Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health was 8.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
8.7%
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
56th
of 78 countries
All-time high
13.0%
in 2001
All-time low
8.7%
in 2023
Years of data
12
1997–2023

Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Bulgaria, 1997–2023

0510151997201020231997: 12.2 %2001: 13 %2005: 11.9 %2010: 12.7 %2015: 11.8 %2016: 12.7 %2017: 13 %2018: 11.9 %2019: 11.7 %2021: 10.4 %2022: 9.1 %2023: 8.7 %

Source: Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in %.

Analysis

Bulgaria recorded 8.7% for proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 12 years on record.

The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 26.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Bulgaria peaked at 13.0% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 8.7%, in 2023.

Bulgaria ranks 56th of 78 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.

Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%) in Bulgaria, 1997 to 2023.
Year % Change
1997 12.2%
2001 13.0% +6.5%
2005 11.9% -8.7%
2010 12.7% +6.7%
2015 11.8% -7.0%
2016 12.7% +7.6%
2017 13.0% +2.6%
2018 11.9% -8.5%
2019 11.7% -1.4%
2021 10.4% -11.2%
2022 9.1% -13.0%
2023 8.7% -3.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 12.2% 12.2% 12.2% 1
2000s 12.4% 11.9% 13.0% 2
2010s 12.3% 11.7% 13.0% 6
2020s 9.4% 8.7% 10.4% 3

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 53 Sri Lanka 9.5% compare
  2. 54 Spain 9.2% compare
  3. 55 El Salvador 8.8% compare
  4. 57 Poland 8.6% compare
  5. 58 Bhutan 8.6% compare
  6. 59 Serbia 8.5% compare

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More reference data data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Bulgaria?
Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Bulgaria was 8.7% in 2023, according to Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO).
What is the highest proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 13.0% in 2001.
What is the lowest proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 8.7% in 2023.
How does Bulgaria rank for proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health?
Bulgaria ranks 56th out of 78 countries with data for 2023.
Is proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/proportion-of-population-facing-impoverishing-out-of-pocket-health-expenditure-based-on/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Proportion of population facing impoverishing out-of-pocket health expenditure, based on the societal poverty line (%)
Unit
%
Source
Universal Health Coverage Dataset, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
90 places, 1,155 data points, 1985–2024
Last refreshed

Proportion of population spending more than 100% of household discretionary budget on out-of-pocket health expenditure (%). This includes people living in poverty that are further impoverished due to out-of-pocket health expenditure as well as people who are pushed into poverty by out-of-pocket health expenditure. The discretionary budget is defined as the total household budget, measured by consumption expenditure or income, minus the societal poverty line (SPL ). Using 2017 purchasing power parities (PPPs), the SPL corresponds to whichever is greater: $2.15 (the international poverty line) or $1.15 + 50% of median household consumption expenditure or income, excluding out-of-pocket household expenditure on health. Out-of-pocket health expenditure is defined as any spending incurred by a household when any member uses a health good or service to receive any type of care (preventive, curative, rehabilitative, long-term or palliative care); provided by any type of provider; for any type of disease, illness or health condition; in any type of setting (outpatient, inpatient, at home).