Bulgaria vs Russia
Every indicator for Bulgaria and Russia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Bulgaria | Russia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 6,433,302 | 143,513,328 | −95.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 131 | 2,561 | −94.9% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 20,328 | 17,547 | +15.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.8 | 73.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 110,997 | 17,125,190 | −99.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 58 | 8 | +591.6% |
| Median age (years) | 46.0 | 40.3 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 82.4 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.5 | 2.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 4.6 | 8.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 74.2 | 75.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,330 | 148,967 | −98.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.15 | 7.05 | −69.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.49 | 18.90 | −71.0% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 362 | 1,038 | −65.1% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 37,000 | 1,454,000 | −97.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 5.8 | 10.1 | −43.2% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.18 | 1.98 | −40.4% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Bulgaria relative to Russia; a positive value favors Bulgaria. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Russia is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while Bulgaria leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in area, about 154 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 17,125,190 against Bulgaria's 110,997 — roughly 154 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 148,967 against Bulgaria's 2,330 — roughly 64 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 1,454,000 against Bulgaria's 37,000 — roughly 39 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 143,513,328 against Bulgaria's 6,433,302 — roughly 22 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 2,561 against Bulgaria's 131 — roughly 20 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Bulgaria and Russia differ most?
In area. Russia records 17,125,190 against Bulgaria's 110,997 — a ratio of roughly 154 to one.
Where are Bulgaria and Russia most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 20,328 and 17,547 — a gap of only %16.
On how many indicators is Bulgaria ahead of Russia?
Bulgaria is higher on 2 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Russia on 10. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
BulgariaRussia
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 Russia.
Bulgaria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Russia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI