% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.0% | -2.7% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 1.3% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3% | -2.2% | 8.5% | 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)
- 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 annual growth of gdp per capita in Bulgaria?
- Annual growth of gdp per capita in Bulgaria was 3.2% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 10.8% in 1988.
- What is the lowest annual growth of gdp per capita recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.6% in 1997.
- How does Bulgaria rank for annual growth of gdp per capita?
- Bulgaria ranks 74th out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth of gdp per capita rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth of GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This data is adjusted for inflation.