Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social was 35.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
35.6%
Change on year
up 10.7%
World rank
29th
of 127 countries
All-time high
36.0%
in 2011
All-time low
26.9%
in 2007
Years of data
24
2000–2023

Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Bulgaria, 2000–2023

0102030402000201120232000: 29.5 %2001: 30.9 %2002: 32.4 %2003: 31.6 %2004: 29.2 %2005: 28.9 %2006: 32.1 %2007: 26.9 %2008: 28.8 %2009: 32.7 %2010: 35.6 %2011: 36 %2012: 35.9 %2013: 35.8 %2014: 30.8 %2015: 32.2 %2016: 35.4 %2017: 35.3 %2018: 32.4 %2019: 31.6 %2020: 31.6 %2021: 31.1 %2022: 32.1 %2023: 35.6 %

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Bulgaria is 35.6%, measured in 2023.

The figure is up 10.7% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Bulgaria peaked at 36.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 26.9%, in 2007.

Bulgaria ranks 29th of 127 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%) in Bulgaria, 2000 to 2023.
Year % Change
2000 29.5%
2001 30.9% +4.9%
2002 32.4% +4.9%
2003 31.6% -2.4%
2004 29.2% -7.7%
2005 28.9% -1.1%
2006 32.1% +11.3%
2007 26.9% -16.4%
2008 28.8% +7.2%
2009 32.7% +13.6%
2010 35.6% +8.7%
2011 36.0% +1.2%
2012 35.9% -0.1%
2013 35.8% -0.5%
2014 30.8% -13.7%
2015 32.2% +4.3%
2016 35.4% +10.2%
2017 35.3% -0.5%
2018 32.4% -8.1%
2019 31.6% -2.6%
2020 31.6% +0.2%
2021 31.1% -1.6%
2022 32.1% +3.3%
2023 35.6% +10.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.3% 26.9% 32.7% 10
2010s 34.1% 30.8% 36.0% 10
2020s 32.6% 31.1% 35.6% 4

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 26 Slovakia 36.4% compare
  2. 27 Cyprus 36.1% compare
  3. 28 Brazil 36.1% compare
  4. 30 Ireland 35.5% compare
  5. 31 Mauritius 35.1% compare
  6. 32 Russian Federation 34.1% compare
  7. 32 Russian Federation 34.1% compare

See the full ranking of 131 places →

More poverty & inequality data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Bulgaria?
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Bulgaria was 35.6% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 36.0% in 2011.
What is the lowest proportion of total government spending on essential services, social recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 26.9% in 2007.
How does Bulgaria rank for proportion of total government spending on essential services, social?
Bulgaria ranks 29th out of 127 countries with data for 2023.
Is proportion of total government spending on essential services, social rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://poverty.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-total-government-spending-on-essential-services-social-protection-percent/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of total government spending on essential services, social protection (%)
Unit
%
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
131 places, 2,404 data points, 2000–2025
Last refreshed