Bulgaria pension data shows one-third retire under special regimes

Data from the National Social Security Institute for 2025 reveals that approximately one-third of Bulgarian pensioners do not retire under standard rules, but rather through special regimes. Out of the total pensioner population, 1,487,094 individuals retire under category three labor conditions, while an additional 462,101 receive pensions through various special modes.

Key categories of special retirement include:

• Incomplete insurance history: 181,363 people (12.2%) retire with at least 15 years of service but without a full career history, provided they have reached age 67. • Early retirement: 141,216 individuals (9.5%) retire up to one year before the standard age. This option incurs a permanent reduction of 0.4% for every month missing, totaling a 4.8% reduction for a full year of early retirement. • Security sector: 77,769 people, including military, police, and investigators, retire under specific security-related regulations. • Heavy labor conditions: 59,780 individuals retire early due to working in high-risk or physically demanding environments. • Specialized professions: A small group of 238 ballet dancers and performers retire under specific age and service requirements.

The data indicates a trend of increasing new pensions, with 141,014 new pensions issued in 2025.