Legislative Corruption Score in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Legislative Corruption Score was -1.02 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-1.02
Change on year
up 13.7%
World rank
123rd
of 174 countries
All-time high
2.35
in 1945
All-time low
-1.22
in 1938
Years of data
140
1879–2025
Legislative Corruption Score in Bulgaria, 1879–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded -1.02 for legislative corruption score in 2025.
That represents a change of up 13.7% on the previous year and down 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, legislative corruption score in Bulgaria peaked at 2.35 in 1945 and was at its lowest, -1.22, in 1938.
Bulgaria ranks 123rd of 174 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Legislative Corruption Score in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1879 | -0.213 | — |
| 1880 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1881 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1882 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1883 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1884 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1885 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1886 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1887 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1888 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1889 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1890 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1891 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1892 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1893 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1894 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1895 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1896 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1897 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1898 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1899 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1900 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1901 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1903 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1904 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1905 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1908 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1909 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1911 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1913 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1914 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1915 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1916 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1917 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1918 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1919 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1920 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1921 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1922 | -0.213 | -0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.047 | -122.1% |
| 1925 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.047 | +0.0% |
| 1938 | -1.22 | -2702.1% |
| 1940 | 0.044 | -103.6% |
| 1941 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1942 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.044 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 2.35 | +5234.1% |
| 1946 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1948 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1951 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1953 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 2.35 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.214 | -90.9% |
| 1991 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.214 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | -0.108 | -150.5% |
| 2002 | -0.108 | -0.0% |
| 2003 | -0.108 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -0.108 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -0.108 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -0.108 | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.158 | -246.3% |
| 2008 | 0.158 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | -0.653 | -513.3% |
| 2010 | -0.941 | +44.1% |
| 2011 | -0.941 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -0.941 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | -0.477 | -49.3% |
| 2014 | -0.477 | -0.0% |
| 2015 | -0.906 | +89.9% |
| 2016 | -0.906 | -0.0% |
| 2017 | -0.906 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | -0.906 | -0.0% |
| 2019 | -0.906 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | -0.906 | -0.0% |
| 2021 | -0.906 | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.138 | -115.2% |
| 2023 | 0.138 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | -1.19 | -960.9% |
| 2025 | -1.02 | -13.7% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's -1.02 is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.22. (55 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's -1.02 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.824. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | -0.213 | -0.213 | -0.213 | 1 |
| 1880s | -0.213 | -0.213 | -0.213 | 10 |
| 1890s | -0.213 | -0.213 | -0.213 | 10 |
| 1900s | -0.213 | -0.213 | -0.213 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.213 | -0.213 | -0.213 | 10 |
| 1920s | -0.0397 | -0.213 | 0.047 | 9 |
| 1930s | -0.207 | -1.22 | 0.047 | 5 |
| 1940s | 1.32 | 0.044 | 2.35 | 9 |
| 1950s | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.35 | 2.35 | 2.35 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.214 | 0.214 | 0.214 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.0771 | -0.653 | 0.214 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.8307 | -0.941 | -0.477 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.6248 | -1.19 | 0.138 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More social development data for Bulgaria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 105,596 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0164 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is legislative corruption score in Bulgaria?
- Legislative corruption score in Bulgaria was -1.02 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest legislative corruption score recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 2.35 in 1945.
- What is the lowest legislative corruption score recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.22 in 1938.
- How does Bulgaria rank for legislative corruption score?
- Bulgaria ranks 123rd out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is legislative corruption score rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Legislative Corruption Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 140 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Data by V-Dem. Expert estimates of the extent to which members of the legislature abuse their position for financial gain, such as bribes, government contracts, future employment, or stealing from the state. Higher scores mean less corruption. A score of 0 is approximately the average across all countries and years.