site.btaBulgaria’s External Debt Reaches EUR 50.8 Bln, Up 16% Y/Y

Bulgaria’s gross external debt (public and private) increased by 16% year-on-year to EUR 50.828 billion as of the end of May 2025, show Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) data published on Wednesday. In May 2024, the gross external debt stood at EUR 43.794 billion, which is EUR 7.034 billion less.

The current amount represents 45.3% of Bulgaria’s projected gross domestic product (GDP), compared to 42.2% at the end of May 2024.

As of May 2025, short-term liabilities amounted to EUR 8.206 billion (16.1% of the total debt, 7.3% of GDP), up EUR 478.7 million or 6.2% from 2024.

Long-term liabilities totaled EUR 42.622 billion (83.9% of the debt, 38% of GDP), marking an increase of EUR 6.556 billion or 18.2% compared to EUR 36.066 billion in May 2024.

Of the gross external debt, EUR 33.023 billion (65%) has a remaining maturity of over one year.

Euro-denominated debt accounted for 79.8% of the total, slightly down from 80.1% a year earlier.

The gross external debt of the State Government sector was EUR 15.601 billion (13.9% of GDP) as of May 2025, up EUR 5.214 billion (50.2%) from EUR 10.386 billion (10% of GDP) a year earlier.

The Central Bank’s external liabilities declined by EUR 136.4 million (6.8%) to EUR 1.884 billion (1.7% of GDP).

External debt of Other Monetary Financial Institutions stood at EUR 7.626 billion (6.8% of GDP), up EUR 1.393 billion or 22.4% from EUR 6.233 billion a year earlier.

External liabilities of Other Sectors rose by EUR 240.6 million (1.9%) to EUR 12.687 billion (11.3% of GDP), compared to EUR 12.446 billion (12% of GDP) in May 2024.