Türkiye and Bulgaria
Türkiye and Bulgaria connect neighbourly ties, communities and supply chains. Shared NATO membership accompanies a relationship with a European dimension.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-07 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-07History and institutional framework
The community of Turkish origin in Bulgaria is a relevant social element.
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, goods trade between Türkiye and Bulgaria totalled 8,451.7 million current USD.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 8,451.74 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / TUR |
| Goods: Türkiye to Bulgaria | 5,575.89 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / TUR |
| Goods: Bulgaria to Türkiye | 2,875.85 M USD | 2025 · UN Comtrade / TUR |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Türkiye to Bulgaria | 2.04 % | 2025 · UN Comtrade / TUR |
| Export share: Bulgaria to Türkiye | ||
| Investment stock: Türkiye in Bulgaria | ||
| Investment stock: Bulgaria in Türkiye |
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 / TUR · Goods; full year; reporter TUR. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. Mirror reports are not added together.
- Goods: Türkiye to Bulgaria
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / TUR · Goods; full year; reporter TUR. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. Mirror reports are not added together.
- Goods: Bulgaria to Türkiye
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / TUR · Goods; full year; reporter TUR. Exports normally FOB and imports CIF according to the reporter's coverage. Mirror reports are not added together.
- Export share: Türkiye to Bulgaria
- 2025 · UN Comtrade / TUR · Goods share: TUR exports to the partner / exports by the same reporter to the world, same year.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | Türkiye | Bulgaria |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 1.6 trillion USD2025 · WB | 130.78 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 18,599.44 USD2025 · WB | 20,328.17 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 3.6 %2025 · WB | 3.1 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | 37 %2026-09-10 · TCMB | |
| Inflation · annual average | 34.88 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 4.58 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | 29.73 %Headline CPI · 2026-09 · year-on-year · TCMB / TURKSTAT | |
| Unemployment | 8.52 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 3.54 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -2.8 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 23.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 27.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | -0.77 %2024 · WB | -5.84 %2025 · WB |
| Population | 85,878,5562025 · WB | 6,433,302World Bank est.2025 · WB |
| Area | 785,350 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 USDTürkiye: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Bulgaria: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personTürkiye: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Bulgaria: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Türkiye: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Bulgaria: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)Türkiye: 2026-09-10 · One-week repo auction rate · TCMB · Official central-bank decision; not a commercial lending rate or a bill yield.
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Türkiye: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Bulgaria: 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 statedTürkiye: 2026-09 · National headline CPI, change from the same month of the previous year · TCMB / TURKSTAT · Official monthly data. Not mixed with the annual average. · Alternative official source; verified 2026-10-07
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionTürkiye: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, % of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.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)Türkiye: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.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)Türkiye: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO estimate, not a monthly observation. Retains the country's fiscal year where it differs from the calendar year.Bulgaria: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPTürkiye: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Bulgaria: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.
- Population
- PeopleTürkiye: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Bulgaria: 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 sourceTürkiye: 2023 · World Bank / FAO · Official World Bank series; latest verified period available for this series in the 2023–2025 query.Bulgaria: 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.
Türkiye to Bulgaria
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Mineral fuels and oils | 850.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 413.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 335.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 283.5 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 231.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 46.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 2.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
Bulgaria to Türkiye
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Mineral fuels and oils | 150.6 M USD2025 · Source |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 114.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 102.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 15.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 8.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 1.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 0 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | Türkiye to Bulgaria | Bulgaria to Türkiye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,498.9 | 3,953.4 | 2,545.5 |
| 2022 | 7,415 | 4,721.6 | 2,693.3 |
| 2023 | 6,633.7 | 4,226.7 | 2,407 |
| 2024 | 7,794.1 | 5,150.4 | 2,643.7 |
| 2025 | 8,451.7 | 5,575.9 | 2,875.8 |
Connections between people
The community of Turkish origin in Bulgaria is a relevant social element. Companies and construction projects have counts distinct from monetary investment positions; tourist visits are not permanent residents. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Türkiye living in Bulgaria | ||
| Residents from Bulgaria living in Türkiye | ||
| Study and training: Türkiye in Bulgaria | ||
| Study and training: Bulgaria in Türkiye | ||
| Academic stays: Türkiye in Bulgaria | ||
| Academic stays: Bulgaria in Türkiye | ||
| Travel: Türkiye to Bulgaria | ||
| Travel: Bulgaria to TürkiyeBulgarian tourists who visited Türkiye | 2,882,512arrivals | 2022 · Australia DFAT |
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.
- Travel: Bulgaria to Türkiye
- Count of visits or arrivals according to the source's definition; a person may make more than one trip. It is not a register of residents. 2022 · Australia DFAT
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
The community of Turkish origin in Bulgaria is a relevant social element. Companies and construction projects have counts distinct from monetary investment positions; tourist visits are not permanent residents. [1]
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Türkiye is 1,597.3 billion USD (2025), compared with 130.8 for Bulgaria (2025). The reference populations are 85.88 and 6.43 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Türkiye was 12.21 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
Shared NATO membership accompanies a relationship with a European dimension. [1]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (Türkiye and Bulgaria) totalled 8,451.7 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 5,575.9 million; those in the opposite direction, 2,875.8 million. The difference between the two flows was 2,700 million, in favour of Türkiye. 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 Türkiye to the partner represented 2.04% 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 6,498.9 million USD in 2021 and 8,451.7 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +30 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2025, at 8,451.7 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, mineral fuels and oils stands out in shipments from Türkiye to Bulgaria, at 850.1 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, mineral fuels and oils stands out in shipments from Bulgaria to Türkiye, at 150.6 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]
Documented mobility and communities
Trips from Bulgaria to Türkiye: 2,882,512 (2022). Bulgarian tourists who visited Türkiye. Count of visits or arrivals according to the source's definition; a person may make more than one trip. It is not a register of residents. [1]
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 — TUR-BGR
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Annual TOTAL X/M; 2025; reporter 792; partners 0,124,368,31,268,116,360,170,70,324,32,152,180,332,12,191,148,188,140,262,100,40,226,231,192,174
UN Comtrade / TUR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Trade series 2021–2025
UN Comtrade / TUR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 792; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total
UN Comtrade / TUR · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official series — gdp
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; 2023–2025; country and period preserved; no military series
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 / TUR
2026-10-07 · Accessed: 2026-10-07 · Selected HS2 chapters; reporter 792; annual 2025; same partner/flow/coverage as total.