Current Account Balance: Bulgaria

Analysis# Bulgaria Current Account Balance Bulgaria's current account balance stands at -3.2% of GDP in 2026, marking a significant shift from its exceptional peak of 13.5% in 1997. The metric has deteriorated dramatically over the past 46 years, declining 228% since 1980. While the -3.2% deficit remains well above the catastrophic -23.9% low recorded in 2007, Bulgaria's external position has weakened substantially in recent years. The turning point emerged around 2017, when Bulgaria transitioned from consistent surpluses (3.2% that year) to persistent deficits. Between 2021 and 2025, the current account contracted sharply, falling from -1.1% to -3.8%. The 2026 projection suggests a modest improvement to -3.2%, though Bulgaria's external balance remains in deficit territory after over five years of negative readings.