Deaths from workplace accidents in Bulgaria fell 39% in the first nine months of 2026, the National Social Security Institute (NOI) said. There were 36 fatal accidents, against 59 in the same period of 2025.

The institute's comparison of the past two years shows the total number of accidents barely changed: 2,186 against 2,163, or 23 more, about 1.1%.

The average time off work after an accident rose from 47 to 50 days. NOI data show that both the total number of calendar days lost and the length of absence from work went up.

Most accidents happen in three sectors: retail trade (224), public administration (176) and land transport (166). Together they account for more than a quarter of all incidents. NOI says the ranking of sectors has not changed.

In nine months, checks by the General Labour Inspectorate in construction found more than 27,000 breaches of labour laws. Of 65 incidents investigated there, 14 ended in death.