January 2026
30Jan

The Bulgarian Pension System: Caught Between Adequacy And Sustainability

By Jean-Jacques Hallaert During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulgarian authorities increased pensions substantially to support pensioners’ living standards and aggregate demand. These increases have become permanent and improved the adequacy of pensions. However, not matched by revenue measures, they have widened the deficit of the pension system. Reforms that increase the incentives to contribute to the pension system and thus revenue would improve the financial sustainability of the pension system and reduce fiscal risks. Source SSRN

January 30, 2026
Adequacy, Articles, ,
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December 2025
10Dec

Bulgaria: Over 2 Million Retirees to See Pension Increase in 2026

Pension insurance contributions will not increase in 2026, while pensions themselves will be updated from 1 July under the Swiss indexation formula, resulting in an expected rise of 7–8%. These measures are part of the revised 2026 State Social Security (SSS) budget, approved at first reading by the parliamentary budget committee. Minimum Wage Set at €620.20 From 1 January 2026, the national minimum wage will be €620.20. The minimum insurance threshold for self-employed persons will match this amount, also rising to €620.20. The maximum insurance income will be €2300, a slight decrease compared to the earlier draft...

December 10, 2025
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August 2025
13Aug

Bulgaria’s Pension System Faces Challenges Ahead of Eurozone Entry in 2026

Bulgaria’s pension system stands at a critical juncture as the country prepares to join the Eurozone in 2026. This transition will bring pensions denominated in euros instead of leva, prompting questions about the system’s future stability amid demographic shifts and budgetary pressures. Our analysis explores the structure of Bulgaria’s pension scheme, current challenges, and projections looking ahead to 2070. The Bulgarian pension system consists of three pillars. The first pillar is the state social security system, funded through the pay-as-you-go...

August 13, 2025
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February 2025
17Feb

Over 20% of Bulgaria’s Pensioners Cannot Afford Basic Necessities

According to Eurostat data, 22.4% of Bulgarians aged 65 and older experience severe material deprivation, meaning they are unable to afford at least seven out of thirteen basic items necessary for a decent quality of life. These essentials include things like replacing worn-out clothes, having some personal spending money each week, renewing old furniture, going on an annual vacation, or handling unexpected expenses. Only Romania has a higher percentage of pensioners in such deprivation, with 23.7% affected. On average, however,...

February 17, 2025
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July 2024
31Jul

The Bulgarian Pension System: Caught Between Adequacy And Sustainability

By Jean-Jacques Hallaert During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulgarian authorities increased pensions substantially to support pensioners’ living standards and aggregate demand. These increases have become permanent and improved the adequacy of pensions. However, not matched by revenue measures, they have widened the deficit of the pension system. Reforms that increase the incentives to contribute to the pension system and thus revenue would improve the financial sustainability of the pension system and reduce fiscal risks. Source SSRN

July 31, 2024
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November 2023
17Nov

Bulgaria Boosts Minimum Pension to BGN 580

A significant shift in Bulgaria's pension landscape is on the horizon, as the minimum pension for service and age is slated to surge by 11% under the Swiss rule, reaching BGN 580 starting July 1, 2024. Alongside this increase, widow's supplements are also expected to see a rise, as per insights from "Sega." Effective January 1, there's an uptick in the maximum insurance income to BGN 3,750, marking a nearly 10% rise. However, the pension ceiling remains unchanged, capped at...

November 17, 2023
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June 2022
29Jun

Bulgarian minimum pension will rise in July

Parliament finally approved the minimum pension to reach BGN 467 (EUR 240) as of July 1st. From this date, the maximum pension rises to BGN 2,000 (EUR 1,026). From October 1, the ceiling will rise once again - this time to BGN 3,400, which is the amount of the maximum insurance income. After parliament finally approved an increase in the minimum and maximum pensions from July 1st, Social Policy Minister Georgi Gokov confirmed that payments for the increase are still likely...

June 29, 2022
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June 2021
01Jun

Bulgaria Is Ageing Fast, 31 Percent of Population Will be over 65 in 2070

The Bulgarian population is ageing and this will cause major problems in the payment of pensions in the coming years. The share of people over the age of 65 relative to the total population will increase from about 21% in 2019 to 31% in 2070. This is written in the Country's Convergence Programme, which was recently sent to the European Commission, informs Trud daily. The Bulgarian pension system faces serious demographic challenges, the document says. Forecasts from the European statistical...

June 1, 2021
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May 2021
25May

Dutch manager APG forms joint venture to help ABP invest in Chilean forests

Dutch pensions provider APG formed a joint venture on behalf of its largest pension fund client to invest in forests in Chile. On behalf of the €495.3 billion ($601.5 billion) ABP, Heerlen, Netherlands, APG formed the company with British Columbia Investment Management Corp. and South American investment bank BTG Pactual's timber investment group. BCI has C$171.3 billion ($141.4 billion) in AUM. The new venture will invest $385.5 million in forestry in Chile, owning more than 80,000 hectares of Chilean forest across...

May 25, 2021
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24May

Bulgaria. Average Salary shows significant growth and pensions with it

The average salary registered over 10 percent growth year-on- year.On the other hand, the share of remuneration from work in the overall household budgets has shrunk, while the share of incomes from pensions and social benefits has grown. Despite the reported growth of the average salary up to BGN 1,500, this does not apply to all sectors of the economy. Traditionally, the highest incomes are in the information and communication technologies and in the health sphere - due to the...

May 24, 2021
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