The figures have been taken from several publications, as (the quality of) data tracking of card payments can vary significantly between countries, and to unify figures across different countries worldwide.
All figures stem from either theÌýÌýor theÌý. Both use figures submitted by the country's central bank to either or both sources.
2022 figures and beyond - release date November 2023 and later - made significant strides in reporting quality, sometimes causing significant breaks in methodology in individual countries. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ sometimes still had to calculate figures, however, as card figures were split between non-remote and remote use cases, or credit cards were not always clearly defined.Ìý
Depending on the content, additional sources were used:
Per capita, 15 years and older:Ìý;
U.S. dollar conversion:Ìýrates from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
In Bulgaria, the number of cards with a debit function generally decreased, with some fluctuation between 2012 and 2020. In 2012, the number of debit cards amounted to 7.28 million. By 2020, the number of debit cards had fallen to approximately 6.26 million, a decrease of over one million cards. However, by 2024, the number of debit cards had recovered slightly, reaching 7.20 million. Purchases with cards also saw a steep steep increase between 2011 and 2024.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ can support your business.
ECB. (July 22, 2025). Number of payment cards with a debit function issued by resident PSPs in Bulgaria from 2001 to 2024 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 17, 2026, from /statistics/868007/number-of-cards-with-a-debit-function/
ECB. "Number of payment cards with a debit function issued by resident PSPs in Bulgaria from 2001 to 2024." Chart. July 22, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 17, 2026. /statistics/868007/number-of-cards-with-a-debit-function/
ECB. (2025). Number of payment cards with a debit function issued by resident PSPs in Bulgaria from 2001 to 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 17, 2026. /statistics/868007/number-of-cards-with-a-debit-function/
ECB. "Number of Payment Cards with a Debit Function Issued by Resident Psps in Bulgaria from 2001 to 2024." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 22 Jul 2025, /statistics/868007/number-of-cards-with-a-debit-function/
ECB, Number of payment cards with a debit function issued by resident PSPs in Bulgaria from 2001 to 2024 ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/868007/number-of-cards-with-a-debit-function/ (last visited July 17, 2026)
Number of payment cards with a debit function issued by resident PSPs in Bulgaria from 2001 to 2024 [Graph], ECB, July 22, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/868007/number-of-cards-with-a-debit-function/
