Economy Overview
Bulgaria is heavily reliant on energy imports from Russia, a potential vulnerability, and is a participant in EU-backed efforts to diversify regional natural gas supplies. In late 2016, the Bulgarian Government provided funding to Bulgaria’s National Electric Company to cover the $695 million compensation owed to Russian nuclear equipment manufacturer Atomstroyexport for the cancellation of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, which the Bulgarian Government terminated in 2012. In 2016, the Bulgarian Government established the State eGovernment Agency. This new agency is responsible for the implementation of projects related to electronic governance as well as coordination of national policies in this area with the EU requirements and practices, as well as to strengthen cybersecurity.
Industries
67.6% (2016 est.)
Industrial Production Growth Rate
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock
Labor Force
1.7% (2016 est.)
Labor Force by Occupation
Agriculture: number of employed persons (2016 est.)
Industry: 116
Services: 6.8%
Unemployment Rate
66.6% (2016 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line
10.1% (2015 est.)
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: 112
Highest 10%: 22% (2015 est.)
Distribution of Family Income Gini Index
28.4% (2015)
Budget
Revenues: 35.4 (2014)
Expenditures: 78
Central Bank Discount Rate
21
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Stock of Narrow Money
119
Stock of Domestic Credit
68
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
$5.205 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
Germany 13.1%, Russia 8.9%, Italy 7.9%, Romania 7%, Turkey 6.2%, Greece 4.8%, Poland 4.1% (2016)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
72
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
59
Exchange Rates
1.7644 (2014 est.)
