Skip to content

Bulgaria vs Iran statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Bulgaria has a population of 6.44M (ranked 110/197), compared with 91.6M in Iran (ranked 17/197). Bulgaria's land area is 41,915 sq mi versus 626,451 sq mi for Iran (ranked 101st vs. 17th).

By GDP, Bulgaria ranks 67/197 ($113B) and Iran ranks 34/197 ($475B). By GDP per capita, Bulgaria ranks 64/197 ($17,596), while Iran ranks 119/197 ($5,190).

Main facts and rankings

Bulgaria Iran
Population
6359449
93468444
Population rank 112/197 17/197
GDP
$113B
2024
$475B
2024
GDP rank 67/197 34/197
GDP per capita
$17,596
2024
$5,190
2024
GDP per capita rank 64/197 119/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$41,969
2024
$19,874
2024
Government debt
$27.3B
2024
$162B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
24.1%
2024
34%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,237
2024
$1,764
2024
Government debt per person rank 90/185 122/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$14,263
2026
$2,964
2026
Land area 41,915 sq mi 626,451 sq mi
Population density
151.7 ppl/mi²
2026
148.9 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.81
2023
1.7
2023
Median age
45.5 years
2024
34.3 years
2024
Life expectancy
76.1 years
2026
78.2 years
2026

Bulgaria and Iran: Comparison Charts

Bulgaria and Iran economies compared

GDP
Bulgaria

Iran
1x
Year GDP
Bulgaria Iran
2024 $113,343,355,780 $475,252,089,215
2023 $102,199,231,385 $457,510,482,317
2022 $90,506,153,294 $422,662,261,526
2021 $84,374,613,233 $407,350,685,583
2020 $70,486,877,546 $280,934,329,280
2019 $68,507,731,354 $347,988,400,958
2018 $66,097,226,262 $411,903,303,606
2017 $59,167,647,388 $510,239,893,418
2016 $53,929,397,039 $478,618,064,871
2015 $50,765,918,159 $409,191,686,497
2014 $57,080,897,012 $462,284,793,281
2013 $55,819,262,375 $500,399,839,840
2012 $54,297,052,002 $644,019,315,004
2011 $57,681,293,007 $629,082,257,472
2010 $50,689,051,382 $487,069,570,464
2009 $52,023,801,230 $414,059,094,949
2008 $54,480,684,188 $406,070,949,554
2007 $44,431,257,129 $349,736,591,832
2006 $34,380,536,496 $265,602,187,404
2005 $29,868,657,858 $224,970,371,325
2004 $26,157,743,369 $187,754,571,248
2003 $21,144,957,990 $151,911,222,119
2002 $16,403,043,850 $128,626,917,504
2001 $14,183,446,026 $126,878,750,296
2000 $13,245,990,274 $109,591,707,802
1999 $13,637,098,579 $113,848,450,088
1998 $15,031,055,047 $110,276,913,363
1997 $11,316,127,379 $113,919,163,421
1996 $12,294,964,838 $120,403,931,885
1995 $18,991,484,420 $96,419,225,744
1994 $9,709,240,034 $71,841,461,173
1993 $10,832,064,942 $63,743,623,232
1992 $8,602,887,623 $119,768,691,217
1991 $7,628,738,475 $131,637,664,958
1990 $20,632,090,909 $124,813,263,926
1989 $21,988,444,444 $120,496,362,916
1988 $22,555,941,176 $123,057,861,334
1987 $28,101,000,000 $134,009,995,923
1986 $20,249,294,118 $209,094,561,833
1985 $17,155,421,053 $180,183,629,600
1984 $17,594,944,444 $162,276,728,620
1983 $16,563,666,667 $156,365,156,618
1982 $19,342,000,000 $125,948,756,439
1981 $19,870,000,000 $100,499,312,750
1980 $19,839,230,769 $94,362,275,580
1979 - $90,391,877,326
1978 - $77,994,316,621
1977 - $80,600,122,702
1976 - $68,055,295,081
1975 - $51,776,222,350
1974 - $46,209,092,072
1973 - $27,081,698,250
1972 - $17,153,463,263
1971 - $13,731,802,833
1970 - $10,976,245,154
1969 - $9,743,089,607
1968 - $8,623,172,960
1967 - $7,555,383,690
1966 - $6,789,938,672
1965 - $6,197,319,929
1964 - $5,379,845,648
1963 - $4,928,628,018
1962 - $4,693,566,416
1961 - $4,426,949,095
1960 - $4,199,134,390

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

GeoRank.org/facts/bulgaria/iran | CC BY

Bulgaria and Iran economies compared

GDP per capita
Bulgaria

Iran
1x
Year GDP per capita
Bulgaria Iran
2024 $17,596 $5,190
2023 $15,853 $5,049
2022 $13,999 $4,721
2021 $12,966 $4,605
2020 $10,760 $3,203
2019 $10,354 $3,997
2018 $9,849 $4,783
2017 $8,697 $6,001
2016 $7,822 $5,711
2015 $7,269 $4,953
2014 $8,070 $5,672
2013 $7,796 $6,223
2012 $7,432 $8,114
2011 $7,850 $8,026
2010 $6,854 $6,291
2009 $6,988 $5,416
2008 $7,271 $5,377
2007 $5,889 $4,688
2006 $4,523 $3,619
2005 $3,900 $3,132
2004 $3,390 $2,672
2003 $2,719 $2,209
2002 $2,093 $1,891
2001 $1,771 $1,881
2000 $1,621 $1,650
1999 $1,661 $1,740
1998 $1,820 $1,709
1997 $1,361 $1,790
1996 $1,470 $1,915
1995 $2,259 $1,550
1994 $1,150 $1,168
1993 $1,279 $1,038
1992 $1,007 $1,957
1991 $884 $2,194
1990 $2,367 $2,138
1989 $2,477 $2,125
1988 $2,511 $2,234
1987 $3,132 $2,513
1986 $2,260 $4,064
1985 $1,915 $3,634
1984 $1,964 $3,395
1983 $1,853 $3,397
1982 $2,169 $2,845
1981 $2,235 $2,393
1980 $2,239 $2,368
1979 - $2,352
1978 - $2,101
1977 - $2,243
1976 - $1,954
1975 - $1,532
1974 - $1,409
1973 - $851
1972 - $555
1971 - $457
1970 - $377
1969 - $345
1968 - $314
1967 - $283.7
1966 - $262.9
1965 - $247.5
1964 - $221.7
1963 - $209.6
1962 - $205.8
1961 - $200.1
1960 - $195.6

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

GeoRank.org/facts/bulgaria/iran | CC BY

Bulgaria vs. Iran life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Bulgaria

Iran
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Bulgaria Iran
2026 76.1 78.2
2025 76 78.1
2024 75.8 77.9
2023 75.6 77.7
2022 74 76.8
2021 71.4 73.8
2020 73.6 74.1
2019 75.1 76.9
2018 74.9 76.6
2017 74.8 76.4
2016 74.8 76.2
2015 74.6 75.9
2014 74.5 75.6
2013 74.8 75.3
2012 74.3 75
2011 74.2 74.7
2010 73.8 74.4
2009 73.7 74
2008 73.3 73.7
2007 73 73.3
2006 72.7 72.9
2005 72.6 72.4
2004 72.6 72
2003 72.4 70.5
2002 72.1 71.1
2001 71.9 70.6
2000 71.6 70.2
1999 71.6 69.7
1998 70.9 69.2
1997 70.3 68.6
1996 70.8 68.3
1995 71 67.9
1994 70.9 67.5
1993 71.2 67
1992 71.2 66.7
1991 71.2 66.2
1990 71.3 64.1
1989 71.5 65.3
1988 71.4 63.3
1987 71.3 62.7
1986 71.6 62.1
1985 71 61.5
1984 71.3 60.9
1983 71.2 58.5
1982 71.1 57.6
1981 71.5 56.6
1980 71.1 58.4
1979 71.2 58.5
1978 71.1 56
1977 70.8 56.7
1976 71.4 55.8
1975 71 54.8
1974 71.2 53.9
1973 71.3 52.9
1972 70.9 51.7
1971 70.9 51.1
1970 71.3 50.2
1969 70.5 49.4
1968 71.2 47.9
1967 70.4 47.8
1966 71.2 47.1
1965 71.3 46.4
1964 71.1 45.7
1963 70.3 45.1
1962 69.5 43.8
1961 70.2 43.9
1960 69.2 43.3
1959 66.6 42.8
1958 68.7 42.2
1957 66.6 41.3
1956 65.2 41.1
1955 64.8 40.6
1954 64.4 40
1953 64.2 39.5
1952 59.6 39.2
1951 60.7 38.7
1950 61.5 38.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/bulgaria/iran | CC BY

Bulgaria and Iran population clocks and comparison

Population
Bulgaria

Iran
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Iran
2024 6,441,421 91,567,738
2023 6,446,596 90,608,707
2022 6,465,097 89,524,246
2021 6,507,301 88,455,488
2020 6,550,696 87,723,443
2019 6,616,726 87,051,648
2018 6,710,798 86,117,998
2017 6,803,468 85,026,754
2016 6,894,139 83,812,228
2015 6,984,225 82,619,362
2014 7,073,572 81,502,045
2013 7,160,005 80,414,686
2012 7,305,888 79,370,580
2011 7,348,328 78,383,598
2010 7,395,599 77,420,842
2009 7,444,443 76,457,825
2008 7,492,561 75,514,204
2007 7,545,338 74,602,648
2006 7,601,022 73,392,747
2005 7,658,972 71,828,455
2004 7,716,860 70,256,316
2003 7,775,327 68,769,340
2002 7,837,161 68,011,317
2001 8,009,142 67,452,005
2000 8,170,172 66,418,659
1999 8,210,624 65,445,391
1998 8,256,786 64,519,859
1997 8,312,068 63,639,638
1996 8,362,826 62,881,300
1995 8,406,067 62,205,567
1994 8,443,591 61,520,598
1993 8,472,313 61,403,543
1992 8,540,164 61,184,983
1991 8,632,367 59,986,931
1990 8,718,289 58,380,092
1989 8,876,972 56,704,914
1988 8,981,446 55,072,694
1987 8,971,359 53,323,493
1986 8,958,171 51,446,045
1985 8,960,547 49,582,289
1984 8,960,679 47,793,998
1983 8,939,738 46,029,535
1982 8,917,457 44,272,141
1981 8,891,117 41,989,312
1980 8,861,535 39,842,324
1979 8,825,940 38,424,952
1978 8,814,032 37,126,535
1977 8,804,183 35,933,181
1976 8,758,599 34,837,271
1975 8,720,742 33,802,973
1974 8,678,745 32,796,463
1973 8,620,967 31,839,838
1972 8,576,200 30,921,179
1971 8,536,395 30,029,071
1970 8,489,574 29,145,100
1969 8,434,172 28,273,482
1968 8,369,603 27,437,391
1967 8,310,226 26,628,432
1966 8,258,057 25,829,270
1965 8,204,168 25,036,978
1964 8,144,340 24,262,859
1963 8,078,145 23,519,005
1962 8,012,946 22,807,907
1961 7,943,118 22,125,726
1960 7,867,374 21,470,434

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

GeoRank.org/facts/bulgaria/iran | CC BY

Fertility rates in Bulgaria and Iran

Fertility rate
Bulgaria

Iran
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bulgaria Iran
2023 1.81 1.7
2022 1.78 1.7
2021 1.8 1.71
2020 1.77 1.7
2019 1.79 1.77
2018 1.73 1.92
2017 1.71 2.02
2016 1.67 2.05
2015 1.64 2.02
2014 1.62 1.98
2013 1.54 1.91
2012 1.5 1.85
2011 1.51 1.79
2010 1.57 1.75
2009 1.66 1.74
2008 1.56 1.74
2007 1.49 1.75
2006 1.44 1.76
2005 1.37 1.76
2004 1.33 1.78
2003 1.26 1.8
2002 1.23 1.84
2001 1.21 1.92
2000 1.26 2
1999 1.23 2.09
1998 1.11 2.19
1997 1.09 2.32
1996 1.23 2.54
1995 1.23 2.85
1994 1.37 3.24
1993 1.46 3.67
1992 1.55 4.1
1991 1.66 4.57
1990 1.82 4.93
1989 1.9 5.17
1988 1.97 5.43
1987 1.96 5.72
1986 2.02 6.01
1985 1.97 6.24
1984 2.01 6.43
1983 2.01 6.53
1982 2.01 6.59
1981 2 6.62
1980 2.05 6.63
1979 2.16 6.55
1978 2.15 6.34
1977 2.21 6.18
1976 2.24 6.07
1975 2.23 5.95
1974 2.29 5.97
1973 2.15 6.06
1972 2.03 6.26
1971 2.1 6.55
1970 2.17 6.8
1969 2.27 7.01
1968 2.27 7.12
1967 2.02 7.19
1966 2.03 7.21
1965 2.09 7.22
1964 2.19 7.24
1963 2.21 7.32
1962 2.24 7.4
1961 2.29 7.46
1960 2.31 7.52

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bulgaria/iran | CC BY

Bulgaria and Iran demographics compared

Median age
Bulgaria

Iran
1x
Year Median age, years
Bulgaria Iran
2024 45.5 34.3
2023 45.3 33.8
2022 45.2 33.3
2021 45 32.8
2020 44.9 32.3
2019 44.6 31.7
2018 44.3 31.2
2017 44.1 30.7
2016 43.8 30.2
2015 43.6 29.7
2014 43.3 29.2
2013 43 28.7
2012 42.8 28.2
2011 42.5 27.7
2010 42.3 27.2
2009 42 26.6
2008 41.7 26.1
2007 41.5 25.5
2006 41.3 24.8
2005 41.1 24.3
2004 40.8 23.7
2003 40.6 23.1
2002 40.3 22.6
2001 40 22
2000 39.7 21.4
1999 39.4 20.7
1998 39.1 20
1997 38.9 19.5
1996 38.6 19.1
1995 38.3 18.7
1994 38 18.4
1993 37.7 18.3
1992 37.4 18.4
1991 37 18.3
1990 36.6 18.2
1989 36.2 18.1
1988 35.9 18.2
1987 35.8 18.2
1986 35.6 18.2
1985 35.3 18.3
1984 35 18.4
1983 34.8 18.5
1982 34.6 18.6
1981 34.4 18.4
1980 34.2 18.2
1979 34.1 18.3
1978 34 18.3
1977 33.9 18.3
1976 33.8 18.2
1975 33.7 18.1
1974 33.6 18
1973 33.6 17.9
1972 33.5 17.8
1971 33.3 17.7
1970 33.2 17.6
1969 33 17.6
1968 32.8 17.6
1967 32.6 17.7
1966 32.3 17.7
1965 32 17.8
1964 31.6 17.9
1963 31.3 18.1
1962 31 18.4
1961 30.7 18.7
1960 30.4 19.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/bulgaria/iran | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Bulgaria and Iran.

1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x
1x

National statistics comparison

Finance

Bulgaria Iran
GNI, Atlas method
$99B
2024
$469B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.7%
2024
14.2%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.5%
2022
2.82%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.15%
2024
2.01%
2024
Armed forces personnel
37,000
2020
650,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.04%
2024
-3.83%
2024
Unemployment rate
4.17%
2024
7.63%
2024
Services, % of GDP
63.8%
2024
49.8%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
21.1%
2024
36.1%
2024
Economic freedom index
68.9
2026
41.8
2026
Income share by richest 10%
31.1%
2023
28.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.1%
2023
2.8%
2023
Number of billionaires
2
2025
n/a
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
n/a
Listed domestic companies
204
2024
594
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$8.41B
2024
$172B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$43.7B
2024
$7.69B
1982
Personal remittances received
$2.64B
2024
$1.03B
2004
International tourist arrivals
4,973,000
2020
1,550,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
4.49%
2020
2.28%
2000
Banked people share
84.7%
2024
91.1%
2024

Energy

Bulgaria Iran
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,604 kg
2023
3,266 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$14.9
2023
$5.37
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
34.2 megatons
2024
829 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
5.31 tons
2024
9.05 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
68.8%
2022
98.8%
2022
Renewable energy use share
20.4%
2021
0.9%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
29.8%
2023
1.14%
2022
Net energy imports use share
40.9%
2023
-32.5%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
5,361 kWh
2023
3,664 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
22.2%
2021
4.24%
2021
Hydroelectric share
7.78%
2023
3.43%
2022
Nuclear share
40.2%
2023
2.2%
2022
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Bulgaria Iran
% of world population
0.08%
2024
1.13%
2024
Annual migration change
-2,961
2025
+116,786
2025
Urban population
73.9%
2024
77%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.4:51.6
2024
50.8:49.2
2024
Average male height
5.72 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.4 ft
2025
5.29 ft
2025
Quality of life index
69.5
2026
40.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
40
2025
23
2025
Higher education index
69
2026
78
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.09
2023
2.42
2014
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
9.2
2019
21.5
2019
Visa free countries
170
2025
52
2025
Adult literacy rate
98.4%
2021
88.9%
2023
English speaking
24.9%
2023
12%
2025
People using the Internet
82.4%
2024
79.6%
2023

Health

Bulgaria Iran
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,258
2023
$267.1
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$447
2023
$115.2
2023
Life expectancy
76.1 years
2026
78.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.52%
2023
0.71%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.33
2022
1.81
2023
Age at first childbirth
26.9 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
6
2023
16
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6.1
2023
11.8
2023
Obesity rate
21.2%
2022
25.1%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
7.4%
2024
9%
2024
Air quality index
60
2026
27
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
39.5%
2022
13.3%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
11.6 liters
2020
0.51 liters
2020

Territory

Bulgaria Iran
% of world land
0.07%
2026
1.09%
2026
Land area per capita
6,507 sq mi
2024
6,841 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
19,317 sq mi
2026
181,727 sq mi
2026
Forest area
15,182 sq mi
2026
41,654 sq mi
2026
Roads length
12,124 mi
2023
138,867 mi
2018

In-depth comparisons

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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.