Bulgaria vs Portugal development indicators, 2024

Demography and Health

Bulgaria has a higher birth rate of 8.9 per 1,000 people compared to Portugal's 8.1, indicating a relatively more youthful population in Bulgaria. However, Bulgaria faces significant challenges with a high death rate of 15.7 per 1,000 people, markedly higher than Portugal's 11.2. This contributes to a lower life expectancy at birth in Bulgaria, which stands at 75.7 years compared to Portugal's 82.3 years. The infant mortality rate also reflects health disparities, with Bulgaria recording 6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births versus Portugal’s more favorable 3.2. Undernourishment rates are similar, with both countries at 2.5%. Furthermore, suicide rates are notably lower in Bulgaria at 9.5 per 100,000 population compared to Portugal's 11.5.

Economy

Portugal boasts a higher GDP per capita at $28,844, significantly above Bulgaria's $17,412. This disparity reflects differing economic development levels. In terms of purchasing power parity, Bulgaria's GDP per capita is $41,086, whereas Portugal's stands at $50,617, indicating a stronger economy in Portugal when adjusted for living costs. Inflation rates are the same at 2.4% in both nations, while Bulgaria has a favorable export position with exports comprising 55.8% of GDP compared to 46.5% in Portugal. Conversely, Bulgaria’s foreign direct investment inflows are lower at 3.1% of GDP, compared to Portugal's 4.3%.

Trade and Investment

Bulgaria's trade landscape shows a high export dependency at 55.8% of GDP, indicating a strong integration into global markets. However, its net foreign direct investment inflows are less favorable than Portugal's, reflecting a potential lack of confidence from foreign investors. Bulgaria ranks lower in logistics performance index at 3.1 compared to Portugal's 3.6, suggesting some challenges in trade and transport-related infrastructure, which can impact trade efficiency and competitiveness.

Governance and Institutions

Portugal generally scores better in governance indicators, showing a higher level of Government Effectiveness (1.0 vs 0.0) and Control of Corruption (0.7 vs -0.1) when compared to Bulgaria. These rankings suggest that Portugal has more robust institutions and a more efficient government capable of delivering better public services. Similarly, Portugal fares favorably regarding Rule of Law (1.1) compared to Bulgaria’s -0. This difference highlights challenges in governance and the rule of law that Bulgaria faces, which can affect both domestic and foreign investors' confidence.

Infrastructure and Technology

In terms of technology adoption, Bulgaria has made progress, with 80.4% of the population using the internet, albeit slightly lower than Portugal's 85.8%. Both countries have room for improvement in research and development expenditure as a percentage of GDP, with Bulgaria at 0.8% and Portugal at 1.7%. The logistics performance index also portrays a gap in infrastructure quality, with Bulgaria rated at 3.1 versus Portugal’s 3.6, implying better trade and transport infrastructure in Portugal that aids in economic activities.

Environment and Sustainability

Looking at renewable energy consumption, Bulgaria’s 20.4% is significantly lower than Portugal's 32.3%, indicating a more significant commitment to sustainable practices in Portugal. Additionally, Bulgaria faces higher water stress, withdrawing 37.5% of its available freshwater resources compared to Japan's more sustainable 12.3%. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, Bulgaria emits 8.3 metric tons of CO2e per capita, a concern compared to Portugal's lower rate of 5 metric tons, reflecting differing environmental policies and practices between the two nations. These factors demonstrate Bulgaria's pressing need to enhance sustainable practices and invest in green technologies to improve its environmental standing.