site.btaBulgaria's Gross External Debt Up by 20% to EUR 53.6 Bln at End-August, Y/Y - Central Bank

Gross external debt amounted to EUR 53.6 billion (47.7% of GDP) at end-August 2025, growing by some EUR 9 billion (20.2%) from end-August 2024 (EUR 44.6 billion, 42.6% of GDP), the Bulgarian National Bank said on Thursday.

Short-term liabilities equalled EUR 8.7 billion (16.2% of the total debt, 7.7% of GDP), growing by EUR 503.3 million (6.1%) from end-August 2024 (EUR 8.2 billion, 18.4% of the total debt, 7.8% of GDP). Long-term liabilities totalled EUR 44.9 billion (83.8% of the total debt, 40% of GDP) at end-August 2025, growing by EUR 8.5 billion (23.4%) from end-August 2024 (EUR 36.4 billion, 81.6% of the total debt, 34.7% of GDP).

Gross external liabilities with remaining maturity over one year totalled EUR 36.1 billion (67.3%) at end-August 2025.

At end-August 2025, 80% of gross external liabilities were denominated in euros, compared with 79.5% at end-August 2024.

General government’s gross external debt totalled EUR 17.7 billion (15.8% of GDP) at end-August 2025, growing by EUR 7.45 billion (72.7%) from end-August 2024 (EUR 10.2 billion, 9.8% of GDP). It held the largest share in external debt, equating to 33% at end-August 2025, compared with 23% in end-August 2024.

The external liabilities of the central bank stood at EUR 1.9 billion (1.7% of GDP), growing by EUR 18 million (0.9%) from end-August 2024.

The external liabilities of other MFIs totalled EUR 7.6 billion (6.8% of GDP), growing by EUR 1.1 billion (17.5%) from end-August 2024 (EUR 6.48 billion, 6.2% of GDP).

Other sectors’ external debt equalled EUR 13.6 billion (12.1% of GDP), increasing by EUR 849.1 million (6.7%) from end-August 2024.

The stock of intercompany lending5 amounted to EUR 12.8 billion (11.4% of GDP) at end-August 2025, down by EUR 429.3 million (3.3%) from end-August 2024.