Statistical data

The number of detached crèches and groups in kindergartens functioning in the country as of 31.12.2023 was 835, with 33 373 places in them.

The number of children accommodated in crèches at the end of the year was 30 586. 15 810 of them were boys, and 14 776 - girls.

The total number of places in crèches per 100 children aged up to 3 years as of 31.12.2023 was 19.5, and the coverage of children brought up in crèches - 17.9 per 100 children aged up to 3 years.

The data for the fourth quarter of 2023 have been published for revenues, expenses and deficit/surplus of the ‘General Government’ sector by sub-sectors: sub-sector ‘Central Government’, sub-sector ‘Local Government’ and sub-sector ‘Social Insurance Funds’, in accordance with Article 3 (2) of Directive 2011/85 of the EU.

The data are based on cash reports and trial balances on an accrual basis of the budgetary units, as well as quarterly data on the public enterprises reclassified in the sector.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In 2023, the government deficit and debt of the EU increased in relative terms compared to 2022. In the EU, the government deficit to GDP ratio increased from -3.4% in 2022 to -3.5% in 2023. The government debt to GDP ratio in the EU decreased from 83.4% in 2022 to 81.7% at the end of 2023.

In 2023, revenues of the general government sector amounting to BGN 69 696,59 million and expenditures amounting to BGN 73 151,05  million were reported in the preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute.

The data of the "General Government" sector are developed using the reports on the implementation of the consolidated fiscal program provided by the Ministry of Finance, as well as assessments of the government enterprises reclassified in the sector.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, revenues of the general government sector amounting to BGN 20 835,12 million and expenditures amounting to BGN 22 035,07 million were reported.

The data of the "General Government" sector are developed using the reports on the implementation of the consolidated fiscal program provided by the Ministry of Finance, as well as assessments of the government enterprises reclassified in the sector.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Government Finance Statistics'.

For the fourth quarter of 2023 reported Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) are as follows:

• "Total economy" sector: -504,6  million BGN
• "Rest of the World" sector: 504,6 million BGN

The quarterly non-financial accounts of the "General Government" and the "Rest of the World" sectors present, on the basis of national accounts, the economic activity of the government and non-resident units in a manner comparable to other European countries, according to the European System of National Accounts 2010. For this purpose, tables showing revenues and expenses of the "General Government" and "Rest of the World" sectors are developed.

The "State Government" sector data are derived by using the reports on the implementation of the consolidated fiscal program provided by the Ministry of Finance, as well as estimates of the government units requalified in the sector.

Rest of the World sector data is developed using the Balance of Payments provided by the Bulgarian National Bank, as well as estimates developed by the National Statistical Institute.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the topic 'Non-financial national accounts by institutional sectors'.

In 2023, the General Government Institutional Sector reported a deficit of -3 454 million BGN, or 1.9% of GDP, according to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute.

The Government Debt of Bulgaria for 2023 is 42 383 million BGN, or 23.1% of GDP.

According to data from the Household Budget Survey, the annual total income average per capita is 10 846 BGN in 2023, an increase of 20.4% compared to 2022.

Bulgarian households spent an average of 10 044 BGN per capita in 2023, or 19.7% more compared to 2022.

In 2023, there were changes in the consumption of basic food products on average per person compared to 2022. The biggest decrease was in the consumption of bread and paste products and yoghurt. The consumption of meat products, of fruit, of non-alcoholic beverages, and of alcoholic beverages increased.

The purchasing power of households increased for most kinds of food in 2023. The biggest increase in purchasing power is observed for butter, dry beans and bread.

In the first quarter of 2024, the newly registered legal entities in the country were 12 229, and those declared bankrupt - 992. Compared to the same quarter of 2023, the total number of newly registered decreased by 7.4%, and that of bankrupts - by 14.1%.

The distribution by economic sectors shows that the relative share of newly registered legal entities is the largest in sector G ‘Trade; car and motorcycle repair’ - 88.4% of all newly registered units in the second quarter of 2023. Among the companies declaring bankrupt, the largest share is in sector G ‘Trade; repair of cars and motorcycles’ - 78.3% of the total number of bankrupted legal entities.

In March 2024, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 0.2% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in March 2024 compared to March 2023 was 3.0%.

In March 2024, compared to the previous month, the highest increase was registered for Recreation and culture (+0.9%), Communications (+0.9%) and Transport (+0.8%). The decrease was recorded in the prices for Clothing and footwear (-0.6%), Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (-0.5%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.1%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was 0.2% and the annual inflation rate was 3.1%.