European System on Integrated Social Protection Statistics (ESSPROS) - 2023

In 2023, Bulgaria spent 34 867.1 million BGN for social protection benefits. Тo finance social protection in the country, 17 973.4 million BGN were allocated from the state budget while the receipts of social protection contributions amounted to 28 474.3 million BGN.

In 2023 the social protection benefits by function are:

• ‘Sickness/Healthcare’ - 9 230.3 million BGN;
• ‘Disability’ - 3 659.1 million BGN;
• ‘Old age’ - 15 572.0 million BGN;
• ‘Survivors’ - 2 054.5 million BGN;
• ‘Family/Children’ - 3 251.0 million BGN;
• ‘Unemployment’ - 642.3 million BGN;
• ‘Housing’ - 0.62 million BGN;
• ‘Social exclusion n.e.c.’ - 457.3 million BGN.

The ‘Old age’ function with its major component expenditure for pensions had the highest share (44.7%) in total expenditure. The ‘Sickness/Healthcare’ and ‘Disability’ functions also had a significant share of total expenditure - 26.5% and 10.5%, respectively.