Bulgaria Regulatory Quality
Regulatory Quality RQ.EST
Bulgaria's regulatory quality was 0.28 in 2025, ranked 78th globally. This represents a 32.2% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank WGI, covering 1996–2025.
Overview
Bulgaria's regulatory quality stood at 0.28 in 2025, a decline of +0.13 from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.28 by 2025. Bulgaria ranked 78th globally.
Bulgaria’s regulatory quality score, measured by the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, has risen from a trough of –0.18 in 1996 to a peak of 0.73 in 2008, before settling at 0.28 in 2025, placing the country 78th globally. The 26‑year series reflects a gradual improvement after the post‑communist transition, yet the 2025 figure remains modest compared with peers such as Thailand (0.27) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (0.36). The 2008 high coincided with Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union, when reforms in market competition, public procurement and anti‑corruption frameworks were intensified. Since then, the score has regressed, suggesting that initial reforms have not been fully sustained and that regulatory bottlenecks persist in areas like business licensing and judicial efficiency. Continued alignment with EU standards and deeper implementation of digital governance tools could help reverse the recent decline and steer Bulgaria toward a higher regulatory quality trajectory.
Data & projection
| Year | Regulatory Quality | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 0.24 | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.28 | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.28 | −0.13 | #78 |
| 2023 | 0.41 | +0.09 | #68 |
| 2022 | 0.32 | −0.11 | #76 |
| 2021 | 0.43 | −0.03 | #65 |
| 2020 | 0.46 | −0.07 | #67 |
| 2019 | 0.53 | −0.07 | #57 |
| 2018 | 0.61 | −0.05 | #53 |
| 2017 | 0.66 | −0.04 | #51 |
| 2016 | 0.70 | +0.12 | #50 |
| 2015 | 0.58 | −0.01 | #57 |
| 2014 | 0.59 | +0.04 | #57 |
| 2013 | 0.55 | −0.03 | #62 |
| 2012 | 0.57 | +0.02 | #59 |
| 2011 | 0.55 | −0.13 | #59 |
| 2010 | 0.68 | −0.01 | #50 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Bulgaria matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw regulatory quality improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Bulgaria's regulatory quality was 0.28 in 2025. Ranked 78th globally. This represents a 32.2% decrease from the previous year.
Bulgaria's regulatory quality peaked at 0.73 in 2008.
The lowest regulatory quality in Bulgaria was -0.18 in 1996.
Bulgaria ranks 78th globally in regulatory quality as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is RQ.EST. Data sourced from World Bank WGI.
Bulgaria's regulatory quality is projected to reach 0.28 by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The regulatory quality of Bulgaria in 2025 was 0.28. This ranks 78th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_bulgaria_regulatory-quality,
title = {Bulgaria Regulatory Quality},
url = {https://historysaid.com/bulgaria/regulatory-quality/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}