Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle was 1.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Bulgaria, 1981–2023
Source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2023, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Bulgaria stood at 1.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 120.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Bulgaria peaked at 14.6% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2004.
That places Bulgaria 68th out of 203 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 from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % of total merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 10.1% | — |
| 1982 | 9.7% | -3.7% |
| 1983 | 7.8% | -20.3% |
| 1984 | 9.2% | +19.2% |
| 1985 | 7.3% | -20.6% |
| 1986 | 0.6% | -92.2% |
| 1987 | 0.6% | +11.8% |
| 1988 | 13.1% | +1955.9% |
| 1989 | 6.4% | -51.2% |
| 1990 | 14.6% | +127.8% |
| 1991 | 12.0% | -17.3% |
| 1992 | 11.3% | -5.8% |
| 1993 | 4.0% | -64.8% |
| 1994 | 4.8% | +19.4% |
| 1995 | 5.0% | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 2.0% | -59.9% |
| 1997 | 2.7% | +33.2% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | -10.5% |
| 1999 | 1.7% | -27.6% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | -66.3% |
| 2001 | 0.5% | -16.6% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | +40.1% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | -13.4% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | -23.4% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | +33.8% |
| 2006 | 0.5% | -19.1% |
| 2007 | 0.5% | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 0.9% | +102.5% |
| 2009 | 0.6% | -29.4% |
| 2010 | 0.8% | +20.0% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | +27.6% |
| 2012 | 0.9% | -13.6% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | -24.7% |
| 2014 | 1.7% | +157.4% |
| 2015 | 1.5% | -9.8% |
| 2016 | 2.1% | +41.8% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | +33.0% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | +9.4% |
| 2020 | 1.6% | -45.6% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | -10.3% |
| 2023 | 1.4% | +5.9% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 1.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.4%, 3.8× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 1.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.7%, 2.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle in Bulgaria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +1955.9% | 0.6% | 13.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.2% | 0.6% | 13.1% | 9 |
| 1990s | 6.0% | 1.7% | 14.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 0.6% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 65 Mauritius 1.6% compare
- 66 Portugal 1.5% compare
- 67 Burundi 1.5% compare
- 69 Bangladesh 1.4% compare
- 70 Netherlands 1.3% compare
- 71 Guinea-Bissau 1.3% compare
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 from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Bulgaria?
- Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle in Bulgaria was 1.4% in 2023, according to Staff estimates, World Bank (WB).
- What is the highest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 14.6% in 1990.
- What is the lowest merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2004.
- How does Bulgaria rank for merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle?
- Bulgaria ranks 68th out of 203 countries with data for 2023.
- Is merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in middle rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 120.0%. 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 from low- and middle-income economies in Middle East & North Africa (% of total merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies in Middle East and North Africa are the sum of merchandise imports by the reporting economy from low- and middle-income economies in the Middle East and North Africa region according to the World Bank classification of economies. Data are expressed as a percentage of total merchandise imports by the economy. Data are computed only if at least half of the economies in the partner country group had non-missing data.