site.btaPension Spending in Bulgaria Rises by 13% in H1 2025

Pension expenditures in Bulgaria increased by 13% in the first six months of thе year compared to a year earlier, the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) said on Tuesday. Public social security spending in the January-June period was close to BGN 13 billion, the largest share, over BGN 11.5 billion, going towards pensions.

Preliminary data as at June 2025 show BGN 7,242.6 million in total revenues of the consolidated Public Social Security Budget, 47.6% of the annual projection. Compared to a year earlier, revenues increased by BGN 940.3 million.

Expenditures reached BGN 12,981.1 million as at June 2025, 47.4% of the annual projection. Compared to the first half of 2024, spending rose by BGN 1,412.3 million, said NSSI.

At BGN 11,524.5 million, pensions accounted for the largest share of total expenditures, 47.8% of the annual projection. Compared to January-June 2024, pension spending rose by BGN 1,322.1 million, a 13% increase.

In June 2025, pensioners in Bulgaria numbered 2,056,378, an increase of 12,190 people (0.6%) compared to a year earlier. At BGN 928.51, the average monthly pension was BGN 102.57 (12.4%) higher than in June 2024.

The second largest expenditure group is payments of cash benefits and social security allowances under the Social Insurance Code, the NSSI reported. As at June 2025, these expenditures stood at BGN 1,363.9 million, 44.4% of the annual projection. This is an increase of BGN 87.1 million compared to the same period of 2024.