Bulgaria's budget deficit amounted to 569.1 million euros at the end of February, which represents 0.5 percent of the estimated gross domestic product. This is according to the official cash data under the consolidated fiscal program, announced by the Ministry of Finance.
The country continues to operate under the conditions of an extended budget law until the National Assembly finally votes on a regular state budget for the year. This is also the second month in which the treasury reports its macroeconomic results in the single European currency, after Bulgaria officially became part of the eurozone on January 1, 2026.
According to the data of the finance ministry, revenues, aid and donations reached 6.845 billion euros. This represents a significant increase of 21.7 percent (or 1.219 billion euros) compared to the same period last year. Tax revenues form the main part of the revenues – 5.376 billion euros, recording a steady increase of 15.8 percent.
Non-tax revenues amount to 791.9 million euros and are generated mainly from state and municipal taxes, concessions and the sale of emission quotas. Revenues from grants and donations, mainly under European programs, are 676.6 million euros.
At the same time, a significant increase in expenses is also reported. Expenditures jumped by 20.8 percent and now reach 7.414 billion euros.
The official announcement of the ministry states: "There is an increase in expenses mainly in the part of social payments, including pension expenses, as well as in personnel expenses, capital expenditures and others".
Despite the negative balance in February, the size of the fiscal reserve remains within the set parameters. At the end of the month, it amounted to 6.606 billion euros. Of these, 6.182 billion euros are deposits in the Bulgarian National Bank and commercial banks, and the remaining 423.9 million euros are receivables from European Union funds.
The reported parameters fully fit into the preliminary forecasts of the Ministry of Finance from the beginning of March, when the deficit in the treasury was expected to reach 600 million euros. For comparison, at the end of January the state was still reporting a surplus of 212.1 million euros.