site.btaBulgaria's Gross External Debt Up Nearly 21% at End-July, Y/Y, to EUR 53.7 Bln, Central Bank Reports

Bulgaria's gross external debt (public and private) grew by 20.9% to EUR 53,783.5 million (47.9% of projected GDP) at end-July 2025 from end-July 2024, according to preliminary data released by the Bulgarian National Bank on Tuesday.

By comparison, at end-July 2024, the gross external debt amounted to EUR 44,480 million (42.9% of GDP), or EUR 9,303 million less than a year later.

By July 31, 2025, short-term liabilities equalled EUR 8,772.5 million (16.3% of the total debt, 7.8% of GDP), growing by EUR 468.8 million (5.6%) from end-July 2024 (EUR 8,303.8 million, 18.7% of the total debt, 8% of GDP). Long-term liabilities totalled EUR 45,010.9 million (83.7% of the total debt, 40.1% of GDP) at end-July 2025, growing by EUR 8,834.4 million (24.4%) from end-July 2024 (EUR 36,176.6 million, 81.3% of the total debt, 34.9% of GDP).

Gross external liabilities with remaining maturity over one year totalled EUR 36,215.1 million (67.3%) at end-July 2025. By the same date, 80% of gross external liabilities were denominated in euros, compared with 79.1% at end-July 2024.

General government's gross external debt 4 totalled EUR 17,807.8 million (15.9% of GDP) at end-July 2025, growing by EUR 7,694.2 million (76.1%) from end-July 2024 (EUR 10,113.6 million, 9.8% of GDP). It held the largest share in external debt, equating to 33.1% at end-July 2025, compared with 22.7% in end-July 2024.

The central bank's external liabilities stood at EUR 1,889.2 million (1.7% of GDP), dropping by EUR 144.4 million (7.1%) from end-July 2024 (EUR 2,033.6 million, 2% of GDP).

The external liabilities of other banks and money market funds totalled EUR 7,711.4 million (6.9% of GDP), growing by EUR 1,246.4 million (19.3%) from end-July 2024 (EUR 6,465 million, 6.2% of GDP).

Other sectors' external debt equalled EUR 13,641.4 million (12.1% of GDP), increasing by EUR 821 million (6.4%) from end-July 2024 (EUR 12,820.3 million, 12.4% of GDP).

The stock of intercompany lending amounted to EUR 12,733.7 million (11.3% of GDP) at end-July 2025, down by EUR 314 million (2.4%) from end-July 2024 (EUR 13,047.7 million, 12.6% of GDP).