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

Study: Over 20% of Bulgaria's economy is in the informal sector

Prof. Stefan Petranov
Photo: bica-bg.org

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. 



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

European and Bulgarian businesses to meet with the Bulgarian Stock Exchange in Sofia

The Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) will participate in the event "EU-Chambers Business Chill with the Bulgarian Stock Exchange," according to a post by the BSE on Facebook. The event is being organised by the Hungarian-Bulgarian Chamber of..

published on 11/19/25 8:15 AM

New business club works to promote Bulgarian entrepreneurs in Berlin

Under the name BGBizHub, Bulgarian entrepreneurs in Berlin have joined forces to promote and develop their businesses in Germany. "Like any other business, not only in Berlin or in Bulgaria, we currently face several problems -..

published on 11/18/25 4:20 PM

Bulgarians spend nearly 30% of their budgets on food

Bulgarians are consuming less bread, cheese and vegetables, but more fruit, according to the latest data from the National Statistical Institute on household consumption in the third quarter of 2025, compared to the same period last year...

published on 11/17/25 11:52 AM