Grey economy accounts for 1/5 of Bulgaria's GDP, according to a study by the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association and the National Centre "Economy in the Clear".
Still, since 2010, the share of the regulated economy has increased by 15%, from 63.35% to 78.40%. Despite this positive trend, the informal sector in Bulgaria has a higher rate than in any other EU country.
"We have seen a significant improvement - the number of employment contracts where employees are insured on minimum wage while in reality they receive more, has decreased, , says the author of the study Stefan Petranov. The sectors most affected by the informal economy are services, hotels, restaurants, construction and agriculture.
As of January 1, 2026, the minimum monthly wage should be 1,213 BGN (EUR 620.2), up from the current 1,077 BGN (EUR 550.66), said Luboslav Kostov, Chief Economist at the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), in an interview..
Inflation in the EU in July reached 2.4% on an annual basis , according to Eurostat data. Regarding Bulgaria, European statistics report an increase in inflation to 3.4% in July this year compared to the same month last year. According to this..
For the period January-June 2025, the net flow of foreign direct investment in the country reached EUR 848 million (0.8% of GDP), which represents a decrease of EUR 31.4 million compared to the same period in 2024. In June 2025, the flow was negative..
As of January 1, 2026, the minimum monthly wage should be 1,213 BGN (EUR 620.2), up from the current 1,077 BGN (EUR 550.66), said Luboslav Kostov, Chief..
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