Bulgaria
Europe · Southeast Europe
Cheapest country in the EU, with a Black Sea coast and still-developing infrastructure.
At a Glance
📈Bulgaria's Human Development Index
0.799
High human development#69 of 191 countries worldwide, #38 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 64% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Bulgaria
Bulgaria is an Eastern European country with a long Black Sea coastline, dramatic mountain ranges, and a history that stretches from Thracian tombs and Byzantine frescoes to Ottoman bazaars and communist-era architecture. The food is hearty and regional, the nature is spectacular and uncrowded, and the old cities like Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo have a faded grandeur that charms those who take the time. It suits travellers who enjoy depth, value, and places that haven't been over-curated.
- Home to the world's oldest worked gold treasure — 6,500 years old.
- Largest producer of rose oil globally; supplies most of the world's perfume industry.
- Cyrillic alphabet was invented here, not in Russia.
Quick Facts
Capital
Sofia
Language
Bulgarian
Currency
лв BGN
Area
108,560 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
94Mbps
Mobile
251Mbps
GDP / Capita
$20K
PPP / Capita
$44K
Inflation
4.6%
Unemployment
3.5%
Innovation (GII)
39.1
GNI / Capita
$18K
Tax Revenue
20.7%
FDI Inflows
3.7%
Education Spend
4.5%
Cost of Living
41.6
Price Level Index
46th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.698 → 0.799 (+0.101)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Bulgaria for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
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Bulgaria head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Bulgaria's Human Development Index?
Bulgaria's Human Development Index is 0.799 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #69 of 191 countries.
Is Bulgaria safe?
Bulgaria scores 1.63 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #26 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Bulgaria?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Bulgaria at 41.6 (New York = 100); that is #70 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Bulgaria?
Life expectancy at birth in Bulgaria is 75.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #82 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Bulgaria?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Bulgaria at 148.3, ranked #42 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.