Bulgaria Achieves 92% Internet Coverage for Households

In 2024, 92.1% of households in Bulgaria have internet access, according to the National Statistical Institute (NSI). This marks an increase of 3.6 percentage points compared to the previous year. Urban households have a higher internet penetration rate of 94.7%, while in rural areas, it stands at 84.3%. Over the past decade, the urban-rural divide has significantly narrowed from 29.6 to 10.4 percentage points.

The South-West region boasts the highest internet penetration at 95.5%, while the South-East region lags at 88.6%. Households with children are more likely to have internet access, with 98.4% connected compared to 89.9% of those without children. The most common reason for the lack of internet access is insufficient digital skills, cited by 3.6% of households. Another 3.5% report no need for the internet, and 1.2% find it too expensive.

Among individuals aged 16 to 74, 81.9% use the internet daily or at least weekly for work or leisure. The share of people who have never used the internet has dropped to 9.3%. Students and individuals with higher education are the most frequent users, with 96.7% and 94.5%, respectively. Young adults aged 16-24 and 25-34 have the highest usage rates, at 93.9% and 95.4%. Internet usage among seniors aged 65-74 has more than doubled over the past five years. The primary use of the internet is for communication.

In 2024, 31.8% of individuals interact with public institutions and administrative bodies online, a 2.1 percentage point increase from the previous year. E-government services are most utilized by those with higher education (64.4%) and least by individuals with primary or lower education (6.1%). Usage is highest among people aged 35-44 (45.5%) and lowest among those aged 65-74 (12%). Women are...