NSI: More than 1/5 of the population in Bulgaria lives in poverty

In 2024, the poverty line in the country was €375 per month on average per person in a household. A total of 1,401,300 people, or 21.7% of the population, were living below the poverty line, according to the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

Compared to the previous year, the poverty threshold rose by 19.7%, and the proportion of the population living in poverty increased by 1.1%. The main factor determining the risk of poverty for the majority of the Bulgarian population is their economic activity and participation in the labour market. Between 2020 and 2024, the relative share of poor people aged 18 and over was highest among the unemployed, at 58.7%.