Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita was 35.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Bulgaria, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Bulgaria stood at 35.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Bulgaria peaked at 47.7% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 2021.
That places Bulgaria 68th out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 40.4% | — |
| 2001 | 43.7% | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 39.8% | -9.0% |
| 2003 | 38.1% | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 39.2% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 38.9% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 42.6% | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 42.6% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 42.6% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 44.4% | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 43.1% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 44.5% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 47.7% | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 41.9% | -12.3% |
| 2014 | 40.2% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 42.5% | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 43.3% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 42.2% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 39.3% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 37.8% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 35.5% | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 33.7% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 35.1% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 35.5% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.2% | 38.1% | 44.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.3% | 37.8% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.0% | 33.7% | 35.5% | 4 |
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 share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Bulgaria?
- Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita in Bulgaria was 35.5% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 47.7% in 2012.
- What is the lowest share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 2021.
- How does Bulgaria rank for share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita?
- Bulgaria ranks 68th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, WHO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Out-of-pocket spending on healthcare as percent of total current healthcare expenditure vs. GDP per capita, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.