Imports of goods and services in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Imports of goods and services was 51.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in Bulgaria, 1980–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 51.8% for imports of goods and services in 2025.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Bulgaria peaked at 72.2% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 22.9%, in 1995.
Bulgaria ranks 82nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 30.7% | — |
| 1981 | 34.5% | +12.5% |
| 1982 | 33.2% | -3.8% |
| 1983 | 36.9% | +11.2% |
| 1984 | 38.2% | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 43.2% | +13.0% |
| 1986 | 43.5% | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 42.6% | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 45.9% | +7.7% |
| 1989 | 48.2% | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 36.7% | -23.7% |
| 1991 | 39.2% | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 52.9% | +35.0% |
| 1993 | 45.8% | -13.4% |
| 1994 | 45.7% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 22.9% | -49.8% |
| 1996 | 37.3% | +62.8% |
| 1997 | 36.9% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 35.1% | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 47.3% | +34.8% |
| 2000 | 41.5% | -12.3% |
| 2001 | 44.2% | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 41.6% | -5.8% |
| 2003 | 44.6% | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 52.1% | +16.8% |
| 2005 | 57.2% | +9.7% |
| 2006 | 64.1% | +12.0% |
| 2007 | 71.2% | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 72.2% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 50.5% | -30.1% |
| 2010 | 53.3% | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 58.6% | +10.0% |
| 2012 | 63.6% | +8.5% |
| 2013 | 65.1% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 65.7% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 63.0% | -4.2% |
| 2016 | 58.9% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 62.6% | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 63.2% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 61.0% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 53.9% | -11.5% |
| 2021 | 59.4% | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 68.9% | +16.0% |
| 2023 | 57.9% | -15.9% |
| 2024 | 53.9% | -7.0% |
| 2025 | 51.8% | -3.9% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 51.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 51.2%, 1.0× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 51.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 52.7%, 98% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 39.7% | 30.7% | 48.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.0% | 22.9% | 52.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.9% | 41.5% | 72.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 61.5% | 53.3% | 65.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.6% | 51.8% | 68.9% | 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 imports of goods and services in Bulgaria?
- Imports of goods and services in Bulgaria was 51.8% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 72.2% in 2008.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.9% in 1995.
- How does Bulgaria rank for imports of goods and services?
- Bulgaria ranks 82nd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. 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.