Bulgaria Key Figures
- Population:
- 6.93 million
- GDP growth rate:
- -4.4 %/year
- Energy independence:
- 62.1%
Data of the last year available: 2020
- Total consumption/GDP:*
- 64.7 (2005=100)
- CO2 Emissions:
- 5.03 tCO2/capita
- Rate of T&D power losses:
- 7.84%
* at purchasing power parity
View all macro and energy indicators in the Bulgaria energy report
Bulgaria Related News
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Bulgaria Related Research
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Total Energy Consumption
Consumption per capita is 2.5 toe (10% lower than the EU average in 2019), with electricity accounting for about 4 300 kWh in 2020 (19% below the EU average).
Total energy consumption has been rather stable since 2014, but dropped by 4% to 17.7 Mtoe in 2020, due the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bulgaria's energy intensity (at purchasing power parities) is one of the highest among EU countries (70% above the EU average in 2020), but it has been decreasing much faster than the EU rate (-3.2%/year and -1.9%/year, respectively, since 2000).
Interactive Chart Bulgaria Total Energy Consumption
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
View the detailed fondamentals of the market at country level (graphs, tables, analysis) in the Bulgaria energy report
Crude Oil Production
Oil production is very limited (169 kt in 2020). As a consequence of the COVID-19 crisis, imports decreased in 2020 to 7.1 Mt (-23% in 2019 and 15% under the average over 2010-2019), including nearly 5 Mt of crude oil and 2.2 Mt of oil products (stable compared to 2019). In 2019, 65% of crude oil imports came from Russia, followed by Egypt (24%). Around 90% of oil product imports in 2019 came from three countries: Romania (44%), Russia (39%), and Greece (7%).
Interactive Chart Bulgaria Crude Oil Production
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Additionally, for more detailed information on refineries, you can request a sample of our EMEA Refineries Dataset
Oil Products Consumption
Oil consumption increased rapidly between 2013 and 2019 (+4.6%/year), but fell to 4.3 Mt in 2020 due to COVID-19 (-9% on 2019), especially for the hydrocarbon industry (-27%), industry (-10%), and transport (-6%).
Transport absorbs over 65% of oil product consumption (62% in 2019), while industry accounts for 16% (including non-energy uses).
Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION (Mt)
Graph: OIL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)
Interactive Chart Bulgaria Refined Oil Products Production
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Additionally, for more detailed information on refineries, you can request a sample of our EMEA Refineries Dataset
Natural Gas Consumption
After a 4.9%/year rise between 2014 and 2017, gas consumption declined by 5.1%/year between 2017 and 2019. In 2020, the tendency seems to be changing, with a 3.9% increase to 3 bcm. In 2021, consumption could keep rising to 3.2 bcm according to preliminary data.
Industry remains the largest gas consumer, with a share of 40%, including non-energy uses, while the share of the power sector has decreased since 2010, from 30% to 27% in 2020.
Graph: NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION (bcm)
Interactive Chart Bulgaria Natural Gas Domestic Consumption
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Additionally, for more detailed information on the LNG trade, you can request a sample of our EMEA LNG Trade Dataset
Coal Consumption
The consumption of coal and lignite (mainly lignite) contracted by 9.1%/year between 2017 and 2019. It dropped drastically in 2020 by almost 20% (higher nuclear power generation reducing coal-fired generation, in a context of declining electricity demand).
The power sector is the main consumer of coal and lignite (90% in 2020).
Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION (Mt)
Graph: COAL CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)
Interactive Chart Bulgaria Coal and Lignite Domestic Consumption
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
View the detailed consumption trends at country level (graphs, tables, analysis) in the Bulgaria energy report
Power Consumption
Electricity consumption increased by 2.3%/year between 2013 and 2017 before stabilising. In 2020, due to COVID-19, electricity consumption dropped by 5.6% to 29.8 TWh.
The residential sector is the largest electricity consumer (38% of the total in 2020), followed by industry (32%) and services (24%).
Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION (TWh)
Graph: ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION BREAKDOWN BY SECTOR (2020, %)
Renewable in % Electricity Production
The national target fixed by the EU Directive on renewables of 16% of renewables in final consumption in 2020 was exceeded in 2012. The share reached 23.3% in 2020, of which 23.6% was for electricity, 37.2% for heating and cooling, and 9.1% for transport.
Interactive Chart Bulgaria Share of Renewables in Electricity Production (incl hydro)
Benefit from up to 2 000 up-to-date data series for 186 countries in Global Energy & CO2 data
Learn more about renewables in the European Battery Market Analysis
CO2 Fuel Combustion/CO2 Emissions
GHG emissions halved between 1988 and 1999. Despite a slight increase between 2000 and 2007, emissions averaged 52 Mt between 2010 and 2019. In 2020, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, CO2 emissions were historically low (around 40 MteqCO2, 51% below 1990 levels).
Bulgaria, as all EU members, has a binding 55% GHG emission reduction target by 2030 compared to 1990 in its NDC. Emissions should decrease by 43% for sectors under the EU ETS and by 0% for non-ETS sectors compared to 2005 levels.