Corruption and Bulgaria's Economic Stability: Statistics and Real Effects in September 2025

Corruption continues to critically affect Bulgaria's economic stability. According to the latest data from "Transparency International", in September 2025 the country ranks 76th in the global ranking, with a corruption index remaining at 43 points out of 100 – one of the lowest in the EU.

September data from the Ministry of Finance shows that the budget deficit for 2025 exceeds 7.2 billion leva – 1.8 billion more compared to the same period in 2024. Government spending has increased by 6% compared to the previous year, partly due to inefficient public procurement and spending in the "defense" sector, marked by corruption investigations.

According to the Bulgarian National Bank, foreign direct investment in September fell by 8% compared to 2024, reaching only 520 million euros for the month. For the first 9 months of the year, reports of corruption in the business environment have sharply increased – by 22% compared to 2024.

Inflation in Bulgaria reached 14.1% in September (the highest value for the month since 2010), with experts citing the low efficiency in public finance management and losses from corrupt practices in trade, energy, and infrastructure as the main reasons.

International analyses show that growth incentives under conditions of corruption are limited: in September 2025, Bulgaria's investment ratings were downgraded from "BBB+" to "BBB" by two agencies, and business confidence fell by 11 percentage points compared to the last quarter.

Mass protests and public scandals erupted in September in connection with suspicions of corruption in public procurement in healthcare and construction, which led to the freezing of over 1 billion leva in European funds.

The conclusion of the analysts: "Corruption remains the biggest obstacle to economic growth, modernization, and trust in institutions in Bulgaria in 2025", emphasize Transparency International and experts from the Bulgarian National Bank.