Government spending by function in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Government spending by function was 35.5% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Government spending by function in Bulgaria, 2007–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for government spending by function in Bulgaria is 35.5%, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.6% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, government spending by function in Bulgaria peaked at 36.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 26.8%, in 2007.
Bulgaria ranks 21st of 37 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Government spending by function in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 26.8% | — |
| 2008 | 28.7% | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 32.8% | +14.1% |
| 2010 | 35.6% | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 36.0% | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 35.9% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 35.7% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 30.8% | -13.7% |
| 2015 | 32.2% | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 35.4% | +10.1% |
| 2017 | 35.2% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 32.4% | -8.2% |
| 2019 | 31.5% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 31.5% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 31.1% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 32.1% | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 35.5% | +10.6% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 35.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 36.4%, 98% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 35.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.5%, 95% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.5% | 26.8% | 32.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 34.1% | 30.8% | 36.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.6% | 31.1% | 35.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More reference data data for Bulgaria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3067 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2728 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2506 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.36 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government spending by function in Bulgaria?
- Government spending by function in Bulgaria was 35.5% in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest government spending by function recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 36.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest government spending by function recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.8% in 2007.
- How does Bulgaria rank for government spending by function?
- Bulgaria ranks 21st out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
- Is government spending by function rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Government spending by function. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by total government expenditure, expressed as a percentage.