Refugees
106,913refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
823from it, abroad, 2025
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026
Bulgaria
Bulgaria has 6.4 m people (World Bank, 2025) and an economy of $131 bn a year (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of its potash supply (FAOSTAT, 2024, estimated) and all of the gas it uses (EIA, 2024, preliminary).
Written automatically from the figures on this page.
- Population
- 6.4 m (2025)
- Member of
- European Union, NATO (as of 10 Nov 2026)
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.
- GDPUS$131billion62nd of 186World Bank · 2025
- Population6.4million111th of 216World Bank · 2025
- GDP per personUS$20,32854th of 186World Bank · 2025
- Military, % GDP2.0% of GDP61st of 150World Bank · 2025
- CO2 per person4.7t75th of 213Global Carbon Budget · 2024
Dependencies at a glance
Bulgaria imports all of its potash supply and all of the gas it uses; it exports wheat.
Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
| Resource | Dependence | Position | Main partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil | Imports most | Imports 94% of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | Kazakhstan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia |
| Natural gas | Imports most | Imports all of the gas it uses PreliminaryEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | Russia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye |
| Wheat | Exporter | Exports 69% of what it producesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, exports 2023 | Spain, Indonesia, Thailand (buyers) |
| Maize | Exporter | Exports 49% of what it producesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, exports 2023 | Greece, Malta (buyers) |
| Rice | Exporter | Exports 20% of what it producesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, exports 2023 | Romania, Türkiye, Albania (buyers) |
| Soybeans | Imports most | Imports 79% of the soybeans it usesFAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023 | Moldova, Romania, Ukraine |
| Potash | Imports most | Imports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025 | Canada, Spain, Russia |
| Phosphate | Exporter | Exports exceed recorded supply EstimateGoods passing through, or changes in stocks, can cause this; FAOSTAT’s figures do not show whichFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, exports 2025 | Romania, Greece, Hungary (buyers) |
| Arms | Supplier concentration only | Main supplier: United States, 62% of importsSIPRI, 2021–2025 | United States, Germany, France |
| Chips | Supplier concentration only | Main supplier: Malaysia, 24% of importsUN Comtrade, 2025 | Malaysia, Germany, Philippines |
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
- OilImports most
Imports 94% of the oil it uses
Main partners: Kazakhstan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia
EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- Natural gasImports most
Imports all of the gas it uses Preliminary
Main partners: Russia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye
EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- WheatExporter
Exports 69% of what it produces
Main partners: Spain, Indonesia, Thailand (buyers)
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, exports 2023
- MaizeExporter
Exports 49% of what it produces
Main partners: Greece, Malta (buyers)
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, exports 2023
- RiceExporter
Exports 20% of what it produces
Main partners: Romania, Türkiye, Albania (buyers)
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, exports 2023
- SoybeansImports most
Imports 79% of the soybeans it uses
Main partners: Moldova, Romania, Ukraine
FAOSTAT, use 2024 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023
- PotashImports most
Imports all of its potash supply Estimate
Main partners: Canada, Spain, Russia
FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025
- PhosphateExporter
Exports exceed recorded supply Estimate
Goods passing through, or changes in stocks, can cause this; FAOSTAT’s figures do not show which
Main partners: Romania, Greece, Hungary (buyers)
FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, exports 2025
- ArmsSupplier concentration only
Main supplier: United States, 62% of imports
Main partners: United States, Germany, France
SIPRI, 2021–2025
- ChipsSupplier concentration only
Main supplier: Malaysia, 24% of imports
Main partners: Malaysia, Germany, Philippines
UN Comtrade, 2025
Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; SIPRI; UN Comtradeyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026
Dependencies toolMoney and reserves
Bulgaria’s economy produced $131 bn in 2025.
GDP, 2000–2025
Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026
Economic growth3.1%2025 · 99th of 186 · World Bank
Inflation4.6%2025 · 41st of 169 · World Bank
Unemployment3.5%2025 · 123rd of 181 · World Bank
ReservesUS$43.7billion2024 · 47th of 164 · World Bank
Trade110% of GDP2024 · 46th of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$4.88billion2025 · 49th of 200 · World Bank
People
Bulgaria had 6.4 m people in 2025.
Population, 1950–2100
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios
Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection
Bulgaria’s population by age
1950200020502100
Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection
Births per woman1.752023 · 133rd of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age44.32023 · 22nd of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over22%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
Technology and space
Satellites owned in Bulgaria numbered 6 at the end of 2026.
Climate and hazards
Bulgaria emitted 31.6 Mt of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.
Bulgaria’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024
Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026
CO2 emissions32Mt2024 · 75th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person4.7t2024 · 75th of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 17503,984Mt2024 · 49th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
Water stress1.52023 · 91st of 164 · WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)
More figures
Shown only where a source covers Bulgaria.
Sanctions
92entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 89 and UK 3
Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.
Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026
Chinese loans and grants
US$1.38billioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021
Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021
Cyber incidents
8publicly known incidents affecting Bulgaria, 2000–2024
Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted. Who they were attributed to
Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024
All figures
54 measures on this site have a recent figure for Bulgaria.
| GDP | $131 bn | 2025 | 62nd of 186 | World Bank |
| GDP per person | $20,328 | 2025 | 54th of 186 | World Bank |
| Economic growth | 3.1% | 2025 | 99th of 186 | World Bank |
| Inflation | 4.6% | 2025 | 41st of 169 | World Bank |
| Government debt | 30% | 2025 | 158th of 191 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Government budget balance | −3.0% | 2025 | 112th of 195 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Current account balance | −6.1% | 2025 | 154th of 194 | IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026 |
| Unemployment | 3.5% | 2025 | 123rd of 181 | World Bank |
| Reserves, including gold | $44 bn | 2024 | 47th of 164 | World Bank |
| Trade | 110% | 2024 | 46th of 172 | World Bank |
| Foreign investment in | $4.9 bn | 2025 | 49th of 200 | World Bank |
| Remittances received | 2.3% | 2024 | 78th of 162 | World Bank |
| Population | 6.4 m | 2025 | 111th of 216 | World Bank |
| Population with UN projections | 6.8 m | 2023 | 110th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Births per woman | 1.75 | 2023 | 133rd of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Median age | 44.3 | 2023 | 22nd of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Life expectancy | 75.6 | 2023 | 116th of 237 | UN WPP 2024 |
| Refugees from the country | 823 | 2025 | 134th of 206 | UNHCR |
| Refugees and others needing protection, by host | 106,913 | 2025 | 59th of 176 | UNHCR |
| Refugees hosted per 1,000 people | 16.6 | 2025 | 44th of 176 | UNHCR |
| Crude oil production | 1 kb/d | 2025 | 87th of 214 | EIA |
| Oil consumption | 108 kb/d | 2024 | 78th of 212 | EIA |
| Natural gas production | Preliminary | 2024 | 92nd of 213 | EIA |
| Natural gas consumption | 2.7 bcm | 2024 | 76th of 213 | EIA |
| Electricity generated | 38 TWh | 2024 | 61st of 193 | Ember |
| Low-carbon electricity | 71% | 2024 | 53rd of 193 | Ember |
| Electricity from coal | 23% | 2024 | 33rd of 193 | Ember |
| Electricity from wind and solar | 18% | 2024 | 43rd of 193 | Ember |
| Wheat production | 7.1 Mt | 2024 | 21st of 123 | FAOSTAT |
| Wheat imports | 0.1 Mt | 2024 | 117th of 180 | FAOSTAT |
| Maize production | 1.6 Mt | 2024 | 52nd of 169 | FAOSTAT |
| Maize imports | 0.1 Mt | 2024 | 89th of 196 | FAOSTAT |
| Rice production | 0.0 Mt | 2024 | 79th of 135 | FAOSTAT |
| Rice imports | 0.1 Mt | 2024 | 103rd of 197 | FAOSTAT |
| Soybean production | 0.0 Mt | 2024 | 89th of 108 | FAOSTAT |
| Soybean imports | 0.0 Mt | 2024 | 96th of 179 | FAOSTAT |
| Potash fertiliser use | 0.03 Mt | 2024 | 69th of 199 | FAOSTAT |
| Phosphate fertiliser use | 0.07 Mt | 2024 | 47th of 199 | FAOSTAT |
| CO2 emissions | 32 Mt | 2024 | 75th of 214 | Global Carbon Budget |
| CO2 per person | 4.7 t | 2024 | 75th of 213 | Global Carbon Budget |
| CO2 emitted since 1750 | 3,984 Mt | 2024 | 49th of 214 | Global Carbon Budget |
| Net CO2 imports through trade | 2.3% | 2023 | 91st of 120 | Global Carbon Budget |
| Water stress | 1.5 | 2023 | 91st of 164 | WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0) |
| Water from abroad | 1% | 2023 | 116th of 193 | FAO AQUASTAT |
| Military spending, share of GDP | 2.0% | 2025 | 61st of 150 | World Bank |
| Military spending | $2.6 bn | 2025 | 59th of 150 | World Bank |
| Arms imports | 541 TIV m | 2025 | 19th of 108 | SIPRI |
| Arms exports | 33 TIV m | 2024 | 33rd of 50 | SIPRI |
| Satellites in orbit | 6 | 2026 | 45th of 81 | Orbital data from CelesTrak |
| People using the internet | 82% | 2024 | 90th of 182 | World Bank |
| ICT service exports | $4.4 bn | 2024 | 38th of 162 | World Bank |
| ICT service exports, share of service exports | 26% | 2024 | 18th of 162 | World Bank |
| Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK) | 92 | 2026 | 37th of 181 | US CSL |
| Chinese loans and grants committed | $95 m | 2020 | 42nd of 130 | AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0 |
Sources for this page
- World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Reserves, …
- IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
- UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
- UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000
- U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
- Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
- FAOSTATWheat production, Wheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice production, Rice imports, …
- Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750, Net CO2 imports through trade
- WRI Aqueduct, accessed on 25 Oct 2026, aqueduct.wri.org (CC BY 4.0)Water stress
- FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
- SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabaseArms imports, Arms exports, Dependencies at a glance
- CelesTrak SATCATSatellites in orbit
- US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
- AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
- UN ComtradeDependencies at a glance
- EU financial sanctions listSanctions
- UK Sanctions ListSanctions
- EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents
Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure