Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Social protection spending as share of total government spending was 35.5% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Bulgaria, 2007–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 35.5% for social protection spending as share of total government spending 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, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Bulgaria peaked at 36.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 26.8%, in 2007.
That places Bulgaria 21st out of 37 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Social protection spending as share of total government spending 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 Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.5%, 95% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 35.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 36.4%, 98% of the median. (36 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 social protection spending as share of total government spending in Bulgaria?
- Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Bulgaria was 35.5% in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 36.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.8% in 2007.
- How does Bulgaria rank for social protection spending as share of total government spending?
- Bulgaria ranks 21st out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
- Is social protection spending as share of total government spending 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 Social protection spending as share of total government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by total government expenditure, expressed as a percentage.