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Economy of Bulgaria vs Zimbabwe compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bulgaria has a GDP of $113B compared to $41.5B for Zimbabwe, ranking 67/197 and 102/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bulgaria has $27.3B in government debt (24.1% of GDP), compared to $30.3B (73% of GDP) in Zimbabwe.

Bulgaria vs Zimbabwe GDP by year

Bulgaria
Zimbabwe
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bulgaria Zimbabwe
2024 $113,343,355,780 $41,539,411,516
2023 $102,199,231,385 $35,871,779,681
2022 $90,506,153,294 $40,757,561,709
2021 $84,374,613,233 $41,287,673,690
2020 $70,486,877,546 $31,980,334,561
2019 $68,507,731,354 $33,357,695,635
2018 $66,097,226,262 $34,141,666,667
2017 $59,167,647,388 $51,035,657,371
2016 $53,929,397,039 $20,559,250,000
2015 $50,765,918,159 $19,973,250,000
2014 $57,080,897,012 $19,505,500,000
2013 $55,819,262,375 $19,100,750,000
2012 $54,297,052,002 $17,123,500,000
2011 $57,681,293,007 $14,109,000,000
2010 $50,689,051,382 $12,047,750,000
2009 $52,023,801,230 $9,670,750,000
2008 $54,480,684,188 $4,418,000,000
2007 $44,431,257,129 $5,294,750,000
2006 $34,380,536,496 $5,446,750,000
2005 $29,868,657,858 $5,758,250,000
2004 $26,157,743,369 $5,808,500,000
2003 $21,144,957,990 $5,730,500,000
2002 $16,403,043,850 $6,345,250,000
2001 $14,183,446,026 $6,780,750,000
2000 $13,245,990,274 $6,693,250,000
1999 $13,637,098,579 $6,861,500,000
1998 $15,031,055,047 $6,405,250,000
1997 $11,316,127,379 $8,534,000,000
1996 $12,294,964,838 $8,557,500,000
1995 $18,991,484,420 $7,115,000,000
1994 $9,709,240,034 $6,894,250,000
1993 $10,832,064,942 $6,567,250,000
1992 $8,602,887,623 $6,755,000,000
1991 $7,628,738,475 $8,646,000,000
1990 $20,632,090,909 $8,788,301,546
1989 $21,988,444,444 $8,290,553,535
1988 $22,555,941,176 $7,818,774,177
1987 $28,101,000,000 $6,744,657,033
1986 $20,249,294,118 $6,220,698,247
1985 $17,155,421,053 $5,640,137,575
1984 $17,594,944,444 $6,355,369,172
1983 $16,563,666,667 $7,768,031,182
1982 $19,342,000,000 $8,544,060,905
1981 $19,870,000,000 $8,015,464,252
1980 $19,839,230,769 $6,682,278,300
1979 - $5,180,102,910
1978 - $4,353,822,343
1977 - $4,366,610,469
1976 - $4,320,576,877
1975 - $4,373,532,601
1974 - $3,984,194,614
1973 - $3,311,043,292
1972 - $2,679,096,597
1971 - $2,179,828,710
1970 - $1,885,168,339
1969 - $1,748,891,294
1968 - $1,480,355,355
1967 - $1,397,715,282
1966 - $1,282,403,936
1965 - $1,312,105,394
1964 - $1,217,759,447
1963 - $1,160,103,724
1962 - $1,118,172,226
1961 - $1,097,206,526
1960 - $1,053,528,036

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

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

GDP per capita in Bulgaria vs Zimbabwe by year

Bulgaria
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Zimbabwe
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bulgaria Zimbabwe
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $17,596 $41,969 $2,497 $5,928
2023 $15,853 $38,829 $2,195 $5,791
2022 $13,999 $36,320 $2,536 $5,396
2021 $12,966 $30,959 $2,614 $4,827
2020 $10,760 $27,352 $2,060 $4,179
2019 $10,354 $26,766 $2,184 $4,166
2018 $9,849 $23,998 $2,271 $3,993
2017 $8,697 $22,317 $3,445 $10,756
2016 $7,822 $20,746 $1,408 $4,275
2015 $7,269 $18,896 $1,387 $4,046
2014 $8,070 $17,991 $1,373 $3,903
2013 $7,796 $16,894 $1,363 $3,784
2012 $7,432 $16,327 $1,239 $3,472
2011 $7,850 $15,747 $1,038 $3,047
2010 $6,854 $14,954 $902 $2,661
2009 $6,988 $14,188 $736 $2,233
2008 $7,271 $14,347 $341 $1,987
2007 $5,889 $12,822 $414 $2,396
2006 $4,523 $11,406 $431 $2,454
2005 $3,900 $10,291 $461 $2,496
2004 $3,390 $9,200 $470 $2,591
2003 $2,719 $8,416 $468 $2,708
2002 $2,093 $7,786 $525 $3,238
2001 $1,771 $6,960 $566 $3,533
2000 $1,621 $6,424 $563 $3,429
1999 $1,661 $5,808 $582 $3,491
1998 $1,820 $6,178 $552 $3,527
1997 $1,361 $5,751 $751 $3,457
1996 $1,470 $6,849 $767 $3,372
1995 $2,259 $7,743 $648 $3,051
1994 $1,150 $7,338 $634 $3,012
1993 $1,279 $7,032 $605 $2,703
1992 $1,007 $6,917 $631 $2,651
1991 $884 $7,215 $831 $2,930
1990 $2,367 $7,548 $867 $2,757
1989 $2,477 - $840 -
1988 $2,511 - $816 -
1987 $3,132 - $726 -
1986 $2,260 - $693 -
1985 $1,915 - $649 -
1984 $1,964 - $757 -
1983 $1,853 - $959 -
1982 $2,169 - $1,096 -
1981 $2,235 - $1,069 -
1980 $2,239 - $949 -
1979 - - $779 -
1978 - - $665 -
1977 - - $677 -
1976 - - $687 -
1975 - - $717 -
1974 - - $674 -
1973 - - $579 -
1972 - - $483 -
1971 - - $406 -
1970 - - $361 -
1969 - - $346 -
1968 - - $302 -
1967 - - $294.4 -
1966 - - $278.7 -
1965 - - $294.3 -
1964 - - $281.9 -
1963 - - $277.1 -
1962 - - $275.7 -
1961 - - $279.2 -
1960 - - $276.6 -

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

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

Bulgaria's GDP per capita is $17,596, ranking 64/197, compared to $2,497 in Zimbabwe, ranking 148/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bulgaria ranks 54th at $41,969, while Zimbabwe ranks 154th at $5,928.

Economic indicators

Bulgaria Zimbabwe
Gross domestic product
$113B
2024
$41.5B
2024
GDP rank
67/197
2024
102/197
2024
GDP growth
3.39%
2023-2024
1.74%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$17,596
2024
$2,497
2024
GDP per capita rank
64/197
2024
148/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,969
2024
$5,928
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
54/197
2024
154/197
2024
Government debt
$27.3B
2024
$30.3B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
24.1%
2024
73%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,237
2024
$1,824
2024
Government debt per person rank
90/185
2024
121/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$14,263
2026
$2,897
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$8.41B
2024
$2.46B
1999
Number of billionaires
2
2025
1
2025
Income share by richest 10%
31.1%
2023
40.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2023
1.9%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.7%
2024
12.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.6%
2023-2024
736%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
1.81%
2025
35%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.17%
2024
12.1%
2024
Population
6359449
17361868

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bulgaria
Spending

Debt
Zimbabwe
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bulgaria Zimbabwe
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 36.7% 24.1% 12.9% 73%
2023 37.4% 22.9% 15.5% 76.1%
2022 37.6% 22.5% 14.4% 66.8%
2021 38.4% 23.8% 12.8% 39.9%
2020 37.6% 22.7% 9.27% 56.8%
2019 36% 18.4% 9.36% 53.9%
2018 34.4% 20.1% 13.9% 33%
2017 32% 22.9% 19.8% 49%
2016 32.7% 27% 16.6% 35.1%
2015 37.3% 25.4% 14.7% 34.1%
2014 37.1% 26.3% 14.1% 29.2%
2013 35.5% 17.2% 14.7% 26.4%
2012 32.5% 16.5% 14.6% 27.2%
2011 32% 14.3% 16.2% 30%
2010 34.6% 14.1% 12.8% 33.2%
2009 33.8% 14.5% 7.93% 39.7%
2008 33.5% 14.7% 2.54% 41.3%
2007 33.1% 17.6% 3.43% 30.2%
2006 32.5% 22.6% 5.72% 26.7%
2005 34% 28.5% 10.5% 22.4%
2004 34.6% 37.8% - -
2003 35.8% 45.4% - -
2002 35.1% 53.4% - -
2001 36.5% 67.1% - -
2000 37.1% 73.3% - -
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, Bulgaria's government spending was $41.5B, accounting for 36.7% of its GDP, while Zimbabwe spent $5.37B, or 12.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 24.1% in Bulgaria and 73% in Zimbabwe, ranking 169/185 and 50/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bulgaria

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bulgaria Zimbabwe
2024 -3.04% -1.06%
2023 -3.03% -3.9%
2022 -0.8% -3.3%
2021 -2.8% -2.24%
2020 -2.92% -0.34%
2019 -0.96% -1.72%
2018 0.12% -3.81%
2017 0.82% -7.37%
2016 1.54% -4.63%
2015 -2.77% -1.45%
2014 -3.65% -0.71%
2013 -1.75% -0.69%
2012 -0.43% -0.13%
2011 -1.83% -1.72%
2010 -3.77% -0.11%
2009 -0.86% -1.39%
2008 2.73% -1.2%
2007 3.09% -1.67%
2006 3.22% -1.4%
2005 2.19% -3.46%
2004 1.59% -
2003 0.003% -
2002 -0.61% -
2001 -0.58% -
2000 -0.6% -
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/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe's deficit of $438M, or 1.06% of GDP.

Over the past 20 years, Bulgaria recorded a fiscal deficit in 13 of those years, while Zimbabwe ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Bulgaria posted an annual deficit equal to 0.75% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.11% of GDP for Zimbabwe.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bulgaria

Zimbabwe
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bulgaria Zimbabwe
2024 2.6% 736%
2023 8.6% 667%
2022 13% 193.4%
2021 2.8% 98.5%
2020 1.2% 557%
2019 2.5% 255.3%
2018 2.6% 10.6%
2017 1.2% 0.9%
2016 -1.3% -1.6%
2015 -1.1% -2.4%
2014 -1.6% -0.2%
2013 0.4% 1.6%
2012 2.4% 3.7%
2011 3.4% 3.5%
2010 3% 3%
2009 2.5% 6.2%
2008 12% 157%
2007 7.6% -72.7%
2006 7.4% 33%
2005 6% -31.5%
2004 6.1% 113.6%
2003 2.3% -8.6%
2002 5.8% -34.4%
2001 7.4% -37.2%
2000 10.3% 4.5%
1999 2.6% -13.4%
1998 18.7% -28%
1997 1,061% -1%

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

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

Over the past 28 years, Bulgaria has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 42.5%, compared with 93.4% in Zimbabwe. In 2024, inflation was 2.6% in Bulgaria and 736% in Zimbabwe.

Top exports between countries

Bulgaria
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $292K
Machinery & equipment $243K
Chemicals & pharma $153K
Raw agricultural goods $20K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $4K
Miscellaneous $1K
Precious metals & jewellery $1K
Zimbabwe
Export category Export value
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $2.63M
Precious metals & jewellery $70K
Textiles & consumer goods $6K
Raw agricultural goods $3K
Machinery & equipment $1K

Balance of trade

Bulgaria Zimbabwe
Current account balance
-$1.74B
2024
$501M
2024
Current account balance ranking
138/190
2024
62/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-1.54%
2024
+1.21%
2024
Goods imports
$52.8B
2024
$9.06B
2024
Goods exports
$47.3B
2024
$7.79B
2024
Service imports
$8.26B
2024
$1.66B
2024
Service exports
$16.6B
2024
$457M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.9%
2024
23.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
56.4%
2024
18%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Bulgaria Zimbabwe
Economic freedom 68.9 35.2
Economic freedom ranking 44/197 190/197
Property rights 75.8 19.4
Government integrity 48.4 20.7
Judicial effectiveness 58.5 16.8
Tax burden 89.1 73.6
Government spending 58.4 93.9
Fiscal health 90.4 52.4
Business freedom 78.2 42
Labor freedom 62.4 33.3
Monetary freedom 75.8 0
Trade freedom 79.4 50.4
Investment freedom 60 10
Financial freedom 50 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bulgaria
Zimbabwe
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bulgaria Zimbabwe
2026 68.9 35.2
2025 68.8 35.1
2024 68.5 38.2
2023 69.3 39
2022 71 33.1
2021 70.4 39.5
2020 70.2 43.1
2019 69 40.4
2018 68.3 44
2017 67.9 44
2016 65.9 38.2
2015 66.8 37.6
2014 65.7 35.5
2013 65 28.6
2012 64.7 26.3
2011 64.9 22.1
2010 62.3 21.4
2009 64.6 22.7
2008 63.7 29.5
2007 62.7 32
2006 64.1 33.5
2005 62.3 35.2
2004 59.2 34.4
2003 57 36.7
2002 57.1 36.7
2001 51.9 38.8
2000 47.3 48.7
1999 46.2 47.2
1998 45.7 44.6
1997 47.6 48
1996 48.6 46.7
1995 50 48.5

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Bulgaria is 68.9, ranking 44/197, compared to 35.2 for Zimbabwe, ranking 190/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bulgaria Zimbabwe
Services, % of GDP
63.8%
2024
50.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.1%
2024
35%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.35%
2024
8.69%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$99B
2024
$39.9B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$39,850
2024
$5,870
2024
Total reserves including gold
$43.7B
2024
$485M
2024
Total reserves ranking
47/177
2024
157/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.22B
2024
-$465M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$3.55B
2024
$465M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$1.13B
2024
$131M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
6.8%
2024
3.44%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
21.7%
2023
38.3%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
20.4%
2024
8.85%
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/zimbabwe | 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 (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 (2020–2024, 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.