Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Nearly 24% of Bulgarians live below poverty line

Photo: National Statistical Institute

In 2020, the poverty line for this country as a whole was 231 euros on average per household member a month. 1,659,900 people or 23.8% were below the poverty line, according to the National Statistical Institute. Compared to the previous year, the relative share of poor population rose by 1.2%. However, the social protection system is essential for reducing poverty. Data for 2020 show that when household incomes included those from pensions but excluded other social transfers (benefits, social and family benefits, etc.), the poverty rate rose from 23.8% to 29.9%, or by 6.1%.

The relative share of the poor is highest among the unemployed (61.1% in 2020). The share of the poor among the employed aged 18 to 64 increased compared to the previous year by 0.7% to 9.7%. Among the working poor, the share of those with higher education is the lowest - 2.4%.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Boyko Borissov

Bulgaria could face fuel shortages if Lukoil stops operating, says GERB leader Borissov

Bulgaria could run into fuel shortages if the Lukoil Neftochim refinery stops operating, former Prime Minister and GERB leader Boyko Borissov warned on Thursday. Prime Minister: Bulgaria has a month to decide how to proceed after US sanctions on..

published on 10/23/25 2:13 PM

Prime Minister: Bulgaria has a month to decide how to proceed after US sanctions on Lukoil

Bulgaria has until 21 November to decide how to proceed with the Lukoil Neftochim refinery, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said on Thursday ahead of a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. He was apparently referring to the end of a US Treasury..

published on 10/23/25 1:57 PM

The Bulgarian army will gradually make up for its personnel shortage

The Bulgaria army will make up for the lack of personnel but not immediately. For 2025, we have money to hire only 1,000 new soldiers, said Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov before the relevant parliamentary committee.  The committee supported the..

published on 10/23/25 11:32 AM