The number of active enterprises in Bulgaria reached 415,087 in 2024, up 2.7% compared with 2023, according to data released by the National Statistical Institute (NSI) on July 29.
Between 2020 and 2024, enterprises without employees accounted for the largest share of active businesses. In 2024, they represented 54.4% of all active enterprises, followed by companies employing one to four people (32.3%). Enterprises with five to nine employees had the smallest share, at 6.4%.
Businesses employing ten or more people accounted for just 7.1% of all active enterprises but provided 67.6% of total employment during the period. By contrast, enterprises without employees accounted for only 8.9% of all employed persons despite making up more than half of active businesses.
A total of 43,315 enterprises were established in 2024, representing 10.4% of all businesses in the economic sectors covered by the survey. On average, newly established companies accounted for 10% of active enterprises annually between 2020 and 2024.
The structure of newly established enterprises remained relatively stable over the past five years. The highest share was recorded in Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles, at 30.6%, while the Mining and Quarrying sector accounted for less than 0.1%.
Most newly established enterprises in 2024 had no employees (35,717), followed by businesses with one to four employees (6,781). Only 284 newly established enterprises employed ten or more people.
Of the enterprises established in 2023, 34,676, or 80%, remained active in 2024. The highest survival rate was recorded among enterprises with 10 or more employees, at 93.1%.
NSI data also show a declining trend in business survival rates over time across all enterprise size groups. Of the businesses established in 2019, 5.2% remained active five years later, while enterprises established in 2023 and still active in 2024 accounted for 8.4% of all active enterprises last year.
According to NSI figures, Bulgaria had 404,257 active enterprises and 43,353 newly established enterprises in 2023.