Statistics of Sofia

The justification for the creation of the Sofia Knowledge City Cluster in 2017 quite understandably used statistical data for the period 2015-2017. By 2026, these data need to be updated. They are already “history” against the backdrop of Sofia’s breakneck growth in recent years. The city has transformed from a regional center into a global technology hub. Here is an updated version of “Sofia – Knowledge City in Figures” with data reflecting the reality by 2024-2026 (based on the latest reports by IME, NSI and Sofia Invest):

Knowledge Economy and GDP

• Share in GDP: Sofia now generates nearly 43% of Bulgaria’s gross domestic product.
• GDP per capita: The value reached over 30,678 euros (at current prices), which is nearly 3 times higher than the national average.
• Growth: Sofia remains among the top 10 fastest growing urban economies in the EU in terms of purchasing power parity.

Human capital and education

• Higher education: The share of employed people with higher education has increased to a record 57% (up from 51% in 2015).
• Student hub: Over 100,000 students study in Sofia’s 23 higher education institutions, which is over 50% of all students in Bulgaria.
• Employed in science: Over 50,000 people are directly employed in scientific research, development and high-tech services.

Technology sector (ICT) and Innovation

• ICT dominance: Already over 90% of all ICT specialists in Bulgaria are concentrated in Sofia (around 110,000 people).
• Added value: The information technology sector now generates nearly 20% of the added value in Sofia's economy (compared to 6.7% in the old text).
• Export strength: Over 85% of the revenue of software companies in the capital is from exports.
• Digital society: Internet use among the population reached 94%, and Sofia is in the top rankings in terms of 5G network speed in Europe.

Science and Infrastructure

• Leadership in science: Sofia continues to generate over 75% of scientific publications in the country.
• Supercomputer center: The petaflop software supercomputer Discoverer (part of EuroHPC) operates here, which is key for Big Data research.
• Innovation leader: Sofia ranks 1st in the Balkans in terms of the number of startups per capita.

Creative Industries and Culture

• Cinema & Gaming: The city concentrates 97% of the added value in the film industry and over 92% in the development of video games and entertainment software.
• Book Publishing: Sofia maintains its leadership with over 4,500 new titles per year and over 70% of the total circulation in the country.

New key indicators (not present in 2017):

• AI & DeepTech: Sofia is now home to INSAIT (Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology) – the first of its kind in Eastern Europe, attracting world-class scientists.
• FinTech: Sofia has established itself as the FinTech capital of the Balkans with over 150 companies in the sector.
• Startup Ecosystem: The valuation of Sofia’s startup ecosystem exceeds 1.5 billion euros, with over 600 active startups and scale-ups.