Bulgaria vs Turkey
Every indicator for Bulgaria and Turkey side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Bulgaria | Turkey | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 6,433,302 | 85,878,556 | −92.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 131 | 1,597 | −91.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 20,328 | 18,599 | +9.3% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.8 | 77.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 110,997 | 785,350 | −85.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 58 | 109 | −47.0% |
| Median age (years) | 46.0 | 34.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 82.4 | 89.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 3.5 | 8.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 4.6 | 34.9 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 74.2 | 89.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 2,330 | 24,979 | −90.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.15 | 1.92 | +12.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.49 | — | — |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 362 | 291 | +24.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 37,000 | 512,000 | −92.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 5.8 | 6.0 | −3.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 1.18 | 1.61 | −26.7% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Bulgaria relative to Turkey; a positive value favors Bulgaria. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Turkey is higher on 8 of the 11 indicators, while Bulgaria leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 14 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Turkey stands at 512,000 against Bulgaria's 37,000 — roughly 14 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Turkey stands at 85,878,556 against Bulgaria's 6,433,302 — roughly 13 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: Turkey stands at 1,597 against Bulgaria's 131 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Turkey stands at 24,979 against Bulgaria's 2,330 — roughly 11 times as much.
- Turkey's area (785,350) is about 7.1 times Bulgaria's (110,997).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Bulgaria and Turkey differ most?
Where are Bulgaria and Turkey most alike?
On how many indicators is Bulgaria ahead of Turkey?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
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Bulgaria profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Turkey profile →
All statistics, series, and details.