Press releases

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry decreased by 2.2% in March 2023 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 9.3%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.1%. The prices went up in the manufacturing by 0.9%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 2.6% in March 2023 compared to the previous month. The domestic prices went down in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 7.7%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 1.9%. The prices increased in the manufacturing by 1.4%.

The Total Producer Price Index rose by 2.0% in March 2023 compared to the same month in 2022. Significant growth was seen in the manufacturing by 6.0%, and in the mining and quarrying industry by 2.7%. Prices fell in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply by 7.1%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market went up by 2.5% compared to March 2022. Prices rose in manufacturing by 10.2% and in the mining and quarrying industry by 3.6%, while in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply the prices fell by 6.9%.

In April 2023, the total business climate indicator increases by 0.7 percentage points in comparison with the previous month. An improvement of the indicator is registered in the industry, while in the construction and service sector, a reduction is observed. Only in the retail trade, the indicator preserves its March level.

The uncertain economic environment remains the main difficulty for the activity of the enterprises in all sectors.

The number of minors and juveniles registered in the Child pedagogic rooms for anti-social acts and crimes committed in 2022 was 8 626. In comparison with 2021, their number decreased by 181, or by 2.1%.

The number of minors and juveniles new entrants in the Child pedagogic rooms in 2022 was 2 677, and 2 513 persons were removed from the Child pedagogic rooms.

According to the Demography statistics, the population of the country as of the end of 2022 is 6 447 710 persons. Compared to the previous year, it has decreased by 34 774 persons, or by 0.5%.

There are 56 596 live born children in 2022. The number of live births decreases by 2 082 compared to the previous year.

The number of deaths in 2022 is 118 814, and the crude mortality rate - 18.4‰. Compared to the previous year, the number of deaths decreases by 30 181.

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

• In 2022/2023 school year in pre-primary education (kindergartens and preparatory groups at schools) were enrolled 216.5 thousand children.
• In 2022, the number of basic education graduates was 61.1 thousand students and the number of upper-secondary education graduates from general and vocational programmes were respectively 23.2 and 13.2 thousand students.
• In 2022/2023 academic year, there were 214.8 thousand students enrolled at the different tertiary education levels (professional bachelor, bachelor and master’s).
• As of 31.12.2022, for acquiring a doctor’s educational and scientific degree in the country were trained 6 548 persons, of whom 764 were foreign citizens.

In 2022, the average monthly poverty line for the country is 525.92 BGN per person. The number of persons who are below this line is 1 571.9 thousand representing 22.9% of the population. From 2021, a new indicator of severe material and social deprivation is included in the poverty indicators which shows the lack of necessary and desirable items for living a worthy life. It is calculated as the share of persons in the population who cannot afford 7 out of 13 items - 6 at the individual level and 7 at the household level. This indicator is part of the combined indicator ‘Population at risk of poverty and social exclusion’ for regular monitoring of the progress of countries in meeting national sub-targets in the Europe 2030 strategy.

In 2021, 2.4% of persons aged 15 - 74 have already decided to change their current place of residence in the country, and 2.9% intend to move, but do not have a final decision yet. Migrants with weak expressed willingness are 8.5%. 86.2% of persons in the respective age group are not willing to migrate.

The share of potential migrants within the country is highest among the young 15 - 19 years (7.1%) and 20 - 29 years (6.1%).

In 2021, 11.9% of persons aged 15 - 74 are very or somewhat likely to move to live abroad. Compared to 2011, the share of potential migrants has increased both among men and among women.

Potential labour emigrants are 3.3% of persons, with men predominating (3.8%). Compared to 2011, this group decreased for both sexes. Very or somewhat likely to go abroad to work/study for a few months, but not more than a year, refers to 4.7% of the population aged 15 - 74 years.

The share of persons who would go abroad as tourists is increasing, with no gender differences being observed. The largest share of tourists is in the age group 40 - 49 years - 24.0%, and the smallest - among persons aged 15 - 19 years and 70 - 74 years.

The share of non-travellers is decreasing - from 66.8% for men and 70.4% for women in 2011 to 58.1% for men and 61.6% for women in 2021.

The number of detached crèches and groups in kindergartens functioning in the country as of 31.12.2022 was 835, with 33 193 places in them.

The number of children accommodated in crèches at the end of the year was 30 544. 15 857 of them were boys, and 14 687 - girls.

The total number of places in crèches per 100 children aged up to 3 years as of 31.12.2022 was 19.5, and the coverage of children brought up in crèches - 17.9 per 100 children aged up to 3 years.

In 2022, the government deficit and debt of the EU decreased in relative terms compared with 2021. In the EU, the government deficit to GDP ratio shrank from -4.8% in 2021 to -3.4% in 2022. The government debt to GDP ratio in the EU decreased from 88.0% in 2021 to 84.0% at the end of 2022.

In 2022, the General Government Institutional Sector reported a deficit of -4 648 million BGN, or 2.8% of GDP, according to preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute.

The Government Debt of Bulgaria for 2022 is 37 848 million BGN, or 22.9% of GDP.