Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Merchandise imports by the reporting economy was 53.42 billion current US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
53.42 billion current US$
Change on year
down 7.5%
World rank
57th
of 206 countries
All-time high
57.72 billion current US$
in 2022
All-time low
2.42 billion current US$
in 1991
Years of data
43
1981–2023
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Bulgaria, 1981–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 53.42 billion current US$ for merchandise imports by the reporting economy in 2023.
That represents a change of down 7.5% on the previous year and up 56.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Bulgaria peaked at 57.72 billion current US$ in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2.42 billion current US$, in 1991.
That places Bulgaria 57th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 3.18 billion current US$ | — |
| 1982 | 2.82 billion current US$ | -11.2% |
| 1983 | 2.90 billion current US$ | +2.7% |
| 1984 | 2.81 billion current US$ | -3.1% |
| 1985 | 3.24 billion current US$ | +15.3% |
| 1986 | 3.33 billion current US$ | +3.0% |
| 1987 | 3.62 billion current US$ | +8.7% |
| 1988 | 4.27 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 1989 | 3.75 billion current US$ | -12.3% |
| 1990 | 3.11 billion current US$ | -17.1% |
| 1991 | 2.42 billion current US$ | -22.1% |
| 1992 | 4.03 billion current US$ | +66.3% |
| 1993 | 4.40 billion current US$ | +9.2% |
| 1994 | 4.62 billion current US$ | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 5.38 billion current US$ | +16.4% |
| 1996 | 4.63 billion current US$ | -13.9% |
| 1997 | 3.76 billion current US$ | -18.7% |
| 1998 | 4.89 billion current US$ | +29.9% |
| 1999 | 5.08 billion current US$ | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 6.25 billion current US$ | +23.0% |
| 2001 | 7.11 billion current US$ | +13.8% |
| 2002 | 7.54 billion current US$ | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 10.68 billion current US$ | +41.6% |
| 2004 | 14.24 billion current US$ | +33.4% |
| 2005 | 15.22 billion current US$ | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 19.21 billion current US$ | +26.3% |
| 2007 | 30.09 billion current US$ | +56.6% |
| 2008 | 36.86 billion current US$ | +22.5% |
| 2009 | 23.36 billion current US$ | -36.6% |
| 2010 | 25.33 billion current US$ | +8.4% |
| 2011 | 32.42 billion current US$ | +28.0% |
| 2012 | 32.56 billion current US$ | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 34.16 billion current US$ | +4.9% |
| 2014 | 34.48 billion current US$ | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 28.94 billion current US$ | -16.1% |
| 2016 | 28.61 billion current US$ | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 33.76 billion current US$ | +18.0% |
| 2018 | 37.54 billion current US$ | +11.2% |
| 2019 | 37.36 billion current US$ | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 34.82 billion current US$ | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 46.01 billion current US$ | +32.1% |
| 2022 | 57.72 billion current US$ | +25.5% |
| 2023 | 53.42 billion current US$ | -7.5% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 53.42 billion current US$ is above the median for high income countries, which is 45.81 billion current US$, 1.2× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 53.42 billion current US$ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 57.11 billion current US$, 94% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.32 billion current US$ | 2.81 billion current US$ | 4.27 billion current US$ | 9 |
| 1990s | 4.23 billion current US$ | 2.42 billion current US$ | 5.38 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.06 billion current US$ | 6.25 billion current US$ | 36.86 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.52 billion current US$ | 25.33 billion current US$ | 37.54 billion current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 47.99 billion current US$ | 34.82 billion current US$ | 57.72 billion current US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More private sector data for Bulgaria
- Merchandise trade 83.5% (2025)
- Food imports 13.2% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 60.0% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 60.89 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 15.2% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 53.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 48.32 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 7,511 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3695 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 0.8979 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Bulgaria?
- Merchandise imports by the reporting economy in Bulgaria was 53.42 billion current US$ in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 57.72 billion current US$ in 2022.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports by the reporting economy recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.42 billion current US$ in 1991.
- How does Bulgaria rank for merchandise imports by the reporting economy?
- Bulgaria ranks 57th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports by the reporting economy rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 56.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Staff estimates, World Bank (WB), published as part of Merchandise imports by the reporting economy (current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise imports by the reporting economy from the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current U.S. dollars.