Bulgaria vs Sweden
Every indicator for Bulgaria and Sweden side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Bulgaria | Sweden | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 6,433,302 | 10,596,620 | −39.3% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 131 | 669 | −80.4% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 20,328 | 63,133 | −67.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.8 | 84.1 | — |
| Area (km²) | 110,997 | 528,660 | −79.0% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 58 | 20 | +189.2% |
| Median age (years) | 46.0 | 41.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 82.4 | 95.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.5 | 8.7 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 4.6 | 0.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 74.2 | 89.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,330 | 12,040 | −80.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.15 | 2.00 | +7.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.49 | 4.12 | +33.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 362 | 1,136 | −68.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 37,000 | 15,000 | +146.7% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 5.8 | 1.4 | +306.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.18 | 0.27 | +337.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Bulgaria relative to Sweden; a positive value favors Bulgaria. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Bulgaria is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Sweden on 6. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024) (about 5.2×); they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Sweden's military expenditure (2024) (12,040) is about 5.2 times Bulgaria's (2,330).
- Sweden's gdp (nominal) (669) is about 5.1 times Bulgaria's (131).
- Sweden's area (528,660) is about 4.8 times Bulgaria's (110,997).
- Bulgaria's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.18) is about 4.4 times Sweden's (0.27).
- Bulgaria's armed forces per 1,000 people (5.8) is about 4.1 times Sweden's (1.4).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Bulgaria and Sweden differ most?
Where are Bulgaria and Sweden most alike?
On how many indicators is Bulgaria ahead of Sweden?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Bulgaria or Sweden.
Bulgaria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Sweden profile →
All statistics, series, and details.