Short-term debt in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Short-term debt was 21.2% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
21.2%
Change on year
up 12.3%
World rank
24th
of 121 countries
All-time high
34.5%
in 2008
All-time low
0.0%
in 1981
Years of data
42
1981–2022

Short-term debt in Bulgaria, 1981–2022

01020301981200120221981: 0 % of total external debt1982: 0 % of total external debt1983: 0 % of total external debt1984: 0 % of total external debt1985: 1.3 % of total external debt1986: 1 % of total external debt1987: 4.2 % of total external debt1988: 7 % of total external debt1989: 8.4 % of total external debt1990: 9.7 % of total external debt1991: 13.3 % of total external debt1992: 13.5 % of total external debt1993: 15.2 % of total external debt1994: 4.4 % of total external debt1995: 4.9 % of total external debt1996: 11.1 % of total external debt1997: 18 % of total external debt1998: 15.5 % of total external debt1999: 10.9 % of total external debt2000: 12.1 % of total external debt2001: 10.9 % of total external debt2002: 15 % of total external debt2003: 18.7 % of total external debt2004: 19.7 % of total external debt2005: 24 % of total external debt2006: 28.7 % of total external debt2007: 32 % of total external debt2008: 34.5 % of total external debt2009: 32 % of total external debt2010: 29.9 % of total external debt2011: 26.9 % of total external debt2012: 26.8 % of total external debt2013: 25.8 % of total external debt2014: 23.7 % of total external debt2015: 21.7 % of total external debt2016: 21.5 % of total external debt2017: 23.3 % of total external debt2018: 23.8 % of total external debt2019: 24.4 % of total external debt2020: 25.3 % of total external debt2021: 18.8 % of total external debt2022: 21.2 % of total external debt

Source: International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Measured in % of total external debt.

Analysis

In 2022, short-term debt in Bulgaria stood at 21.2%.

That represents a change of up 12.3% on the previous year and down 21.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, short-term debt in Bulgaria peaked at 34.5% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1981.

That places Bulgaria 24th out of 121 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Short-term debt in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Short-term debt (% of total external debt) in Bulgaria, 1981 to 2022.
Year % of total external debt Change
1981 0.0%
1982 0.0%
1983 0.0%
1984 0.0%
1985 1.3%
1986 1.0% -21.2%
1987 4.2% +315.2%
1988 7.0% +65.6%
1989 8.4% +19.8%
1990 9.7% +15.1%
1991 13.3% +37.7%
1992 13.5% +0.9%
1993 15.2% +13.0%
1994 4.4% -70.8%
1995 4.9% +11.3%
1996 11.1% +124.1%
1997 18.0% +62.7%
1998 15.5% -14.1%
1999 10.9% -29.3%
2000 12.1% +10.6%
2001 10.9% -9.8%
2002 15.0% +37.3%
2003 18.7% +24.7%
2004 19.7% +5.3%
2005 24.0% +22.1%
2006 28.7% +19.6%
2007 32.0% +11.6%
2008 34.5% +7.9%
2009 32.0% -7.5%
2010 29.9% -6.5%
2011 26.9% -9.9%
2012 26.8% -0.4%
2013 25.8% -3.7%
2014 23.7% -8.2%
2015 21.7% -8.3%
2016 21.5% -0.9%
2017 23.3% +8.1%
2018 23.8% +2.3%
2019 24.4% +2.6%
2020 25.3% +3.7%
2021 18.8% -25.6%
2022 21.2% +12.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 2.4% 0.0% 8.4% 9
1990s 11.7% 4.4% 18.0% 10
2000s 22.8% 10.9% 34.5% 10
2010s 24.8% 21.5% 29.9% 10
2020s 21.8% 18.8% 25.3% 3

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 21 Sudan 21.5% compare
  2. 22 Armenia 21.3% compare
  3. 23 Republic of Moldova 21.3% compare
  4. 25 Cambodia 20.5% compare
  5. 26 Nigeria 20.4% compare
  6. 27 Argentina 20.0% compare

See the full ranking of 133 places →

More external debt data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is short-term debt in Bulgaria?
Short-term debt in Bulgaria was 21.2% in 2022, according to International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB).
What is the highest short-term debt recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 34.5% in 2008.
What is the lowest short-term debt recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1981.
How does Bulgaria rank for short-term debt?
Bulgaria ranks 24th out of 121 countries with data for 2022.
Is short-term debt rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB), published as part of Short-term debt (% of total external debt). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Short-term debt in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB). Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://debt.statizoid.com/stat/short-term-debt-percent-of-total-external-debt/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Short-term debt (% of total external debt)
Unit
% of total external debt
Source
International Debt Statistics, World Bank (WB)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
133 places, 6,524 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

Short-term debt includes all debt having an original maturity of one year or less and interest in arrears on long-term debt. Total external debt is debt owed to nonresidents repayable in currency, goods, or services. Total external debt is the sum of public, publicly guaranteed, and private nonguaranteed long-term debt, use of IMF credit, and short-term debt.