Bulgaria: Fixed broadband subscriptions

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, Bulgaria's fixed broadband subscriptions rose 5.4% on 2022 (from 2.39 million to 2.52 million).

Across the 18 yearly changes before that (2005 to 2022), the average change was +151.5% and a typical year strayed about 559% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 2,387.9% in 2005. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2023 the straight-line trend is upward, about 112,534 a year. A straight line explains 100% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

A straight-line projection, tested first

Extending that straight line gives about 2.79 million for 2026. We show this only because the same method, fitted on earlier years, predicted 2021 to 2023 better than "no change" would have: its average miss was 92,264, against 270,413 for assuming no change. Treat it as a continuation of the recent pattern, not a forecast of events: it cannot see a recession, a policy change or a revision to the data.

See how a linear trend forecast works and the guide on forecasting without fooling yourself.

How it compares

In 2023, Bulgaria had the 3rd highest value of the 18 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Bulgaria in the 2023 ranking

• Japan — 1st of 18: 48.05 million
• Syrian Arab Republic — 3rd of 18: 1.62 million
• Paraguay — 4th of 18: 881,769
• Panama — 5th of 18: 808,557

What this measures

Fixed broadband subscriptions refers to fixed subscriptions to high-speed access to the public Internet (a TCP/IP connection), at downstream speeds equal to, or greater than, 256 kbit/s. This includes cable modem, DSL, fiber-to-the-home/building, other fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions, satellite broadband and terrestrial fixed wireless broadband. This total is measured irrespective of the method of payment. It excludes subscriptions that have access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile-cellular networks. It should include fixed WiMAX and any other fixed wireless technologies. It includes both residential subscriptions and subscriptions for organizations.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 20 values

Fixed broadband subscriptions in nearby economies

• Albania — 694,635 (2024)
• Andorra — 42,899 (2024)
• Armenia — 603,960 (2024)
• Austria — 2.75 million (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 2.25 million (2024)
• Belarus — 3.28 million (2024)
• Belgium — 5.19 million (2024)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 930,003 (2024)
• Croatia — 1.15 million (2024)
• Cyprus — 363,006 (2024)
• Czechia — 4.17 million (2024)

More infrastructure data for Bulgaria

• Air transport, registered carrier departures worldwide — 7,027 (2023)
• Air transport, freight (million ton-km) — 0.63 (2023)
• Air transport, passengers carried — 723,825 (2023)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions — 7.98 million (2024)
• Mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) — 118.07 (2024)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions — 551,943 (2024)
• Fixed telephone subscriptions (per 100 people) — 8.17 (2024)
• Patent applications, nonresidents — 7 (2024)
• Patent applications, residents — 179 (2024)
• Medium and high-tech exports (% manufactured exports)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Bulgaria's fixed broadband subscriptions?

2.52 million in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2004?

It is up 37,730% from 6,651 in 2004 (36.67% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 2.52 million in 2023 and the lowest 6,651 in 2004.

How does Bulgaria rank?

3rd highest of 18 economies with data for 2023.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IT.NET.BBND, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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