Bulgaria vs Japan
Every indicator for Bulgaria and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Bulgaria | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 6,433,302 | 123,366,734 | −94.8% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 131 | 4,435 | −97.0% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 20,328 | 35,951 | −43.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.8 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 110,997 | 377,969 | −70.6% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 58 | 326 | −82.2% |
| Median age (years) | 46.0 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 82.4 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.5 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 4.6 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 74.2 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,330 | 55,274 | −95.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.15 | 1.37 | +56.9% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.49 | 3.25 | +68.9% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 362 | 448 | −19.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 37,000 | 261,000 | −85.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 5.8 | 2.1 | +171.8% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.18 | 0.38 | +210.5% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Bulgaria relative to Japan; a positive value favors Bulgaria. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Japan is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Bulgaria leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in gdp (nominal), about 34 times; they are closest on military expenditure per capita.
Key differences
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 4,435 against Bulgaria's 131 — roughly 34 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 55,274 against Bulgaria's 2,330 — roughly 24 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 123,366,734 against Bulgaria's 6,433,302 — roughly 19 times as much.
- Japan's armed forces personnel (2020) (261,000) is about 7.1 times Bulgaria's (37,000).
- Japan's population density (326) is about 5.6 times Bulgaria's (58).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Bulgaria and Japan differ most?
In gdp (nominal). Japan records 4,435 against Bulgaria's 131 — a ratio of roughly 34 to one.
Where are Bulgaria and Japan most alike?
In military expenditure per capita, at 448 and 362 — a gap of only %24.
On how many indicators is Bulgaria ahead of Japan?
Bulgaria is higher on 4 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Japan on 8. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BulgariaJapan
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 Japan.
Bulgaria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI