Bulgaria Bulgaria vs Sweden Sweden development indicators, 2024

Indicator
Bulgaria
Bulgaria, Value
Sweden
Sweden, Value
Bulgaria
Bulgaria, Rank
Sweden
Sweden, Rank
Bulgaria Bulgaria as % of
Sweden Sweden
Current account balance (% of GDP) -1.79 7.42 71 13
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP) 55.8 54.6 33 34 102 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP) 3.12 4.37 40 22 71.3 %
GDP per capita (current US$) 17,412 57,723 62 14 30.2 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$) 41,086 71,030 56 23 57.8 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP) 53.5 50.2 49 56 107 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) 2.45 2.84 97 88 86.3 %
Net migration 524 50,115 74 24 1.05 %
Population, total 6,444,366 10,569,709 110 92 61 %

Demography and Health

Bulgaria, with a population of approximately 6.4 million, has a crude birth rate of 8.9 per 1,000 people, which is slightly lower than Sweden's rate of 9.5 per 1,000 people. The death rate in Bulgaria stands at 15.7 per 1,000, indicating a higher mortality rate compared to Sweden's 9 per 1,000. Life expectancy at birth is notably lower in Bulgaria at 75.7 years, versus Sweden's 83.3 years. The mortality rate among children under five is also concerning in Bulgaria at 6.1 per 1,000 live births, compared to just 2.5 in Sweden. Despite a marginally lower prevalence of undernourishment (2.5% for both countries), Bulgaria faces significant health challenges exacerbated by higher poverty levels, with a ratio of 20.6% at national poverty lines compared to Sweden's 16.1%. Additionally, the suicide mortality rate is lower in Bulgaria at 9.5 per 100,000 compared to Sweden's 13.8, suggesting differences in mental health impacts.

Economy

Bulgaria’s economy shows diverse strengths and weaknesses in comparison to Sweden. The GDP per capita in Bulgaria is considerably lower at $17,412, compared to Sweden's $57,723. When adjusted for purchasing power, Bulgaria’s GDP per capita remains significantly lower at $41,086 versus Sweden’s $71,030. The overall contribution of exports to Bulgaria’s GDP is substantial at 55.8%, slightly higher than Sweden's 54.6%. In terms of inflation, Bulgaria presents a more stable environment with a rate of 2.4% compared to Sweden’s 2.8%. Bulgaria has a relatively low total unemployment rate of 4.3%, compared to Sweden’s 7.6%, indicating potentially better job security in Bulgaria.

Trade and Investment

When it comes to international trade, Bulgaria's exports of high-technology goods are modest at $3.2 billion, considerably overshadowed by Sweden's $25.2 billion. In terms of foreign direct investment (FDI), Bulgaria’s net inflows are 3.1% of GDP, while Sweden attracts more at 4.4%. The current account balance reflects a negative figure for Bulgaria at -1.8% of GDP, contrasting with Sweden's positive 7.4%. This suggests a more stable and favorable trade environment in Sweden.

Governance and Institutions

In terms of governance, both countries showcase varying degrees of effectiveness. Bulgaria's control of corruption score is -0.1, compared to Sweden’s impressive score of 2, indicating a significant corruption challenge in Bulgaria. Furthermore, government effectiveness in Bulgaria is rated at 0, whereas Sweden scores 1.6, demonstrating more efficient public administration in Sweden. The regulatory quality in Bulgaria also lags behind at 0.4 compared to Sweden’s 1.7. Although political stability is a concern in both countries, Bulgaria scores 0.3, lower than Sweden's 0.8, hinting at a more stable political climate in Sweden.

Infrastructure and Technology

Bulgaria has been making strides in improving its infrastructure, as reflected in its logistics performance index score of 3.1 compared to Sweden’s higher score of 4.2. This indicates that while Bulgaria has some effective systems in place, Sweden benefits from a well-developed trade and transport network. The percentage of individuals using the internet highlights a significant digital divide, with Bulgaria at 80.4%, while Sweden leads with 95.7%, indicating a greater reach and integration of technology in daily life in Sweden. Additionally, Bulgaria's research and development expenditure is low at 0.8% of GDP, compared to Sweden's robust 3.4%, signifying a stronger commitment to innovation in Sweden.

Environment and Sustainability

When assessing environmental sustainability, Bulgaria relies heavily on renewable energy, accounting for 20.4% of its total energy consumption, yet this pales in comparison to Sweden’s 57.9%. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions per capita, Bulgaria emits 8.3 tons of CO2 equivalent, significantly higher than Sweden's 4.7 tons, reflecting differing sustainability practices. Bulgaria faces a substantial challenge regarding water stress, with 37.5% of its freshwater resources under withdrawal pressure, while Sweden manages a markedly better 3.6%. This difference underscores Sweden’s commitment to sustainable water management and a more favorable environmental landscape.