Domestic private health expenditure in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Domestic private health expenditure was 36.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Domestic private health expenditure in Bulgaria, 2000–2023
Source: Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of current health expenditure.
Analysis
In 2023, domestic private health expenditure in Bulgaria stood at 36.7%.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and down 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, domestic private health expenditure in Bulgaria peaked at 49.2% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 35.0%, in 2021.
That places Bulgaria 91st out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Domestic private health expenditure in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 40.5% | — |
| 2001 | 43.9% | +8.6% |
| 2002 | 40.7% | -7.5% |
| 2003 | 39.3% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 40.6% | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 40.4% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 44.3% | +9.6% |
| 2007 | 44.3% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 44.6% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 46.2% | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 44.8% | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 45.9% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 49.2% | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 43.4% | -11.7% |
| 2014 | 41.8% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 44.1% | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 44.9% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 45.1% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 42.4% | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 40.8% | -3.6% |
| 2020 | 38.1% | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 35.0% | -8.1% |
| 2022 | 37.5% | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 36.7% | -2.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 36.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 26.8%, 1.4× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 36.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28.8%, 1.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 42.5% | 39.3% | 46.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.2% | 40.8% | 49.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.8% | 35.0% | 38.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More health data for Bulgaria
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.5 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.615 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,422 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 39 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.2564 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0222 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.3643 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is domestic private health expenditure in Bulgaria?
- Domestic private health expenditure in Bulgaria was 36.7% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest domestic private health expenditure recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 49.2% in 2012.
- What is the lowest domestic private health expenditure recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.0% in 2021.
- How does Bulgaria rank for domestic private health expenditure?
- Bulgaria ranks 91st out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is domestic private health expenditure rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Domestic private health expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of current health expenditures funded from domestic private sources. Domestic private sources include funds from households, corporations and non-profit organizations. Such expenditures can be either prepaid to voluntary health insurance or paid directly to healthcare providers.