Small Businesses Face Toughest Challenges Ahead of Bulgaria’s Euro Adoption in 2026
Small and medium-sized enterprises in Bulgaria are expected to face the greatest difficulties once the euro becomes the country’s official currency in 202
As of July 2025, Bulgaria’s state social security (SSS) reported total consolidated budget revenues of 8,540.7 million leva, achieving 56.1% of the annual plan. This marks an increase of 1,118.8 million leva compared to the same period in 2024.
Expenditures under the SSS consolidated budget reached 15,358.7 million leva, also 56.1% of the yearly plan, representing a year-on-year rise of 1,603.1 million leva, according to the National Social Security Institute.
Pension payments accounted for the largest share of spending, totaling 13,613.2 million leva, or 56.5% of the plan. This is 1,500 million leva (12.4%) higher than in July 2024. The number of pensioners reached 2,057,397, up by 11,431 (0.6%) compared to the same month last year. The average pension in July 2025 amounted to 1,015.22 leva (517,76 euros), reflecting an increase of 81.28 leva (8.7%) over July 2024.
The next major expenditure category was cash benefits and allowances under the Social Security Code, which reached 1,632.4 million leva, 53.1% of the planned annual amount. This represents an increase of 98.4 million leva compared to July 2024.
Transfers under the consolidated budget of the State Educational Service totaled 6,852.6 million leva by July 2025.
The Teachers’ Pension Fund recorded revenues of 84.6 million leva, reaching 60.8% of the annual plan and up 13.9 million leva compared to the same period last year. Expenses for the fund totaled 66.9 million leva, 53.6% of the plan, marking a year-on-year increase of 9.8 million leva.
Meanwhile, the budget of another fund (unspecified) posted total revenues of 2,766.0 thousand leva by July 2025, achieving 86.4% of the planned annual target and exceeding the previous year’s figure by 1,074.3 thousand leva. Reported expenses for the same fund amounted to 2,055.0 thousand leva, or 42.5% of the plan, rising by 1,470.4 thousand leva compared to the same period in 2024.
The District Prosecutor’s Office in Burgas has detained for up to 72 hours a Romanian citizen accused of intentionally causing the deaths of six migrants during a high-speed chase with police on Thursday night
Thousands of employees at Bulgaria’s Ministry of the Interior continue to draw both a state pension and a full salary
Bulgaria is facing an unsettled weekend as a series of weather fronts bring clouds, rain, and a noticeable shift in conditions across the country
Bulgaria’s birth rate has declined by one-third over the past three decades
Authorities in Bulgaria continue to investigate a deadly accident involving migrants in Burgas, following a high-speed chase between police teams and a vehicle carrying illegal border-crossers
Six migrants lost their lives in Burgas after the vehicle they were traveling in overturned and plunged into Lake Vaya during a high-speed police chase
Bulgaria's Strategic Role in the EU's Drone Wall Defense Initiative
When Politics Means Violence