In 2023, the average annual total income per person from a household is BGN 10,846 and increases by 20.4% compared to 2022. For the last ten years (2014 - 2023), the average total income per person in a household increased 2.3 times, the National Statistical Institute reported.
Real household incomes increased by 10.0% in 2023 compared to 2022, and the real income index in 2023 compared to 2014 was 158.5%.
During the period 2014 - 2023, the following more important changes were registered regarding the sources of the total income on average per household person:
Income from wages in 2023 is BGN 5,941 and increases by 22.5% compared to 2022, and its increase compared to 2014 is 2.3 times;
The income from pensions for the last year is BGN 3,451. They grow by 13.6% compared to 2022 and 2.8 times compared to 2014;
The income from self-employment in 2023 is BGN 621. Compared to 2022, they increase by 47.5% and 1.7 times compared to 2014;
Income from work outside of salary for the last year was BGN 101 and increased compared to 2022 by 42.3%, and compared to 2014 it decreased by 39.2%;
Incomes from other social transfers (benefits for the unemployed, family supplements for children and other social benefits and benefits) in 2023 are BGN 222. They increase by 12.1% compared to 2022 and by 25.4% compared to 2014.
From the data it is clear that the highest relative share is the salary. In 2023, it is 54.8%, which is 0.9 percentage points more compared to 2022 and 0.6 percentage points more compared to 2014.
Incomes from all social transfers (pensions, unemployment benefits, family allowances for children and other social benefits and benefits) form 33.9% of total household income in 2023.
Of the received social transfers, the highest relative share in the total household income is pension income - 31.8%, which is 1.9 percentage points less compared to 2022 and 6.0 percentage points more compared to 2014 ( fig. 2).
In 2023, the relative share of household income from self-employment in total household income is 5.7%, increasing by 1.0 percentage points compared to 2022 and decreasing by 1.8 percentage points compared to 2014.
The relative share of income from labor activity outside the salary is 0.9% and increases compared to 2022 by 0.1 percentage points, and compared to 2014 it decreases by 2.6 percentage points.
What does the Bulgarian spend on?
In 2023, Bulgarian households spent BGN 10,044 on average per person, which is 19.7% more than in 2022. For the period 2014 - 2023, household expenses increased 2.2 times.
During the period 2014 - 2023, the following changes are observed in relation to some types of expenditure on average per household person:
The funds spent on food and non-alcoholic beverages in 2023 are BGN 2,987, or 18.1% more compared to 2022 and 2 times more compared to 2014;
Expenses for clothing and shoes in 2023 are BGN 348. Compared to the previous year, they increased by 23.8%, and compared to 2014 - 2 times;
Expenses related to the home (water, electricity, fuel, home furnishings and home maintenance) for the last year are BGN 1,685. Compared to 2022, they increase by 7.6%, and compared to 2014, they increase 2.2 times;
BGN 610 was spent on healthcare in 2023 - 11.7% more than in 2022 and 2.6 times more than in 2014;
BGN 1,159 was spent on transport and communications in 2023, which is 19.0% more than in 2022 and 2.2 times more than in 2014;
Expenses for free time, cultural recreation and education in 2023 are BGN 558. Compared to 2022, they increase by 46.8%, and compared to 2014 - 2.6 times;
In the last year, the expenses for taxes and social insurance amounted to BGN 1,355 and increased by 32.8% compared to 2022, and compared to 2014, they increased 2.7 times.
In 2023, the relative share of spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages in total spending is 29.7%, which is 0.4 percentage points less than in 2022 and 2.6 percentage points less than in 2014.
Purchasing power of households
Household purchasing power increased in 2023 compared to 2022 for most food staples. The biggest increase in purchasing power was for milk butters (16.9%), ripe beans (16.5%) and bread (15.0%).