Bulgaria vs Luxembourg development indicators, 2024

Demography and Health

Bulgaria has a crude birth rate of 8.9 per 1,000 people, slightly lower than Luxembourg, which stands at 9.5. In terms of crude death rate, Bulgaria's figure is significantly higher at 15.7 per 1,000 people compared to Luxembourg's 6.6, placing Bulgaria in a challenging demographic position. The life expectancy at birth also reflects this disparity, with Bulgarians living an average of 75.7 years, whereas Luxembourgers have a life expectancy of 83.4 years. The under-5 mortality rate is also notable; Bulgaria shows 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, while Luxembourg has a much lower rate of 2.3. Despite these challenges, both countries show a similar prevalence of undernourishment, at 2.5% of the population.

Economy

Bulgaria's economy is represented by a GDP per capita of $17,412, which is substantially lower than Luxembourg's astonishing GDP per capita of $137,517, ranking it 1st globally. Furthermore, Bulgaria's GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $41,086, compared to Luxembourg's $150,772, underscoring a considerable economic disparity. The consumer price inflation rates are relatively close, with Bulgaria at 2.4% and Luxembourg at 2.1%. Both countries display modest unemployment rates, with Bulgaria at 4.3% and Luxembourg at 5.2%, indicating a healthy labor market.

Trade and Investment

When it comes to trade, Bulgaria's exports of goods and services account for 55.8% of its GDP, while Luxembourg's exports soar to an impressive 216% of GDP, signifying the latter's robust trade sector. Import rates are also revealing, as Bulgaria imports 53.5% of its GDP against Luxembourg, which has a significantly higher import ratio of 183%. These figures reflect Luxembourg's more internationalized and diversified economy, which is crucial for its affluence. Bulgaria's high-technology exports stand at $3.2 billion, which is substantial, but Luxembourg’s $801.2 million suggests a lesser emphasis on this sector.

Governance and Institutions

Bulgaria faces challenges in governance, as indicated by its control of corruption and government effectiveness indicators. Bulgaria scores -0.1 on control of corruption and 0 for government effectiveness, while Luxembourg scores significantly higher at 1.9 for both, ranking 11th overall. The rule of law in Bulgaria is weak, with a score of -0, compared to Luxembourg's 1.8 which reflects a well-functioning legal system. Political stability is another area for concern in Bulgaria with a score of 0.3, placing it much lower than Luxembourg's score of 1.1.

Infrastructure and Technology

Bulgaria's logistics performance index, which measures trade and transport-related infrastructure, stands at 3.1, whereas Luxembourg's index is notably higher at 3.6, highlighting more efficient logistics and transport systems in Luxembourg. In terms of research and development expenditure as a percentage of GDP, Bulgaria allocates 0.8%, while Luxembourg invests 1%, indicating a more robust commitment to innovation in the latter. Additionally, Bulgaria ranks 18th in patent applications, with 165 submitted by residents, suggesting a growing interest in technological advancements.

Environment and Sustainability

Regarding environmental sustainability, Bulgaria's renewable energy consumption comprises 20.4% of total final energy consumption, closely aligning with Luxembourg's 20.5%. However, Bulgaria faces higher levels of water stress, with 37.5% of freshwater resources being withdrawn compared to Luxembourg’s minimal withdrawal of 4%. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions excluding land use, Bulgaria emits 8.3 tons of CO2 per capita, which is lower than Luxembourg's 11.8 tons, indicating greater environmental challenges for Belgium. Both countries exhibit comparable suicide mortality rates, with Bulgaria at 9.5 per 100,000 population and Luxembourg at 8.2.