site.btaBanknotes in Circulation in Bulgaria Down 9% at End-August 2025

The number of banknotes in circulation in Bulgaria decreased by 9% from the beginning of the year, reaching a total of 556.78 million by the end of August 2025, according to the latest data released by the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) on Monday. By comparison, at the end of 2024, banknotes in circulation amounted to 611.06 million, or 54.2 million more than the current total.

The number of banknotes circulating in the Bulgarian economy is at its lowest level in nearly two and a half years. The last time circulation was lower was in March 2023, when the total reached 556.69 million banknotes. On a monthly basis, the number of banknotes decreased by 0.76% in August compared with the end of July.

The most numerous banknotes in Bulgaria are of BGN 50 and BGN 100, totaling 225.17 million and 138.21 million, respectively. The total value of banknotes in circulation amounted to BGN 27.7 billion at the end of August, down by nearly 9% from the beginning of the year. For comparison, at the end of December 2024, the total value of banknotes in circulation was BGN 30.4 billion, or BGN 2.7 billion higher.

The value of banknotes in circulation is at its lowest level in two years, last recorded at a lower level (BGN 27.4 billion) in August 2023. On a monthly basis, the value of banknotes decreased by BGN 432.2 million, or 1.5%, in August compared with the end of July. The highest-value banknotes are BGN 100 and BGN 50 notes, amounting to BGN 13.8 billion and BGN 11.2 billion, respectively.

The number of coins in circulation reached 3.38 billion by the end of August, with a total value of BGN 629 million. Coins have increased in both number and value since the beginning of the year. By comparison, at the end of 2024, there were 3.33 billion coins in circulation, with a total value of BGN 624.5 million.