Government expense — all countries

Government expense — Bulgaria

Government expense in Bulgaria in 2023 — 35.76%. Ranked 21 in the world out of 87. Since 1990, the indicator has fallen by 17.76 pp.

2023 35.76% −3.57 pp vs 2022
World rank 21of 87
Period maximum 53.52%1990
Period minimum 26.23%1997

Trend over time

1990–2023 · % of GDP

Government expense — Bulgaria, 1990–202320304050601990199419982002200620102014201820221990: 53.52%1991: 39.37%1992: 39.55%1993: 43.69%1994: 43.72%1995: 27.97%1996: 32.04%1997: 26.23%1998: 30.39%1999: 34.42%2000: 33.99%2001: 33.8%2002: 33.18%2003: 34.91%2004: 34.19%2005: 31.44%2006: 29.61%2007: 32.79%2008: 31.81%2009: 33.84%2010: 31.63%2011: 29.85%2012: 30.91%2013: 32.92%2014: 37.94%2015: 34.29%2016: 32.03%2017: 31.99%2018: 33.16%2019: 33.19%2020: 36.5%2021: 37.7%2022: 39.32%2023: 35.76%
Change over the period: −17.76 pp Annual average: -0.54 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Bulgaria

Bulgaria 35.76%
Eastern Europe computed 34.43%
Government expense — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 35.76 −3.57 pp
2022 39.32 +1.62 pp
2021 37.7 +1.2 pp
2020 36.5 +3.3 pp
2019 33.19 +0.03 pp
2018 33.16 +1.17 pp
2017 31.99 −0.03 pp
2016 32.03 −2.26 pp
2015 34.29 −3.66 pp
2014 37.94 +5.02 pp
2013 32.92 +2.01 pp
2012 30.91 +1.06 pp
2011 29.85 −1.78 pp
2010 31.63 −2.21 pp
2009 33.84 +2.03 pp
2008 31.81 −0.98 pp
2007 32.79 +3.18 pp
2006 29.61 −1.82 pp
2005 31.44 −2.76 pp
2004 34.19 −0.72 pp
2003 34.91 +1.74 pp
2002 33.18 −0.62 pp
2001 33.8 −0.19 pp
2000 33.99 −0.43 pp
1999 34.42 +4.03 pp
1998 30.39 +4.17 pp
1997 26.23 −5.82 pp
1996 32.04 +4.07 pp
1995 27.97 −15.75 pp
1994 43.72 +0.03 pp
1993 43.69 +4.13 pp
1992 39.55 +0.18 pp
1991 39.37 −14.14 pp
1990 53.52

Eastern Europe, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

About the indicator

Central government expense as a percent of GDP: compensation of public employees, purchases of goods and services, interest on debt, subsidies, grants and social benefits. The indicator is broader than government consumption from the national accounts, because it includes transfers — pensions and benefits — which the accounts record as household income. The quantity is closely tied to the level of income: in advanced countries it is usually twice as high as in the poorest ones.

Important: Central government only. In federations the spending of regions is not included here, so comparing unitary and federal states by this indicator calls for a caveat.

Source: World Development Indicators (World Bank), license CC BY 4.0.