Bulgarian households are among the most electricity-dependent in the European Union, while also ranking among the bloc’s leading countries in the use of renewable energy sources for heating homes, according to the latest Eurostat data on household energy consumption in 2024.
The figures highlight Bulgaria’s distinct energy profile compared with many other EU countries. While households in a number of Western European states continue to rely heavily on natural gas, Bulgarian consumers use electricity as their main energy source, while renewable sources such as wood and biomass have a major role in heating.
Across the European Union, households account for 26% of total final energy consumption. Natural gas remains the largest energy source in the residential sector, representing 29.4% of household consumption, followed by electricity at 26.9%, renewable energy sources and biofuels at 22.8%, oil products at 10.4%, and district heating at 8.5%. Coal has become a marginal source, accounting for only 1.9%.
Bulgaria stands out for its high dependence on electricity, which accounts for 56.6% of household energy consumption.
This places the country second in the European Union in terms of electricity reliance, behind only Malta, where electricity represents 78.8% of household energy use. Sweden ranks third with 48.9%, while the EU average remains significantly lower at 26.9%.
