Press releases

EU represented 15.2% of world’s GDP in 2021.

In May 2024, the total business climate indicator increases by 0.6 percentage points compared to the previous month. An improvement of the indicator is observed in the construction, retail trade and service sector, while in the industry a reduction is registered.

The uncertain economic environment, shortage of labour, competition in the branch, costs of materials and the insufficient demand continue to be the main obstacles to business development in the sectors.

The Total Producer Price Index in Industry fell by 0.1% in April 2024 compared to the previous month. Lower prices were registered in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 4.5%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 6.1%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.9%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market decreased by 0.8% in April 2024 compared to March 2024. The domestic prices went down in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 4.1%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 4.9%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.4%.

The Total Producer Price Index went down by 6.6% in April 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. There was a considerable decrease in prices in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 28.3%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 8.2%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.6%.

The Producer Price Index on the Domestic Market fell by 10.6% compared to April 2023. A drop was reported in the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply - by 28.4%. An increase was observed in the mining and quarrying industry - by 2.8%, and in the manufacturing industry - by 0.1%.

In March 2024, compared to February 2024, an increase is reported in the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 60.0%, transport diesel - by 21.9%, solid fuels - by 16.9%, electricity - by 3.8%, and motor gasoline - by 2.9%. A decrease is not reported for the production of any of the products. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

Compared to the same month of the previous year, an increase is reported for the production of: liquefied petroleum gases - by 60.0%, transport diesel - by 54.5%, and motor gasoline - by 30.9%. A decrease is reported in the production of: solid fuels - by 41.6%, and electricity - by 10.8%. There is no change in the production of natural gas.

In March 2024, compared to February 2024, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 20.1%, solid fuels - by 16.3%, natural gas - by 9.6%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 8.3%, and electricity - by 0.2%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of motor gasoline - by 28%.

Compared to the same month of 2023, an increase is reported in the deliveries of: transport diesel - by 31.1%, motor gasoline - by 5.9%, and natural gas - by 5.4%. A decrease is reported in the deliveries of: solid fuels - by 34.2%, liquefied petroleum gases - by 9.3%, and electricity - by 2.2%.

In April 2024, the number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad was 707.9 thousand, or 4.9% above the registered in April 2023. The trips with other purposes formed the greatest share of the total number of trips of Bulgarian residents abroad - 40.0%, followed by those with holiday and recreation purposes - 38.2%, and with professional purposes - 21.8%.

The number of visits of non-residents to Bulgaria was 793.3 thousand, or 1.1% more in comparison with the same month of the previous year. Тhe predominant share of the visits was with other purposes - 51.8%, followed by trips with holiday and recreation purposes - 34.0%, and with professional purposes - 14.2%.

Transit passes through the country were 35.6% (282.6 thousand) of all visits of non-residents to Bulgaria.

The total length of the national road network in Bulgaria as at 31.12.2023 was 19 968 km, which is 26 km more than in 2022.

The length of the bituminized and unpaved roads increased by 19 and 14 km respectively, while the crushed-stone and coarse-aggregate roads decreased by 7 km in comparison with the previous year.

Detailed data can be found on the NSI website under the heading 'National Road Network'.

In 2023 the railway freight transport registered a drop in both the goods carried and the performance of 11.3% and 13.1% respectively, compared to the previous year.

The number of the transported passengers decreased by 5.4% and the performance - by 0.5%.

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

In the first quarter of 2024, 1 068.5 thousand Bulgarian residents made tourist trips. The majority of them - 74.9% travelled only in the country, 19.5% - only abroad, and 5.6% - both in the country and abroad. Compared to the same quarter of 2023, the total number of travelled persons aged 15 and over increased by 5.7%.

In the first quarter of 2024 the goods carried by freight land and water transport rose by 0.9%, while the transport performance declined by 5.3% in comparison with the same quarter of 2023. The data are preliminary.

Compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, the number of passengers transported by passenger transport (land, water and urban electrical transport) rose by 13.4%. The transport performance also increased by 11.9%, compared to first quarter of 2023.

First quarter of 2024, compared to same quarter of 2023:

• The transported goods by land transport increased by 10.3%, while the transport performance dropped by 8.2%;
• The goods carried by sea and inland waterway transport rose by 86.4 thousand tonnes and the transport performance, measured in tonne-kilometres, increased by 25.1%;
• The number of transported passengers by land transport went up by 0.7% and the transport performance recorded an increase of 22.5%;
• There was an increase of 1.4 thousand passengers in the number of transported passengers by water transport, while the transport performance dropped to 1 800.0 pkm;
• The enterprises performing urban electrical transport carried 6.7 thousand passengers more and the transport performance also increased by 25.5%.

In 2023 in Bulgaria were operating the following cultural institutions:

• 186 museums with museum collection of 7 848 thousand units;
• 83 theatres, which organized 16 125 performances, visited by 2 249 thousand viewers;
• 49 libraries with library collection over 200 thousand library units;
• 81 cinemas with 225 cinema screens.