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Economy of Bulgaria vs Nicaragua compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bulgaria has a GDP of $113B compared to $19.7B for Nicaragua, ranking 67/197 and 131/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bulgaria has $27.3B in government debt (24.1% of GDP), compared to $7.71B (39.1% of GDP) in Nicaragua.

Bulgaria vs Nicaragua GDP by year

Bulgaria
Nicaragua
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bulgaria Nicaragua
2024 $113,343,355,780 $19,693,982,968
2023 $102,199,231,385 $17,805,842,284
2022 $90,506,153,294 $15,634,572,502
2021 $84,374,613,233 $14,209,020,362
2020 $70,486,877,546 $12,726,422,432
2019 $68,507,731,354 $12,699,023,614
2018 $66,097,226,262 $13,025,221,974
2017 $59,167,647,388 $13,785,893,007
2016 $53,929,397,039 $13,286,093,388
2015 $50,765,918,159 $12,756,696,261
2014 $57,080,897,012 $11,880,438,824
2013 $55,819,262,375 $10,982,988,249
2012 $54,297,052,002 $10,532,017,232
2011 $57,681,293,007 $9,774,329,333
2010 $50,689,051,382 $8,758,602,233
2009 $52,023,801,230 $8,298,702,489
2008 $54,480,684,188 $8,496,967,597
2007 $44,431,257,129 $7,423,375,015
2006 $34,380,536,496 $6,763,672,381
2005 $29,868,657,858 $6,321,324,279
2004 $26,157,743,369 $5,792,932,838
2003 $21,144,957,990 $5,322,228,351
2002 $16,403,043,850 $5,223,727,303
2001 $14,183,446,026 $5,351,752,034
2000 $13,245,990,274 $5,109,587,050
1999 $13,637,098,579 $4,856,026,259
1998 $15,031,055,047 $4,635,347,386
1997 $11,316,127,379 $4,389,973,490
1996 $12,294,964,838 $4,308,351,903
1995 $18,991,484,420 $4,140,470,000
1994 $9,709,240,034 $3,863,185,119
1993 $10,832,064,942 $1,756,454,248
1992 $8,602,887,623 $1,792,800,000
1991 $7,628,738,475 $1,488,804,124
1990 $20,632,090,909 $1,009,455,484
1989 $21,988,444,444 $1,013,184,756
1988 $22,555,941,176 $2,630,900,096
1987 $28,101,000,000 $3,851,200,118
1986 $20,249,294,118 $2,885,799,994
1985 $17,155,421,053 $2,683,699,935
1984 $17,594,944,444 $3,117,599,872
1983 $16,563,666,667 $2,753,100,058
1982 $19,342,000,000 $2,454,499,872
1981 $19,870,000,000 $2,474,700,227
1980 $19,839,230,769 $2,144,300,006
1979 - $1,567,599,982
1978 - $2,127,699,979
1977 - $2,226,999,874
1976 - $1,836,899,999
1975 - $1,581,599,959
1974 - $1,521,400,012
1973 - $1,092,900,015
1972 - $878,570,045
1971 - $828,569,953
1970 - $778,569,939
1969 - $750,000,003
1968 - $692,859,985
1967 - $657,140,011
1966 - $607,140,010
1965 - $564,290,020
1964 - $347,119,918
1963 - $297,324,163
1962 - $269,283,804
1961 - $244,144,237
1960 - $227,223,322

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/nicaragua | CC BY

GDP per capita in Bulgaria vs Nicaragua by year

Bulgaria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Nicaragua
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bulgaria Nicaragua
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $17,596 $41,969 $2,848 $8,709
2023 $15,853 $38,829 $2,609 $8,320
2022 $13,999 $36,320 $2,323 $7,797
2021 $12,966 $30,959 $2,138 $7,119
2020 $10,760 $27,352 $1,938 $6,274
2019 $10,354 $26,766 $1,959 $5,981
2018 $9,849 $23,998 $2,035 $5,935
2017 $8,697 $22,317 $2,183 $6,225
2016 $7,822 $20,746 $2,132 $5,882
2015 $7,269 $18,896 $2,074 $5,449
2014 $8,070 $17,991 $1,958 $5,068
2013 $7,796 $16,894 $1,835 $4,711
2012 $7,432 $16,327 $1,785 $4,508
2011 $7,850 $15,747 $1,680 $4,325
2010 $6,854 $14,954 $1,527 $4,042
2009 $6,988 $14,188 $1,467 $3,880
2008 $7,271 $14,347 $1,524 $4,044
2007 $5,889 $12,822 $1,350 $3,891
2006 $4,523 $11,406 $1,248 $3,658
2005 $3,900 $10,291 $1,183 $3,456
2004 $3,390 $9,200 $1,099 $3,255
2003 $2,719 $8,416 $1,021 $3,046
2002 $2,093 $7,786 $1,014 $2,948
2001 $1,771 $6,960 $1,052 $2,917
2000 $1,621 $6,424 $1,017 $2,806
1999 $1,661 $5,808 $980 $2,672
1998 $1,820 $6,178 $949 $2,497
1997 $1,361 $5,751 $913 $2,418
1996 $1,470 $6,849 $911 $2,325
1995 $2,259 $7,743 $892 $2,187
1994 $1,150 $7,338 $849 $2,064
1993 $1,279 $7,032 $394 $1,998
1992 $1,007 $6,917 $411 $2,003
1991 $884 $7,215 $350 $1,995
1990 $2,367 $7,548 $242.5 $1,979
1989 $2,477 - $249.2 -
1988 $2,511 - $662 -
1987 $3,132 - $992 -
1986 $2,260 - $761 -
1985 $1,915 - $724 -
1984 $1,964 - $861 -
1983 $1,853 - $780 -
1982 $2,169 - $714 -
1981 $2,235 - $740 -
1980 $2,239 - $659 -
1979 - - $495 -
1978 - - $691 -
1977 - - $744 -
1976 - - $633 -
1975 - - $561 -
1974 - - $557 -
1973 - - $413 -
1972 - - $341 -
1971 - - $331 -
1970 - - $321 -
1969 - - $319 -
1968 - - $304 -
1967 - - $297.9 -
1966 - - $284 -
1965 - - $272.3 -
1964 - - $172.7 -
1963 - - $152.5 -
1962 - - $142.3 -
1961 - - $132.9 -
1960 - - $127.5 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/nicaragua | CC BY

Bulgaria's GDP per capita is $17,596, ranking 64/197, compared to $2,848 in Nicaragua, ranking 141/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bulgaria ranks 54th at $41,969, while Nicaragua ranks 138th at $8,709.

Economic indicators

Bulgaria Nicaragua
Gross domestic product
$113B
2024
$19.7B
2024
GDP rank
67/197
2024
131/197
2024
GDP growth
3.39%
2023-2024
3.59%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$17,596
2024
$2,848
2024
GDP per capita rank
64/197
2024
141/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,969
2024
$8,709
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
54/197
2024
138/197
2024
Government debt
$27.3B
2024
$7.71B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
24.1%
2024
39.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,237
2024
$1,115
2024
Government debt per person rank
90/185
2024
138/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$14,263
2026
$2,318
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$8.41B
2024
n/a
Number of billionaires
2
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
31.1%
2023
37.2%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2023
2%
2014
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.7%
2024
27.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.6%
2023-2024
4.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
1.81%
2025
6%
2025
Unemployment rate
4.17%
2024
5.2%
2018
Population
6359449
7124343

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bulgaria
Spending

Debt
Nicaragua
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bulgaria Nicaragua
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 36.7% 24.1% 27.1% 39.1%
2023 37.4% 22.9% 26% 42.3%
2022 37.6% 22.5% 28.6% 45.9%
2021 38.4% 23.8% 30% 48.4%
2020 37.6% 22.7% 28.9% 49.2%
2019 36% 18.4% 27.7% 44.2%
2018 34.4% 20.1% 27.7% 39.1%
2017 32% 22.9% 27.3% 34.7%
2016 32.7% 27% 26.8% 30.9%
2015 37.3% 25.4% 25.4% 28.9%
2014 37.1% 26.3% 24.6% 28.7%
2013 35.5% 17.2% 24.2% 28.8%
2012 32.5% 16.5% 24.1% 27.9%
2011 32% 14.3% 23.5% 28.8%
2010 34.6% 14.1% 22.6% 30.3%
2009 33.8% 14.5% 22.7% 29.3%
2008 33.5% 14.7% 21.9% 26%
2007 33.1% 17.6% 21.5% 30.9%
2006 32.5% 22.6% 21.4% 51.2%
2005 34% 28.5% 21.3% 66.6%
2004 34.6% 37.8% 20.8% 84%
2003 35.8% 45.4% 20.9% 109.5%
2002 35.1% 53.4% 18.7% 110.4%
2001 36.5% 67.1% 19.2% 87.5%
2000 37.1% 73.3% 20.6% 95.2%
1999 36.2% 78.7% 22.1% 99.8%
1998 30.6% 67.3% 18.5% 86.5%
1997 32.9% 88.4% 17.9% 86.4%
1996 44% 113.8% 18% -
1995 45.4% 72% 17.7% -
1994 - - 18.4% -
1993 - - 18.4% -
1992 - - 18.4% -
1991 - - 16.8% -
1990 - - 28.2% -
1989 - - - -
1988 - - 24.8% -
1987 - - - 266.6%
1986 - - 26.1% 159.2%
1985 - - 29.9% 218%
1984 - - 31.9% 198%
1983 - - 33.8% 211.6%
1982 - - 49.4% 159.1%
1981 - - 39.3% 149.1%
1980 - - 30.4% 152.1%
1979 - - 20.7% 116.3%
1978 - - 17.7% 76.9%
1977 - - 19.9% 62.7%
1976 - - 16.2% 59.5%
1975 - - 17.5% 57.8%
1974 - - 15.3% 40%
1973 - - 12.8% 32.9%
1972 - - 15.1% 30.2%
1971 - - 15.1% 31.6%
1970 - - 13.2% 35.4%
1969 - - 11.1% -
1968 - - 10.9% -
1967 - - 12.7% -
1966 - - 12.2% -
1965 - - 10.9% -
1964 - - 10.2% -
1963 - - 10.5% -
1962 - - 10.6% -
1961 - - 9.93% -
1960 - - 11.2% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, Bulgaria's government spending was $41.5B, accounting for 36.7% of its GDP, while Nicaragua spent $5.34B, or 27.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 24.1% in Bulgaria and 39.1% in Nicaragua, ranking 169/185 and 136/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bulgaria

Nicaragua
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bulgaria Nicaragua
2024 -3.04% 2.48%
2023 -3.03% 2.31%
2022 -0.8% 0.65%
2021 -2.8% -1.26%
2020 -2.92% -2.57%
2019 -0.96% -1.12%
2018 0.12% -4.35%
2017 0.82% -1.75%
2016 1.54% -1.92%
2015 -2.77% -1.64%
2014 -3.65% -0.89%
2013 -1.75% -0.3%
2012 -0.43% 0.22%
2011 -1.83% 0.59%
2010 -3.77% 0.69%
2009 -0.86% -0.9%
2008 2.73% 0.27%
2007 3.09% 1.88%
2006 3.22% 1.36%
2005 2.19% 1.72%
2004 1.59% 1.69%
2003 0.003% 1.3%
2002 -0.61% 2.07%
2001 -0.58% 0.34%
2000 -0.6% 2.15%
1999 0.15% -6.86%
1998 1.08% -2.88%
1997 0.83% -3.31%
1996 -10.1% -5%
1995 -7.98% -4.62%
1994 - -5.79%
1993 - -4.66%
1992 - -3.8%
1991 - -3.45%
1990 - -15.2%
1989 - -
1988 - -22.4%
1987 - -
1986 - -7.33%
1985 - -11.3%
1984 - -11.8%
1983 - -15.6%
1982 - -20.2%
1981 - -10.6%
1980 - -6.53%
1979 - -5.89%
1978 - -4.44%
1977 - -5.91%
1976 - -2.2%
1975 - -3.53%
1974 - -1.41%
1973 - 1.21%
1972 - -2.61%
1971 - -2.33%
1970 - -2.69%
1969 - -1.57%
1968 - -1.21%
1967 - -2.11%
1966 - -1.04%
1965 - 0.3%
1964 - 0.2%
1963 - 0.75%
1962 - -0.29%
1961 - 0.04%
1960 - -1.28%
1959 - -
1958 - -
1957 - -
1956 - -
1955 - -
1954 - -
1953 - -
1952 - -
1951 - -
1950 - -
1949 - -
1948 - -
1947 - -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 0% -
1943 0% -
1942 -0.3% -
1941 3.96% -
1940 0.75% -
1939 0.72% -
1938 1% -
1937 1.41% -
1936 1.17% -
1935 1.34% -
1934 -0.12% -
1933 -0.56% -
1932 -2.14% -
1931 -3.07% -
1930 -5.48% -
1929 -6.67% -
1928 -1.09% -
1927 -0.02% -
1926 -0.25% -
1925 -0.97% -
1924 1.26% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1924–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, Bulgaria's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $3.44B, equivalent to 3.04% of GDP. This compares to Nicaragua's surplus of $489M, or 2.48% of GDP.

Over the past 30 years, Bulgaria recorded a fiscal deficit in 18 of those years, while Nicaragua ran a deficit in 15 years. On average, Bulgaria posted an annual deficit equal to 1.04% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.65% of GDP for Nicaragua.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bulgaria

Nicaragua
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bulgaria Nicaragua
2024 2.6% 4.6%
2023 8.6% 8.4%
2022 13% 10.5%
2021 2.8% 4.9%
2020 1.2% 3.7%
2019 2.5% 5.4%
2018 2.6% 4.9%
2017 1.2% 3.9%
2016 -1.3% 3.5%
2015 -1.1% 4%
2014 -1.6% 6%
2013 0.4% 7.1%
2012 2.4% 7.2%
2011 3.4% 8.1%
2010 3% 5.5%
2009 2.5% 3.7%
2008 12% 19.8%
2007 7.6% 11.1%
2006 7.4% 9.1%
2005 6% 9.6%
2004 6.1% 8.5%
2003 2.3% 5.3%
2002 5.8% 3.8%
2001 7.4% 7.4%
2000 10.3% 11.5%
1999 2.6% 11.2%
1998 18.7% 13%
1997 1,061% 9.2%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/nicaragua | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Bulgaria has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 42.5%, compared with 7.53% in Nicaragua. In 2024, inflation was 2.6% in Bulgaria and 4.6% in Nicaragua.

Top exports between countries

Bulgaria
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $699K
Chemicals & pharma $145K
Raw agricultural goods $128K
Machinery & equipment $100K
Raw materials & minerals $57K
Metals $1K
Nicaragua
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $10.2M
Raw agricultural goods $2.04M
Textiles & consumer goods $27K
Wood & paper products $1K

Balance of trade

Bulgaria Nicaragua
Current account balance
-$1.74B
2024
$818M
2024
Current account balance ranking
138/190
2024
55/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.54%
2024
+4.15%
2024
Goods imports
$52.8B
2024
$10.1B
2024
Goods exports
$47.3B
2024
$6.84B
2024
Service imports
$8.26B
2024
$1.31B
2024
Service exports
$16.6B
2024
$1.3B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.9%
2024
58.1%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
56.4%
2024
40.5%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Bulgaria Nicaragua
Economic freedom 68.9 53.6
Economic freedom ranking 44/197 139/197
Property rights 75.8 23.8
Government integrity 48.4 13.4
Judicial effectiveness 58.5 8.8
Tax burden 89.1 74.5
Government spending 58.4 77.7
Fiscal health 90.4 96.9
Business freedom 78.2 54.4
Labor freedom 62.4 47.3
Monetary freedom 75.8 69.4
Trade freedom 79.4 67
Investment freedom 60 60
Financial freedom 50 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bulgaria
Nicaragua
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bulgaria Nicaragua
2026 68.9 53.6
2025 68.8 54
2024 68.5 53.4
2023 69.3 54.9
2022 71 54.8
2021 70.4 56.3
2020 70.2 57.2
2019 69 57.7
2018 68.3 58.9
2017 67.9 59.2
2016 65.9 58.6
2015 66.8 57.6
2014 65.7 58.4
2013 65 56.6
2012 64.7 57.9
2011 64.9 58.8
2010 62.3 58.3
2009 64.6 59.8
2008 63.7 60.8
2007 62.7 62.7
2006 64.1 63.8
2005 62.3 62.5
2004 59.2 61.4
2003 57 62.6
2002 57.1 61.1
2001 51.9 58
2000 47.3 56.9
1999 46.2 54
1998 45.7 53.8
1997 47.6 53.3
1996 48.6 54.1
1995 50 42.5

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/nicaragua | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Bulgaria is 68.9, ranking 44/197, compared to 53.6 for Nicaragua, ranking 139/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bulgaria Nicaragua
Services, % of GDP
63.8%
2024
46.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.1%
2024
27.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.35%
2024
14.4%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$99B
2024
$17.4B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,850
2024
$8,270
2024
Total reserves including gold
$43.7B
2024
$6.1B
2024
Total reserves ranking
47/177
2024
91/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.22B
2024
-$1.28B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$3.55B
2024
$1.35B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.13B
2024
$73.8M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.8%
2024
9.74%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.7%
2023
24.9%
2016
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.4%
2024
24.7%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/nicaragua | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1924–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.