Energy intensity in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Energy intensity was 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Bulgaria, 2000–2022
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2022, energy intensity in Bulgaria stood at 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
The figure is down 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Bulgaria peaked at 9.08 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2001 and was at its lowest, 4.68 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2020.
Bulgaria ranks 77th of 201 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.05 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 9.08 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 8.36 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.9% |
| 2003 | 8.14 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 7.43 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.7% |
| 2005 | 7.34 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 7.08 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.5% |
| 2007 | 6.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 6.05 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 5.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.3% |
| 2010 | 5.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 5.8 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 5.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 5.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.9% |
| 2014 | 5.32 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 5.36 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 5.07 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.4% |
| 2017 | 5.11 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 4.97 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.0% |
| 2020 | 4.68 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.45 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.49 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 9.08 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.8 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.71 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.68 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 74 Benin 4.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 75 Kenya 4.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 76 Suriname 4.74 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 78 Kyrgyzstan 4.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 78 Republic of Moldova 4.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 80 Lao People's Democratic Republic 4.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Bulgaria
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (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)
- Fuel imports 12.3% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 9.8% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 15.6% (2024)
- Gas production 0.0968 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 14.32 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0.0968 terawatt-hours (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Bulgaria?
- Energy intensity in Bulgaria was 4.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 9.08 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2001.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.68 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2020.
- How does Bulgaria rank for energy intensity?
- Bulgaria ranks 77th out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.