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Economy of Bulgaria vs Sierra Leone compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bulgaria has a GDP of $113B compared to $6.97B for Sierra Leone, ranking 67/197 and 160/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bulgaria has $27.3B in government debt (24.1% of GDP), compared to $2.91B (41.7% of GDP) in Sierra Leone.

Bulgaria vs Sierra Leone GDP by year

Bulgaria
Sierra Leone
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
2024 $113,343,355,780 $6,971,127,235
2023 $102,199,231,385 $6,415,852,767
2022 $90,506,153,294 $7,121,125,278
2021 $84,374,613,233 $7,166,931,485
2020 $70,486,877,546 $6,688,307,703
2019 $68,507,731,354 $6,523,577,594
2018 $66,097,226,262 $6,390,514,689
2017 $59,167,647,388 $5,749,846,528
2016 $53,929,397,039 $6,084,297,211
2015 $50,765,918,159 $6,788,352,975
2014 $57,080,897,012 $7,686,138,791
2013 $55,819,262,375 $7,502,762,863
2012 $54,297,052,002 $6,141,666,509
2011 $57,681,293,007 $4,861,632,885
2010 $50,689,051,382 $4,262,805,967
2009 $52,023,801,230 $3,953,403,098
2008 $54,480,684,188 $4,157,895,298
2007 $44,431,257,129 $3,632,957,611
2006 $34,380,536,496 $3,263,697,467
2005 $29,868,657,858 $2,545,275,313
2004 $26,157,743,369 $2,237,350,687
2003 $21,144,957,990 $2,142,618,046
2002 $16,403,043,850 $1,933,863,911
2001 $14,183,446,026 $1,681,473,894
2000 $13,245,990,274 $635,866,404
1999 $13,637,098,579 $669,386,624
1998 $15,031,055,047 $672,368,187
1997 $11,316,127,379 $850,232,760
1996 $12,294,964,838 $941,709,423
1995 $18,991,484,420 $870,740,292
1994 $9,709,240,034 $911,853,802
1993 $10,832,064,942 $768,867,883
1992 $8,602,887,623 $679,940,814
1991 $7,628,738,475 $779,981,987
1990 $20,632,090,909 $649,644,098
1989 $21,988,444,444 $932,974,420
1988 $22,555,941,176 $1,055,083,933
1987 $28,101,000,000 $660,106,336
1986 $20,249,294,118 $490,181,457
1985 $17,155,421,053 $856,890,459
1984 $17,594,944,444 $1,087,471,862
1983 $16,563,666,667 $995,104,305
1982 $19,342,000,000 $1,295,361,886
1981 $19,870,000,000 $1,114,830,472
1980 $19,839,230,769 $1,100,685,845
1979 - $1,109,374,911
1978 - $960,728,339
1977 - $691,777,584
1976 - $594,895,942
1975 - $679,336,344
1974 - $648,590,643
1973 - $575,230,724
1972 - $465,381,340
1971 - $419,549,305
1970 - $434,410,974
1969 - $408,690,163
1968 - $329,859,732
1967 - $348,795,303
1966 - $375,479,850
1965 - $359,379,856
1964 - $371,847,461
1963 - $348,547,279
1962 - $342,721,416
1961 - $327,834,191
1960 - $322,009,962

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/sierra-leone | CC BY

GDP per capita in Bulgaria vs Sierra Leone by year

Bulgaria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Sierra Leone
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $17,596 $41,969 $807 $3,522
2023 $15,853 $38,829 $758 $3,368
2022 $13,999 $36,320 $860 $3,144
2021 $12,966 $30,959 $885 $2,849
2020 $10,760 $27,352 $845 $2,719
2019 $10,354 $26,766 $844 $2,704
2018 $9,849 $23,998 $846 $2,640
2017 $8,697 $22,317 $779 $2,501
2016 $7,822 $20,746 $844 $2,635
2015 $7,269 $18,896 $965 $2,560
2014 $8,070 $17,991 $1,118 $2,762
2013 $7,796 $16,894 $1,117 $2,701
2012 $7,432 $16,327 $938 $2,317
2011 $7,850 $15,747 $761 $2,043
2010 $6,854 $14,954 $685 $1,900
2009 $6,988 $14,188 $653 $1,814
2008 $7,271 $14,347 $705 $1,824
2007 $5,889 $12,822 $632 $1,770
2006 $4,523 $11,406 $580 $1,698
2005 $3,900 $10,291 $463 $1,615
2004 $3,390 $9,200 $418 $1,541
2003 $2,719 $8,416 $414 $1,458
2002 $2,093 $7,786 $389 $1,360
2001 $1,771 $6,960 $358 $1,121
2000 $1,621 $6,424 $143.7 $1,242
1999 $1,661 $5,808 $155 $1,167
1998 $1,820 $6,178 $156.5 $1,180
1997 $1,361 $5,751 $199.9 $1,157
1996 $1,470 $6,849 $224.3 $1,225
1995 $2,259 $7,743 $208.4 $1,187
1994 $1,150 $7,338 $218.5 $1,266
1993 $1,279 $7,032 $185 $1,269
1992 $1,007 $6,917 $163.2 $1,220
1991 $884 $7,215 $183.7 $1,445
1990 $2,367 $7,548 $154.8 $1,382
1989 $2,477 - $231.3 -
1988 $2,511 - $268.2 -
1987 $3,132 - $172.4 -
1986 $2,260 - $131.5 -
1985 $1,915 - $235.5 -
1984 $1,964 - $306 -
1983 $1,853 - $285.8 -
1982 $2,169 - $380 -
1981 $2,235 - $334 -
1980 $2,239 - $336 -
1979 - - $346 -
1978 - - $305 -
1977 - - $224.2 -
1976 - - $196.4 -
1975 - - $228.4 -
1974 - - $222.1 -
1973 - - $200.6 -
1972 - - $165.4 -
1971 - - $151.8 -
1970 - - $160.2 -
1969 - - $153.6 -
1968 - - $126.3 -
1967 - - $136.1 -
1966 - - $149.3 -
1965 - - $145.6 -
1964 - - $153.4 -
1963 - - $146.3 -
1962 - - $146.3 -
1961 - - $142.3 -
1960 - - $142 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/sierra-leone | CC BY

Bulgaria's GDP per capita is $17,596, ranking 64/197, compared to $807 in Sierra Leone, ranking 186/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bulgaria ranks 54th at $41,969, while Sierra Leone ranks 171st at $3,522.

Economic indicators

Bulgaria Sierra Leone
Gross domestic product
$113B
2024
$6.97B
2024
GDP rank
67/197
2024
160/197
2024
GDP growth
3.39%
2023-2024
4.29%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$17,596
2024
$807
2024
GDP per capita rank
64/197
2024
186/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,969
2024
$3,522
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
54/197
2024
171/197
2024
Government debt
$27.3B
2024
$2.91B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
24.1%
2024
41.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,237
2024
$337
2024
Government debt per person rank
90/185
2024
174/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$14,263
2026
$2,915
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
29.4%
2018
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2023
3.4%
2018
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.7%
2024
15.6%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.6%
2023-2024
28.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
1.81%
2025
18.8%
2025
Unemployment rate
4.17%
2024
3.19%
2018
Population
6359449
9049533

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bulgaria
Spending

Debt
Sierra Leone
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 36.7% 24.1% 15.6% 41.7%
2023 37.4% 22.9% 15.4% 49.5%
2022 37.6% 22.5% 16.7% 54%
2021 38.4% 23.8% 16.8% 47.1%
2020 37.6% 22.7% 15.6% 46.4%
2019 36% 18.4% 13.3% 45.3%
2018 34.4% 20.1% 13.7% 44.2%
2017 32% 22.9% 15% 44.2%
2016 32.7% 27% 14.9% 38.9%
2015 37.3% 25.4% 13.1% 28.4%
2014 37.1% 26.3% 13.5% 26.8%
2013 35.5% 17.2% 11.4% 22.3%
2012 32.5% 16.5% 13.5% 24.1%
2011 32% 14.3% 13.2% 25.8%
2010 34.6% 14.1% 12.5% 28.9%
2009 33.8% 14.5% 11.3% 31.1%
2008 33.5% 14.7% 10.3% 46.1%
2007 33.1% 17.6% 8.1% 26.4%
2006 32.5% 22.6% 9.97% 61.9%
2005 34% 28.5% 10.9% 78.9%
2004 34.6% 37.8% 11.1% 93.2%
2003 35.8% 45.4% 11.7% 99.8%
2002 35.1% 53.4% 12.6% 99.8%
2001 36.5% 67.1% 12% 113.5%
2000 37.1% 73.3% 10.3% -
1999 36.2% 78.7% - -
1998 30.6% 67.3% - -
1997 32.9% 88.4% - -
1996 44% 113.8% - -
1995 45.4% 72% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1995–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, Bulgaria's government spending was $41.5B, accounting for 36.7% of its GDP, while Sierra Leone spent $1.09B, or 15.6% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 24.1% in Bulgaria and 41.7% in Sierra Leone, ranking 169/185 and 128/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bulgaria

Sierra Leone
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
2024 -3.04% -4.53%
2023 -3.03% -4.99%
2022 -0.8% -5.93%
2021 -2.8% -4.35%
2020 -2.92% -3.5%
2019 -0.96% -1.95%
2018 0.12% -3.57%
2017 0.82% -5.61%
2016 1.54% -5.41%
2015 -2.77% -2.86%
2014 -3.65% -2.77%
2013 -1.75% -1.74%
2012 -0.43% -3.41%
2011 -1.83% -2.78%
2010 -3.77% -3.09%
2009 -0.86% -1.51%
2008 2.73% -2.22%
2007 3.09% 12.6%
2006 3.22% -0.93%
2005 2.19% -1.17%
2004 1.59% -1.46%
2003 0.003% -2.78%
2002 -0.61% -3.03%
2001 -0.58% -3.22%
2000 -0.6% -1.94%
1999 0.15% -
1998 1.08% -
1997 0.83% -
1996 -10.1% -
1995 -7.98% -
1994 - -
1993 - -
1992 - -
1991 - -
1990 - -
1989 - -
1988 - -
1987 - -
1986 - -
1985 - -
1984 - -
1983 - -
1982 - -
1981 - -
1980 - -
1979 - -
1978 - -
1977 - -
1976 - -
1975 - -
1974 - -
1973 - -
1972 - -
1971 - -
1970 - -
1969 - -
1968 - -
1967 - -
1966 - -
1965 - -
1964 - -
1963 - -
1962 - -
1961 - -
1960 - -
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) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1924–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone's deficit of $316M, or 4.53% of GDP.

Over the past 25 years, Bulgaria recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Sierra Leone ran a deficit in 24 years. On average, Bulgaria posted an annual deficit equal to 0.6% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.49% of GDP for Sierra Leone.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bulgaria

Sierra Leone
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
2024 2.6% 28.4%
2023 8.6% 47.7%
2022 13% 27.2%
2021 2.8% 11.9%
2020 1.2% 13.4%
2019 2.5% 14.8%
2018 2.6% 16%
2017 1.2% 18.2%
2016 -1.3% 10.9%
2015 -1.1% 6.7%
2014 -1.6% 4.6%
2013 0.4% 5.5%
2012 2.4% 6.6%
2011 3.4% 6.8%
2010 3% 7.2%
2009 2.5% 7.5%
2008 12% 8.2%
2007 7.6% 17%
2006 7.4% 10.5%
2005 6% 13.7%
2004 6.1% 12.9%
2003 2.3% 4%
2002 5.8% 0.1%
2001 7.4% 2.6%
2000 10.3% -0.9%
1999 2.6% 34.1%
1998 18.7% 36%
1997 1,061% 14.6%

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/sierra-leone | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Bulgaria has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 42.5%, compared with 13.8% in Sierra Leone. In 2024, inflation was 2.6% in Bulgaria and 28.4% in Sierra Leone.

Top exports between countries

Bulgaria
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $397K
Machinery & equipment $67K
Raw materials & minerals $40K
Wood & paper products $40K
Chemicals & pharma $19K
Miscellaneous $15K
Metals $8K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $6K
Sierra Leone
Export category Export value

Balance of trade

Bulgaria Sierra Leone
Current account balance
-$1.74B
2024
-$606M
2023
Current account balance ranking
138/190
2024
109/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.54%
2024
-9.45%
2023
Goods imports
$52.8B
2024
$1.92B
2023
Goods exports
$47.3B
2024
$1.34B
2023
Service imports
$8.26B
2024
$348M
2023
Service exports
$16.6B
2024
$42.5M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.9%
2024
23.3%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
56.4%
2024
17.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Bulgaria Sierra Leone
Economic freedom 68.9 49.6
Economic freedom ranking 44/197 165/197
Property rights 75.8 32.9
Government integrity 48.4 35.8
Judicial effectiveness 58.5 42
Tax burden 89.1 88.2
Government spending 58.4 92.4
Fiscal health 90.4 54.1
Business freedom 78.2 44.8
Labor freedom 62.4 38.2
Monetary freedom 75.8 53.6
Trade freedom 79.4 63.6
Investment freedom 60 30
Financial freedom 50 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bulgaria
Sierra Leone
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
2026 68.9 49.6
2025 68.8 48
2024 68.5 44.6
2023 69.3 50.2
2022 71 52
2021 70.4 51.7
2020 70.2 48
2019 69 47.5
2018 68.3 51.8
2017 67.9 52.6
2016 65.9 52.3
2015 66.8 51.7
2014 65.7 50.5
2013 65 48.3
2012 64.7 49.1
2011 64.9 49.6
2010 62.3 47.9
2009 64.6 47.8
2008 63.7 48.3
2007 62.7 47
2006 64.1 45.2
2005 62.3 44.8
2004 59.2 43.6
2003 57 42.2
2002 57.1 -
2001 51.9 -
2000 47.3 44.2
1999 46.2 47.2
1998 45.7 47.7
1997 47.6 45
1996 48.6 52.3
1995 50 49.8

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

GeoRank.org/economy/bulgaria/sierra-leone | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Bulgaria is 68.9, ranking 44/197, compared to 49.6 for Sierra Leone, ranking 165/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bulgaria Sierra Leone
Services, % of GDP
63.8%
2024
42.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.1%
2024
25.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.35%
2024
29.2%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$99B
2024
$7.08B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,850
2024
$3,490
2024
Total reserves including gold
$43.7B
2024
$433M
2024
Total reserves ranking
47/177
2024
160/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.22B
2024
-$241M
2023
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$3.55B
2024
$122M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.13B
2024
$0
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.8%
2024
2.22%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.7%
2023
56.8%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.4%
2024
20.5%
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/sierra-leone | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1998–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1924–1997, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  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.