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Government spending by function in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Government spending by function was 35.5% in 2023. ▬ Flat

Latest (2023)
35.5%
Change on year
up 10.6%
World rank
21st
of 37 countries
All-time high
36.0%
in 2011
All-time low
26.8%
in 2007
Years of data
17
2007–2023

Government spending by function in Bulgaria, 2007–2023

0102030402007201520232007: 26.8 % of government expenditure2008: 28.7 % of government expenditure2009: 32.8 % of government expenditure2010: 35.6 % of government expenditure2011: 36 % of government expenditure2012: 35.9 % of government expenditure2013: 35.7 % of government expenditure2014: 30.8 % of government expenditure2015: 32.2 % of government expenditure2016: 35.4 % of government expenditure2017: 35.2 % of government expenditure2018: 32.4 % of government expenditure2019: 31.5 % of government expenditure2020: 31.5 % of government expenditure2021: 31.1 % of government expenditure2022: 32.1 % of government expenditure2023: 35.5 % of government expenditure

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 18 Slovenia 36.5% compare
  2. 19 Slovakia 36.4% compare
  3. 20 Poland 35.9% compare
  4. 23 United Kingdom 32.9% compare
  5. 24 Romania 31.4% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More reference data data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

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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About this data

Indicator
Government spending by function
Unit
% of government expenditure
Source
OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
37 places, 618 data points, 2007–2024
Last refreshed

General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by total government expenditure, expressed as a percentage.