Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Bulgaria instead of Afghanistan, you would:
Health
live 21.9 years longer
In Afghanistan, the average life expectancy is 54 years (52 years for men, 55 years for women) as of 2022. In Bulgaria, that number is 76 years (72 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022.
be 4.5 times more likely to be obese
In Afghanistan, 5.5% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Bulgaria, that number is 25.0% of people as of 2016.
Economy
make 18.0 times more money
Afghanistan has a GDP per capita of $1,500 as of 2021, while in Bulgaria, the GDP per capita is $27,000 as of 2022.
be 69.7% less likely to be unemployed
In Afghanistan, 14.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Bulgaria, that number is 4.3% as of 2022.
be 58.0% less likely to live below the poverty line
In Afghanistan, 54.5% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Bulgaria, however, that number is 22.9% as of 2021.
pay a 50.0% lower top tax rate
Afghanistan has a top tax rate of 20.0% as of 2016. In Bulgaria, the top tax rate is 10.0% as of 2016.
Life
be 98.9% less likely to die during childbirth
In Afghanistan, approximately 620.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Bulgaria, 7.0 women do as of 2020.
be 2.6 times more likely to be literate
In Afghanistan, the literacy rate is 37.3% as of 2021. In Bulgaria, it is 98.4% as of 2021.
be 92.4% less likely to die during infancy
In Afghanistan, approximately 104.9 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Bulgaria, on the other hand, 8.0 children do as of 2022.
have 76.9% fewer children
In Afghanistan, there are approximately 34.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Bulgaria, there are 7.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 4.2 times more likely to have internet access
In Afghanistan, approximately 18.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. In Bulgaria, about 75.0% do as of 2021.
be 29.4% more likely to have access to improved drinking water
In Afghanistan, approximately 76% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 68% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Bulgaria, that number is 99% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 97% in rural areas) as of 2020.
Expenditures
spend 45.2% less on healthcare
Afghanistan spends 15.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Bulgaria, that number is 8.5% of GDP as of 2020.
spend 37.9% more on education
Afghanistan spends 2.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Bulgaria spends 4.0% of total GDP on education as of 2020.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Afghanistan Revenue Department, National Revenue Agency, Bulgaria.
Bulgaria: At a glance
How big is Bulgaria compared to Afghanistan? See an in-depth size comparison.