Real gdp growth in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Real gdp growth was 3.1 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Real gdp growth in Bulgaria, 1980–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 3.1 for real gdp growth in 2025.
That represents a change of down 8.6% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, real gdp growth in Bulgaria peaked at 7.83 in 2021 and was at its lowest, -14.12, in 1997.
That places Bulgaria 113th out of 196 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.
Real gdp growth in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 5.7 | — |
| 1981 | 5.3 | -7.0% |
| 1982 | 4.2 | -20.8% |
| 1983 | 3 | -28.6% |
| 1984 | 4.6 | +53.3% |
| 1985 | 1.8 | -60.9% |
| 1986 | 5.3 | +194.4% |
| 1987 | 4.7 | -11.3% |
| 1988 | 2.4 | -48.9% |
| 1989 | -0.5 | -120.8% |
| 1990 | -9.1 | +1720.0% |
| 1991 | -10.76 | +18.2% |
| 1992 | -8.43 | -21.7% |
| 1993 | -11.62 | +38.0% |
| 1994 | -3.67 | -68.5% |
| 1995 | -1.6 | -56.3% |
| 1996 | 5.21 | -425.1% |
| 1997 | -14.12 | -371.2% |
| 1998 | 3.79 | -126.8% |
| 1999 | -8.4 | -321.6% |
| 2000 | 4.59 | -154.6% |
| 2001 | 3.82 | -16.6% |
| 2002 | 5.87 | +53.6% |
| 2003 | 5.24 | -10.8% |
| 2004 | 6.51 | +24.3% |
| 2005 | 7.06 | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 6.8 | -3.6% |
| 2007 | 6.65 | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 6.13 | -7.9% |
| 2009 | -3.35 | -154.6% |
| 2010 | 1.55 | -146.5% |
| 2011 | 2.09 | +34.4% |
| 2012 | 0.749 | -64.2% |
| 2013 | -0.543 | -172.5% |
| 2014 | 0.949 | -274.8% |
| 2015 | 3.4 | +258.1% |
| 2016 | 3.03 | -10.9% |
| 2017 | 2.75 | -9.3% |
| 2018 | 2.33 | -15.1% |
| 2019 | 3.79 | +62.8% |
| 2020 | -3.13 | -182.6% |
| 2021 | 7.83 | -349.9% |
| 2022 | 4.08 | -47.8% |
| 2023 | 1.68 | -58.8% |
| 2024 | 3.39 | +101.4% |
| 2025 | 3.1 | -8.6% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 3.1 is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.4, 1.3× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 3.1 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.55, 1.2× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Real gdp growth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | -1720.0% | -0.5 | -9.1 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.65 | -0.5 | 5.7 | 10 |
| 1990s | -5.87 | -14.12 | 5.21 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.93 | -3.35 | 7.06 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.01 | -0.543 | 3.79 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.82 | -3.13 | 7.83 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 110 Bosnia and Herzegovina 3.23 compare
- 110 Puerto Rico 3.23 compare
- 112 Croatia, Republic of 3.15 compare
- 114 Pakistan 3.09 compare
- 115 Tuvalu 3.08 compare
- 116 Maldives 3.07 compare
More economy & growth data for Bulgaria
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -8.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0156 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 316.82 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 0.1831 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0114 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 231.34 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is real gdp growth in Bulgaria?
- Real gdp growth in Bulgaria was 3.1 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest real gdp growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 7.83 in 2021.
- What is the lowest real gdp growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -14.12 in 1997.
- How does Bulgaria rank for real gdp growth?
- Bulgaria ranks 113th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is real gdp growth rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Real gdp growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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