GeoRealityMatch
The iconic domes of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral against a clear blue sky in Sofia, Bulgaria.The National Assembly Building in Sofia, Bulgaria under a clear blue sky.

Bulgaria

Europe · Southeast Europe

Very high safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and human development is high. Incomes are low for Europe.

ExpatCombines very high development, very high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs Serbiavs Greecevs Romania
Safety

26th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.628lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#26 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.1per 100,000 people a yearLowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
64.5Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the European median

Median disposable income
€8,862per adult, a year, after tax and transfersVery low
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
11.1New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
8.4years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 349% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 86% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$25K$50K$44,451 PPP$20,328Inflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $4,523 a person, $11,406 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2007, $5,889 a person, $12,822 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2008, $7,272 a person, $14,347 at PPP, inflation 12.3%2009, $6,989 a person, $14,188 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2010, $6,854 a person, $14,954 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2011, $7,850 a person, $15,747 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2012, $7,432 a person, $16,327 at PPP, inflation 3%2013, $7,796 a person, $16,894 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2014, $8,070 a person, $17,991 at PPP, inflation -1.4%2015, $7,269 a person, $18,896 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2016, $7,823 a person, $20,746 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $8,697 a person, $22,317 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2018, $9,850 a person, $23,998 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2019, $10,354 a person, $26,766 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2020, $10,761 a person, $27,352 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2021, $12,967 a person, $30,959 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2022, $14,000 a person, $36,320 at PPP, inflation 15.3%2023, $15,854 a person, $38,829 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2024, $17,597 a person, $41,970 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2025, $20,328 a person, $44,451 at PPP, inflation 4.6%$0$25K$50KInflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $4,523 a person, $11,406 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2007, $5,889 a person, $12,822 at PPP, inflation 8.4%2008, $7,272 a person, $14,347 at PPP, inflation 12.3%2009, $6,989 a person, $14,188 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2010, $6,854 a person, $14,954 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2011, $7,850 a person, $15,747 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2012, $7,432 a person, $16,327 at PPP, inflation 3%2013, $7,796 a person, $16,894 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2014, $8,070 a person, $17,991 at PPP, inflation -1.4%2015, $7,269 a person, $18,896 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2016, $7,823 a person, $20,746 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $8,697 a person, $22,317 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2018, $9,850 a person, $23,998 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2019, $10,354 a person, $26,766 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2020, $10,761 a person, $27,352 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2021, $12,967 a person, $30,959 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2022, $14,000 a person, $36,320 at PPP, inflation 15.3%2023, $15,854 a person, $38,829 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2024, $17,597 a person, $41,970 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2025, $20,328 a person, $44,451 at PPP, inflation 4.6%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
75.8years, at birthHigh
#82 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
73WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
12.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Lower youth unemployment than most of Europe

Youth unemployment
13.1%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceLow
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
94 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
594EF English Proficiency Index scoreHighEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet94 MbpsFast
Mobile251 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

The National Assembly Building in Sofia, Bulgaria under a clear blue sky.
How it changed

Bulgaria's Human Development Index

0.845Very high human development

55th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 34th of 44 in Europe.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #53Antigua and Barbuda0.851
  2. #54Seychelles0.848
  3. #55Bulgaria0.845
  4. #55Romania0.845
  5. #57Georgia0.844
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.706 in 1990 to 0.845 in 2023.

0.650.780.900.84519902000201020231990: 0.7061991: 0.7061992: 0.7091993: 0.7111994: 0.7131995: 0.7091996: 0.7181997: 0.7131998: 0.7231999: 0.7282000: 0.7332001: 0.7422002: 0.7532003: 0.7622004: 0.7692005: 0.7752006: 0.7792007: 0.7852008: 0.7912009: 0.7932010: 0.7992011: 0.8032012: 0.8072013: 0.8152014: 0.8192015: 0.8242016: 0.8272017: 0.8292018: 0.8322019: 0.8352020: 0.8262021: 0.8172022: 0.8352023: 0.8450.650.780.9019902000201020231990: 0.7061991: 0.7061992: 0.7091993: 0.7111994: 0.7131995: 0.7091996: 0.7181997: 0.7131998: 0.7231999: 0.7282000: 0.7332001: 0.7422002: 0.7532003: 0.7622004: 0.7692005: 0.7752006: 0.7792007: 0.7852008: 0.7912009: 0.7932010: 0.7992011: 0.8032012: 0.8072013: 0.8152014: 0.8192015: 0.8242016: 0.8272017: 0.8292018: 0.8322019: 0.8352020: 0.8262021: 0.8172022: 0.8352023: 0.845

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
75.8 years2024at birthUp 3.2 years from 72.6 years in 2005
Internet users
82%2024of people onlineUp 55 points from 27% in 2006
Urban population
74%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 4 points from 71% in 2006
Births per woman
1.722024births per womanUp 0.35 from 1.37 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
20%2021of energy usedUp 11 points from 10% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 9 points from 91% in 2005
Infant mortality
52024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 6 from 11 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
5.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 1.5 t from 6.8 t in 2005
Forest area
36%2023of land under forestUp 4 points from 32% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Cheapest country in the EU, with a Black Sea coast and still-developing infrastructure. The case for living here is peace and very high human development. The case against is low incomes for Europe.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalSofia
  • LanguagesBulgarian
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area108,560 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Borders

GreeceNorth MacedoniaRomaniaSerbiaTurkey

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Quick answers

What is Bulgaria's Human Development Index?

Bulgaria's Human Development Index is 0.845 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #55 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Bulgaria safe?

Bulgaria scores 1.63 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #26 of 161 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.