Out-of-pocket expenditure in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Out-of-pocket expenditure was 35.5% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Out-of-pocket 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
The most recent figure for out-of-pocket expenditure in Bulgaria is 35.5%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-pocket expenditure in Bulgaria peaked at 47.7% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 33.7%, in 2021.
That places Bulgaria 68th 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.
Out-of-pocket expenditure in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % of current health expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 40.4% | — |
| 2001 | 43.7% | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 39.8% | -9.0% |
| 2003 | 38.1% | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 39.2% | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 38.9% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 42.6% | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 42.6% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 42.6% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 44.4% | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 43.1% | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 44.5% | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 47.7% | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 41.9% | -12.3% |
| 2014 | 40.2% | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 42.5% | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 43.3% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 42.2% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 39.3% | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 37.8% | -3.9% |
| 2020 | 35.5% | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 33.7% | -5.1% |
| 2022 | 35.1% | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 35.5% | +1.2% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 35.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.8%, 2.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 35.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 21.8%, 1.6× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 41.2% | 38.1% | 44.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.3% | 37.8% | 47.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.0% | 33.7% | 35.5% | 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 out-of-pocket expenditure in Bulgaria?
- Out-of-pocket expenditure in Bulgaria was 35.5% in 2023, according to Global Health Expenditure Database, updated December 12th, 2025, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 47.7% in 2012.
- What is the lowest out-of-pocket expenditure recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.7% in 2021.
- How does Bulgaria rank for out-of-pocket expenditure?
- Bulgaria ranks 68th out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is out-of-pocket expenditure rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.2%. 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 Out-of-pocket expenditure (% of current health expenditure). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of out-of-pocket payments of total current health expenditures. Out-of-pocket payments are spending on health directly out-of-pocket by households.