site.btaBuilding Permits Issued for New Residential Buildings in Bulgaria Increase by 5.9% in Q2 of 2025 Y/Y

Building permits issued for new residential buildings in Bulgaria increased by 5.9% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter of 2024, their total built-up area increased by 9.5%, while the number of dwellings in them decreased by 1.8%, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said in a press release on Friday. In the second quarter of 2024, on an annual basis, the number of building permits issued for new residential buildings was 4.9% lower, the number of dwellings in them decreased by 15%, and their total built-up area decreased by 13.8%.

In the second quarter of 2025, 6.3% fewer building permits for administrative buildings were issued on an annual basis, but with 30.6% more gross floor area. The number of building permits issued for other buildings increased by 3.1%, as did their total built-up area, which rose by 29.6%. According to the NSI, for the same period in 2024, building permits were issued for 14.3% more administrative buildings with 25.2% more total floor area, while building permits for other buildings decreased by 14.6%, as did their total built-up area - by 29.6%.

Quarterly data

In the second quarter of 2025, compared to the previous quarter, building permits issued for residential buildings decreased by 1.7%, the number of dwellings in them by 4.6%, while their total built-up area increased by 0.2%. The number of building permits issued for administrative buildings increased by 25%, and their total built-up area increased more than fivefold. Building permits issued for other buildings increased by 11.9%, but their total built-up area decreased by 5.9%.

In the second quarter of 2024, compared to the previous quarter, building permits issued for residential buildings increased by 6.1%, while the number of dwellings in them decreased by 2.1% and the total built-up area by 1%, according to NSI data. There was a decline in both the number of building permits issued for administrative buildings (by 40.7%) and their total floor area (by 69.1%). The number of building permits issued for other types of buildings increased by 7.2%, but their total built-up area was 16.8% smaller.

In the second quarter of 2025, local authorities issued building permits for 2,049 residential buildings with 10,089 dwellings and a total floor area of 1,305,022 square metres, 15 administrative buildings/offices with 23,744 square metres of gross floor area, and 1,209 other buildings with 576,557 square metres of gross floor area. For the same period last year building permits were issued for 1,935 residential buildings with 10,271 dwellings and a total floor area of 1,191,503 square metres, 16 administrative buildings/offices with a total floor area of 18,179 square metres, and 1,173 other buildings with a total floor area of 445,041 square metres.

Commenced contruction

In the second quarter of 2025, construction began on 1,640 residential buildings with 8,064 dwellings and a total floor area of 963,046 square metres, 23 administrative buildings/offices with 19,791 square metres of gross floor area, and 644 other buildings with 366,485 square metres of gross floor area. Compared to the previous quarter, the number of residential buildings under construction increased by 14.6%, the number of dwellings in them by 32.4%, and their total built-up area by 30.3%. The number of administrative buildings started and their total floor area also increased, by 91.7% and 180.7%, respectively. The construction of 11.8% more other types of buildings has also started, but with 36.2% less total floor area.

Compared to the second quarter of 2024, the number of new residential buildings started is 3.7% lower, the number of dwellings in them is 8.5% lower, and their total built-up area is 7.5% lower. The number of administrative buildings started increased by 64.3%, but their total floor area was 7.2% smaller. Other types of buildings started also decreased by 3%, as did their total floor area by 18.6%.

Where are most new buildings being constructed?

In the second quarter of 2025, construction of the largest number of new buildings began in the following areas, as follows: Plovdiv - 243 residential, 4 administrative, and 115 other buildings; Sofia (capital) - 295 residential, 11 administrative, and 17 other buildings; Sofia - 168 residential, 3 administrative, and 46 other buildings; Varna - 177 residential and 20 other buildings. In the second quarter of 2024, the regions of Plovdiv, Sofia (capital), Sofia, and Varna remained in the same positions in the ranking of the largest number of new buildings started.