Bulgaria vs Estonia development indicators, 2024

Demography and Health

Bulgaria's population stands at approximately 6.4 million, significantly larger than Estonia's 1.4 million. The crude birth rate in Bulgaria is slightly higher at 8.9 compared to Estonia's 8, while the death rate shows a stark contrast, with Bulgaria at 15.7, ranking it 9th globally, versus Estonia's lower 11.7 death rate, placing it at rank 35. In terms of life expectancy, Bulgaria lags behind at 75.7 years, compared to Estonia's 78.5 years. The prevalence of undernourishment is the same for both countries at 2.5%, but Bulgaria shows a concerning under-5 mortality rate of 6.1 per 1,000 live births, compared to Estonia's much lower rate of 2.1. These health indicators reflect challenges in healthcare services in Bulgaria, despite a relatively comparable internet usage level, where 80.4% of the population is connected, against Estonia's 93.2%.

Economy

Bulgaria's GDP per capita stands at $17,412, significantly lower than Estonia's $31,170, illustrating a considerable economic disparity. Furthermore, in terms of GDP per capita in purchasing power parity (PPP), Bulgaria still trails at $41,086 compared to Estonia's $49,334. Exports account for a large percentage of GDP in both countries, with Bulgaria at 55.8% and Estonia leading at 76.3%. Import levels are similarly high with Bulgaria at 53.5% and Estonia at 75.7%. Inflation rates are lower in Bulgaria at 2.4%, compared to Estonia's 3.5%. The poverty headcount ratio is also concerning, with Bulgaria at 20.6% and Estonia at 22.5%, indicating economic pressure on lower-income populations.

Trade and Investment

Foreign direct investment inflows are notable in Bulgaria, standing at 3.1% of GDP, while Estonia faces a negative flow at -8.2%. This difference suggests an unfavorable investment climate in Estonia compared to Bulgaria. Despite Bulgaria's positive FDI metrics, it ranks lower in terms of overall trade performance, as indicated by Bulgaria's position at 68th for exports versus Estonia's 43rd position. The current account balances reflect fiscal challenges as Bulgaria shows a deficit of -1.8% of GDP, slightly worse than Estonia's -1.1%.

Governance and Institutions

Bulgaria faces significant challenges in governance and corruption control, with a Control of Corruption score of -0.1, placing it at rank 79, while Estonia stands at a much more favorable score of 1.5, at rank 23. The indicators for Government Effectiveness follow a similar trend, with Bulgaria at 0, versus Estonia's 1.3. The Rule of Law index is also troubling for Bulgaria at -0, while Estonia scores a robust 1.4. In terms of political stability, Bulgaria records low stability with a score of 0.3 compared to Estonia's more favorable score of 0.7.

Infrastructure and Technology

Bulgaria's logistics performance index is rated at 3.1, which is slightly lower than Estonia's 3.5. This index measures the quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure, crucial for fostering economic activity. Additionally, research and development expenditure as a percentage of GDP is much lower in Bulgaria at 0.8%, while Estonia invests a substantial 1.8%, highlighting Estonia's commitment to innovation and technology advancement. Furthermore, the level of patent applications indicates a stronger creative and innovative sector in Bulgaria with 165 patents compared to Estonia's 25.

Environment and Sustainability

Environmental metrics show Bulgaria’s renewable energy consumption at 20.4%, which is lower than Estonia’s notable 38%. Water stress is a critical issue for Bulgaria, with a withdrawal ratio of 37.5%, compared to Estonia's healthier 10.8%. However, Bulgaria ranks lower in total greenhouse gas emissions per capita at 8.3 tons compared to Estonia's 10.5 tons. Both countries show commitment to sustainability, yet Bulgaria’s higher emissions raise concerns about environmental management practices.