Bulgaria Ranks Among the Top 3 EU Countries for Cleanest Beach Waters

The quality of bathing waters across the European Union has improved remarkably over the past four decades, according to a report by the European Environment Agency.

In 2024, more than 85% of nearly 22,000 monitored bathing sites across the EU were rated as “excellent,” while 96% met at least the minimum safety standards. This indicates that the majority of swimming areas are free from pollutants that could pose risks to human health or the environment.

Only about 1.5% of bathing waters were classified as poor quality. The report notes that in many such cases, insufficient or poorly implemented water management measures were to blame.

The countries with the highest percentage of excellent-rated sites (above 95%) were:

• Cyprus – 99.2%

• Bulgaria – 97.9%

• Greece – 97%

• Austria – 95.8%

• Croatia – 95.2%

Meanwhile, countries like Belgium (69.2%), Hungary (67%), Estonia (61.5%), and Poland (58.1%) remained below the 70% mark for excellent bathing water quality. With a score of 97.9%, Bulgaria ranks second in the EU, strengthening its position as a highly attractive destination for summer vacations and coastal tourism.

Source: European Parliament

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