Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

OECD: Second wave of Covid-19 will shrink the Bulgarian economy by over 8%

Photo: capital.bg

The Bulgarian economy grew before the pandemic, but in 2020 it is facing its most serious contraction since the late 1990s. In the most favourable scenario with the epidemic subsiding by the summer, its production will shrink by 7.1% in 2020, and in 2021 the economy will grow. 
However, if the country is hit by a second wave of coronavirus, it will shrink its economy by about 8% this year and by another 0.3% in 2021. This is indicated by the forecast of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development for Bulgaria (according to the European Commission by 7.2% and according to the government by 3%). 
According to the analysis, a restart of the economy may require more political support. Unemployment could rise, especially if the government's wage subsidy scheme ends in July without being replaced by new employment policies.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Drop in temperatures, cloudy skies, rain expected in Bulgaria over the weekend

On Saturday, the minimum temperatures in Bulgaria will be from 8 to 13C, in Sofia – 10C. During the day, cloudy weather will prevail. Rain is expected in the southwestern regions. A moderate wind will blow from the east-northeast.  Maximum..

published on 9/26/25 7:25 PM

Bulgarian industry is vulnerable to climate dumping

In economic terms, Bulgaria is highly dependent on carbon-intensive production and is particularly vulnerable to the risk of these productions being shifted to countries with weaker environmental standards, with the corresponding loss of jobs and a..

published on 9/26/25 6:01 PM
Ivan Krastev

Just 10% of children deprived of parental care in Bulgaria can be adopted

Currently, out of nearly 8,000 children deprived of parental care, just 850 have permission for full adoption. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Ivan Krastev at a roundtable in Sofia, specifying that about 3,700 children..

published on 9/26/25 5:35 PM