Bulgaria vs Switzerland
Every indicator for Bulgaria and Switzerland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Bulgaria | Switzerland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 6,433,302 | 9,092,436 | −29.2% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 131 | 1,044 | −87.5% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 20,328 | 114,769 | −82.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.8 | 84.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 110,997 | 41,291 | +168.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 58 | 220 | −73.7% |
| Median age (years) | 46.0 | 43.0 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 82.4 | 97.3 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.5 | 4.9 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 4.6 | 0.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 74.2 | 85.7 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,330 | 6,722 | −65.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.15 | 0.72 | +198.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.49 | 2.27 | +141.9% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 362 | 739 | −51.0% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 37,000 | 20,000 | +85.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 5.8 | 2.2 | +161.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.18 | 0.40 | +195.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Bulgaria relative to Switzerland; 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, Switzerland on 6. The widest separation is in gdp (nominal) (about 8.0×); they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- Switzerland's gdp (nominal) (1,044) is about 8.0 times Bulgaria's (131).
- Switzerland's gdp per capita (114,769) is about 5.6 times Bulgaria's (20,328).
- Switzerland's population density (220) is about 3.8 times Bulgaria's (58).
- Bulgaria's military expenditure as a share of gdp (2.15) is about 3.0 times Switzerland's (0.72).
- Bulgaria's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.18) is about 2.9 times Switzerland's (0.40).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Bulgaria and Switzerland differ most?
In gdp (nominal). Switzerland records 1,044 against Bulgaria's 131 — a ratio of roughly 8.0 to one.
Where are Bulgaria and Switzerland most alike?
In population (2025), at 9,092,436 and 6,433,302 — a gap of only %41.
On how many indicators is Bulgaria ahead of Switzerland?
Bulgaria is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Switzerland on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BulgariaSwitzerland
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 Switzerland.
Bulgaria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Switzerland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI