Germany and Bulgaria
Germany and Bulgaria connect industry, a large migrant community and higher education. Automotive activity, technology and trade accompany family ties.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07History and institutional framework
Universities and German-language teaching connect both countries.
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, goods trade between Germany and Bulgaria totalled 14,330.3 million current USD.
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from Germany to Bulgaria, at 1,332.9 million USD in 2025.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 14,330.31 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU |
| Goods: Germany to Bulgaria | 7,126.19 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU |
| Goods: Bulgaria to Germany | 7,204.12 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Germany to Bulgaria | 0.4 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU |
| Export share: Bulgaria to Germany | ||
| Investment stock: Germany in Bulgaria | ||
| Investment stock: Bulgaria in Germany |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU · Goods; full year; DEU reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: Germany to Bulgaria
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU · Goods; full year; DEU reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Goods: Bulgaria to Germany
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU · Goods; full year; DEU reporter. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. No addition of mirror reports.
- Export share: Germany to Bulgaria
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / DEU · Goods share: DEU exports to the partner / the same reporter's exports to the world, same year.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Germany | Bulgaria |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 5.05 trillion USD2025 · WB | 130.78 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 60,496.44 USD2025 · WB | 20,328.17 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 0.24 %2025 · WB | 3.1 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 2.5 %2026-09-16 · BCE | |
| Inflation · annual average | 2.17 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 4.58 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 3.3 %provisionalprovisionalYear-on-year · Sept. 2026 · Destatis | |
| Unemployment | 3.71 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 3.54 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -2.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 62.9 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 27.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 4.51 %2025 · WB | -5.84 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 83,491,2492025 · WB | 6,433,302World Bank est.2025 · WB |
| Area | 357,680 km²2023 · WB | 110,997 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDGermany: 2025 · World BankBulgaria: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personGermany: 2025 · World BankBulgaria: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Germany: 2025 · World BankBulgaria: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Germany: 2026-09-16 · ECB: deposit facility; shared euro-area rate · European Central Bank
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Germany: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World BankBulgaria: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency statedGermany: 2026-09 · Change in headline CPI from the same month of the previous year (%) · Destatis · Published: 2026-09-30 · provisional · Provisional · National headline CPI, year-on-year, not monthly inflation or an annual average. Provisional data or an official advance release; subject to revision.
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionGermany: 2025 · World Bank · ILO est.Bulgaria: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Germany: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Bulgaria: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Germany: 2025 · IMF — World Economic Outlook · IMF est.Bulgaria: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPGermany: 2025 · World BankBulgaria: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Population
- PeopleGermany: 2025 · World BankBulgaria: 2025 · World Bank · WB est. · The source indicates an extrapolated population; this is not a census count.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceGermany: 2023 · Area according to the series' coverage; does not determine sovereignty or effective control · World BankBulgaria: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Germany to Bulgaria
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Vehicles and components | 1,332.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 1,073.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 941.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 590.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 124.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 67.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 45 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
Bulgaria to Germany
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 1,215.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 700.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 564.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 166.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 42.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 10.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 8.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 2.2 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | Germany to Bulgaria | Bulgaria to Germany |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,640.7 | 5,424.7 | 6,216 |
| 2022 | 13,097.8 | 5,896.9 | 7,200.9 |
| 2023 | 12,925.6 | 6,434 | 6,491.7 |
| 2024 | 13,070.8 | 6,197.2 | 6,873.6 |
| 2025 | 14,330.3 | 7,126.2 | 7,204.1 |
Connections between people
Universities and German-language teaching connect both countries. German medical students in Bulgaria and Bulgarian students in Germany belong to different flows; they are not inferred from diaspora size. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Germany living in Bulgaria | ||
| Residents from Bulgaria living in Germany | ||
| Study and training: Germany in Bulgaria | ||
| Study and training: Bulgaria in Germany | ||
| Academic stays: Germany in Bulgaria | ||
| Academic stays: Bulgaria in Germany | ||
| Travel: Germany to Bulgaria | ||
| Travel: Bulgaria to Germany |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
History and institutional framework
Universities and German-language teaching connect both countries. German medical students in Bulgaria and Bulgarian students in Germany belong to different flows; they are not inferred from diaspora size. [1]
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Germany is 5,050.9 billion USD (2025), compared with 130.8 for Bulgaria (2025). The reference populations are 83.49 and 6.43 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Germany was 38.62 times that of Bulgaria in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Reviewed: 2026-10-07
Areas of the relationship
Automotive activity, technology and trade accompany family ties. [1]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (Germany and Bulgaria) totalled 14,330.3 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 7,126.2 million; those in the opposite direction, 7,204.1 million. The difference between the two flows was 77.9 million, in favour of Bulgaria. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [2]
The partner's share of exports
Sales from Germany to the partner represented 0.4% of its worldwide goods exports in 2025. The share compares the same reporter, year and coverage. It measures export concentration, not the percentage of GDP dependent on this relationship. A partner may be important in a specific sector even if its share of total goods trade is small. [2]
Five years of trade trends
The consistent series shows 11,640.7 million USD in 2021 and 14,330.3 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +23.1 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2025, at 14,330.3 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [3]
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, vehicles and components stands out in shipments from Germany to Bulgaria, at 1,332.9 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, electrical and electronic equipment stands out in shipments from Bulgaria to Germany, at 1,215.7 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [4]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — DEU-BGR
Germany's Federal Foreign Office · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 276; partners 0,364,760,275,504,860,499,600,400,604,484,218,51,807,688,203,170,368,70,858,398,434,762,608,214,12,642,591,686,566,834,52,152,68,208,417,288,634,360,579,268,496,32,352,384,116,404,300,558,704,780,480,768,100,512,800,8,148,340,180,598,450,178,188,320,388,706,478,670,348,586,740,28,716,231,262,428,795,690,108,24,191,144,458,442,554,776,50,4,192,410,585,440,104,196,426,454,646,728,764,854,233,516,788,308,232,328,508,662,132,84,659,620,562,470,212,40,498,798,894,703,752,414,48,520,120,524,222,31,882,466
UN Comtrade / DEU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Trade series 2021–2025
UN Comtrade / DEU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 276; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total
UN Comtrade / DEU · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official series — gdp
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official series — population
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade / DEU
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 276; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total.