Consumption-based energy use per person in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Consumption-based energy use per person was 28.3 kilowatt-hours in 2020. ▲ Rising
Consumption-based energy use per person in Bulgaria, 1995–2020
Source: Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for consumption-based energy use per person in Bulgaria is 28.3 kilowatt-hours, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.0% on the previous year and up 19.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based energy use per person in Bulgaria peaked at 31.3 kilowatt-hours in 2008 and was at its lowest, 20.4 kilowatt-hours, in 1997.
Bulgaria ranks 35th of 43 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Consumption-based energy use per person in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 22.1 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 22.6 kilowatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 20.4 kilowatt-hours | -9.7% |
| 1998 | 23.3 kilowatt-hours | +14.2% |
| 1999 | 21.7 kilowatt-hours | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 22.2 kilowatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 23.4 kilowatt-hours | +5.4% |
| 2002 | 24.9 kilowatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 25.3 kilowatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 25.8 kilowatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 27.5 kilowatt-hours | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 29.4 kilowatt-hours | +6.9% |
| 2007 | 31 kilowatt-hours | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 31.3 kilowatt-hours | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 25.3 kilowatt-hours | -19.2% |
| 2010 | 23.6 kilowatt-hours | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 24.3 kilowatt-hours | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 24.1 kilowatt-hours | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 21.7 kilowatt-hours | -10.0% |
| 2014 | 22.2 kilowatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 23.4 kilowatt-hours | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 28.2 kilowatt-hours | +20.5% |
| 2017 | 24.1 kilowatt-hours | -14.5% |
| 2018 | 25.2 kilowatt-hours | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 29.8 kilowatt-hours | +18.3% |
| 2020 | 28.3 kilowatt-hours | -5.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 28.3 kilowatt-hours is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 52.8 kilowatt-hours, 54% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 28.3 kilowatt-hours is below the median for high income countries, which is 54.35 kilowatt-hours, 52% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.02 kilowatt-hours | 20.4 kilowatt-hours | 23.3 kilowatt-hours | 5 |
| 2000s | 26.61 kilowatt-hours | 22.2 kilowatt-hours | 31.3 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.66 kilowatt-hours | 21.7 kilowatt-hours | 29.8 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.3 kilowatt-hours | 28.3 kilowatt-hours | 28.3 kilowatt-hours | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More energy & mining data for Bulgaria
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 2.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 12.3% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is consumption-based energy use per person in Bulgaria?
- Consumption-based energy use per person in Bulgaria was 28.3 kilowatt-hours in 2020, according to Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest consumption-based energy use per person recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 31.3 kilowatt-hours in 2008.
- What is the lowest consumption-based energy use per person recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.4 kilowatt-hours in 1997.
- How does Bulgaria rank for consumption-based energy use per person?
- Bulgaria ranks 35th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
- Is consumption-based energy use per person rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Consumption-based energy use per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Consumption-based (or trade-adjusted) energy use measures domestic energy use minus energy used to produce exported goods, plus energy used to produce imported goods. Measured in megawatt-hours.