Balgarianovinite.com Bulgaria’s Ministry of Finance expects the country’s budget deficit, measured on a cash basis, to reach EUR 1.75 billion by the end of April, according to preliminary data released on Monday.
The deficit is projected to widen to 1.4% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by the end of the fourth month of 2026. This marks an increase of approximately EUR 750 million compared to the same period last year.
At the end of April 2025, the deficit stood at EUR 1 billion, or 0.8% of GDP, the Ministry noted.
On a monthly basis, the deficit has grown by EUR 221 million, up from 1.528 billion (1.2% of GDP) at the end of March, according to the ministry’s first-quarter budget report, also published on Monday.
Total revenues, grants, and donations under the consolidated fiscal programme are expected to reach EUR 14.1 billion by April 2026, an increase of EUR 1.5 billion compared to the same period in 2025. The rise is largely attributed to higher tax revenues, which grew by EUR 1.4 billion year-on-year, as well as a EUR 400 million increase in grants and donations.
However, non-tax revenues declined by EUR 300 million compared to the first four months of 2025, mainly due to a change in the deadline for the Bulgarian National Bank’s transfer of surplus revenues to the state budget – from April 30 to June 30.
Government expenditures, including Bulgaria’s contribution to the European Union budget, are estimated at EUR 15.8 billion as of April 2026, up from EUR 13.5 billion a year earlier.
The increase is primarily driven by higher spending on social and health insurance payments, including pensions, as well as rising personnel costs, capital expenditures, and other outlays.
According to the Finance Ministry, pension expenditures have risen due to an 8.6% indexation implemented in July 2025. Additionally, the delayed adoption of the 2025 State Budget law meant that planned wage increases in the public sector were implemented retroactively after April 2025, making early-2025 figures appear comparatively lower.
Personnel costs in 2026 have also been impacted by an increase in the minimum wage from January, along with additional salary adjustments reflecting accumulated inflation in 2025.
Capital expenditures have recorded significant growth as well, driven by ongoing investments and projects under Bulgaria’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
As of April 30, 2026, Bulgaria has contributed EUR 400 million to the European Union budget. Government Expects Budget Deficit to Reach EUR 1.75 Billion by End of April 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-05-04 20:16:43 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law