Bulgaria: Investment in energy with private participation (current US$)

Key figures

Over five years it is up 2,416% from US$11.59 million in 2019 (90.6% a year on average, compounded). Since 2003 it is down 63.26% from US$793.6 million in 2003 (4.66% a year on average, compounded).

What the numbers say

In 2024, Bulgaria's investment in energy with private participation (current US$) fell 0.5% on 2023 (from US$293.14 million to US$291.56 million).

Across the 11 yearly changes before that (2004 to 2023), the average change was +70.6% and a typical year strayed about 224.5% 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 678.6% in 2005 and the biggest yearly fall was 70% in 2013. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

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

How it compares

In 2024, Bulgaria had the 15th highest value of the 31 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 2024 ranking

• Mexico — 12th of 31: US$551 million
• Dominican Republic — 13th of 31: US$446.1 million
• Malaysia — 14th of 31: US$411.32 million
• Kazakhstan — 16th of 31: US$240 million
• Georgia — 17th of 31: US$235.22 million
• Colombia — 18th of 31: US$202 million

What this measures

The Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) Database records contractual arrangements for public infrastructure projects in low- and middle-income countries (as classified by the World Bank) that have reached financial closure, in which private parties assume operating risk. Investment in energy projects with private participation refers to commitments to infrastructure projects in energy (electricity and natural gas: generation, transmission and distribution) that have reached financial closure and directly or indirectly serve the public. The types of projects included are management and lease contracts, brownfield projects, greenfield projects (in which a private entity or a public-private joint venture builds and operates a new facility), and divestitures. Investments are classified as one of two types: (1) Investments in physical assets: resources the project company commits to invest in expanding and modernizing facilities and (2) payments to the government: to acquire state-owned enterprises or rights to provide services in a specific area or to use radio spectrum. Data is presented based on investment year. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

Limitations: The data on investment in infrastructure projects with private participation refer to all investment (public and private) in projects in which a private company assumes operating risk during the operating period or development and operating risk during the contract period. Investment refers to commitments not disbursements. Foreign state-owned companies are considered private entities for the purposes of this measure. Investment commitments are the sum of investments in physical assets and payments to the government.

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

All 15 values

Investment in energy with private participation (current US$) in nearby economies

• Armenia — US$26 million (2023)
• Georgia — US$235.22 million (2024)
• Kazakhstan — US$240 million (2024)
• Romania — US$114.6 million (2018)
• Russian Federation — US$101.02 million (2021)
• Türkiye — US$1.7 billion (2024)
• Ukraine — US$1.45 billion (2021)

More private sector & trade data for Bulgaria

• Merchandise imports (current US$) — US$60.89 billion (2025)
• Merchandise exports (current US$) — US$48.32 billion (2025)
• Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — 83.51% (2025)
• Computer, communications and other services (% of commercial service imports) — 38.43% (2025)
• Commercial service imports (current US$) — US$9.42 billion (2025)
• Transport services (% of commercial service imports) — 30.57% (2025)
• Travel services (% of commercial service imports) — 24.69% (2025)
• Computer, communications and other services (% of commercial service exports) — 51.93% (2025)
• Commercial service exports (current US$)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Bulgaria's investment in energy with private participation (current US$)?

US$291.56 million in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2003?

It is down 63.26% from US$793.6 million in 2003 (4.66% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was US$2.34 billion in 2005 and the lowest US$11.59 million in 2019.

How does Bulgaria rank?

15th highest of 31 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in investment in energy with private participation (current US$) unusual for Bulgaria?

In 2024, Bulgaria's investment in energy with private participation (current US$) fell 0.5% on 2023 (from US$293.14 million to US$291.56 million). Across the 11 yearly changes before that (2004 to 2023), the average change was +70.6% and a typical year strayed about 224.5% 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.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator IE.PPI.ENGY.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Private Participation in Infrastructure Project Database, World Bank (WB), uri: https://ppi.worldbank.org/en/ppidata 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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