Statistical data

According to the results from the Labour Force Survey, in the first quarter of 2025:

- The unemployment rate was 3.9%, by 1.1 percentage points lower compared to the first quarter of 2024;

- The employment rate of the population aged 15 - 64 increased by 0.2 percentage points in comparison with the same quarter of 2024 and stood at 70.4%;

- The activity rate of the population aged 15 - 64 was 73.3%, by 0.7 percentage points lower compared to the first quarter of 2024.

The data are from the Labour Force Survey - a sample statistical survey. It is carried out over a sample of non-institutional households. Quarterly, through personal interview, about 19.6 thousand households, randomly selected, are observed.

The main results from the annual comprehensive surveys of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) characterizing the activity of educational institutions are as follows:

• In 2024/2025 school year in pre-primary education (kindergartens and preparatory groups at schools) were enrolled 217.2 thousand children.
• As of 31.12.2024, there were 2 329 schools operating in the country, with 713.5 thousand students enrolled.
• In 2024, the number of basic education graduates was 59.8 thousand students and the number of upper-secondary education graduates was 43.4 thousand students.
• In 2024/2025 academic year, there were 203.5 thousand students enrolled at the different tertiary education levels (professional bachelor, bachelor and master’s).
• As of 31.12.2024, for acquiring a doctor’s educational and scientific degree in the country, 5 029 persons were trained, of whom 574 were foreign citizens.

The Producer Price Index in Forestry decreased by 0.4% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year (on an annual basis).

The change is a result of the decrease in the price of wood in the rough from coniferous trees - by 3.8%, while the price of rough from non-coniferous trees increase - by 2.3%.

A decrease - by 4.6%, is observed as well in the prices of wood in the rough in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter of 2024.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'Forestry'.

According to the data from the Household Budget Survey, during the first quarter of 2025 the quarterly total income average per household member was 3 271 BGN and it increased by 15.2% compared to the same quarter of 2024.

The quarterly total expenditure average per household member during the first quarter of 2025 was 2 861 BGN and it increased by 13.3% compared to the same quarter of 2024.

In the first quarter of 2025, there were changes in the consumption of basic food products on average per person compared to the same quarter of 2024. The biggest increase was in the consumption of fruit. The consumption of bread and paste products decreased.

In April 2025, the monthly inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was -0.8% compared to the previous month, and the annual inflation rate in April 2025, compared to April 2024, was 3.5%.

In April 2025, compared to the previous month, the highest decrease was registered in the following groups: ‘Health’ (-8.8%), ‘Communications’ (-3.6%), ‘Transport’ (-2.6%) and ‘Recreation and culture’ (-1.6%). An increase in the prices was recorded in the following groups: ‘Clothing and footwear’ (+7.9%), ‘Food and non-alcoholic beverages’ (+0.4), ‘Education’ (+0.3%) and ‘Restaurants and hotels’ (+0.3%).

The monthly inflation rate, measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), was -1.2% and the annual inflation rate was 2.8%.

According to the seasonally adjusted data, GDP had a growth rate of 3.1% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

The Number of employees at the end of March 2025 increased by 1.7%, compared to the end of December 2024, and reached 2.35 million. In the first quarter of 2025, the average wages and salaries was 2 443 BGN, increasing by 1.2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024.

The producer price index in agriculture for the first quarter of 2025 increased by 7.7% in comparison with the same quarter of 2024 as a result of the increase in the crop output price index - by 13.8%. The animal output price index fell by 2.0%.

Compared to the previous year (on an annual basis), the prices of agricultural output went up by 8.1%, as in crop output they increased by 12.7% and in animal output - by 0.8%.

In crop output, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same quarter of 2024, the most significant rise was recorded in the prices of industrial crops - by 29.9%, as a result of the increase in the price of sunflower - by 42.3%. The trend was also retained on an annual basis compared to 2024, with an increase in industrial crops - by 15.2%.

In animal output, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same quarter of 2024, the prices of live animals went down by 9.0%, while prices for livestock products increased by 6.3%. Compared to 2024 (on an annual basis), a decrease was reported in the prices of live animals - by 6.5%, while prices of animal products increased - by 9.4%.

The agricultural consumer goods and services price index for the first quarter of 2025 decreased by 0.2% compared to the same quarter of the previous year and by 0.5% compared to 2024 (on an annual basis).

The biggest decrease, compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024, was recorded in the prices of: mineral fertilizers - by 2.2%, and plant protection products - by 14.9%.

Compared to the previous year, the most significant decline was in the prices of: mineral fertilizers - by 2.1%, and of plant protection products - by 14.8%.

In March 2025, 2 279 accommodation establishments - hotels, motels, camping sites, mountain chalets and other establishments for short-term accommodation, with 10 or more bed-places, functioned in the country, with 66.3 thousand rooms and 138.1 thousand bed-places in them. In comparison with the same month of the previous year, the number of accommodation establishments increased by 3.0%, and the bed-places in them - by 6.2%.

The total number of nights spent was 1 123.1 thousand, or 4.5% more in comparison to a year earlier, and the number of arrivals in all accommodation establishments increased by 6.3% and reached 528.5 thousand.

The total revenues from nights spent reached 106.2 million BGN, or 13.6% more compared to the same month of the previous year.

The exports of goods from Bulgaria to third countries decreased by 6.0% compared to the same period of 2024 and amounted to 7 011.5 million BGN, while the imports of goods from third countries increased by 16.1% and added up to 10 719.5 million BGN.

The most notable fall in the exports was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (75.8%). The most notable growth was recorded in the section ‘Beverages and tobacco’ (75.4%). The largest growth in the imports of goods from third countries was recorded in the section ‘Miscellaneous manufactured articles’ (46.4%). The most notable fall was reported in the section ‘Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes’ (29.0%). The data are according to the Standard International Trade Classification.

The total value of all exported goods to third countries and the EU amounted to 19 750.7 million BGN in the period January - March 2025, which is 3.1% less than in the corresponding period of the previous year, while the total value of all imported goods from third countries and the EU added up to 24 604.1 million BGN and increased by 6.8%.