Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in United Kingdom instead of Bulgaria, you would:

Health

live 6.4 years longer

In Bulgaria, the average life expectancy is 76 years (72 years for men, 79 years for women) as of 2022. In United Kingdom, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2022.

be 11.2% more likely to be obese

In Bulgaria, 25.0% of adults are obese as of 2016. In United Kingdom, that number is 27.8% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 76.3% more money

Bulgaria has a GDP per capita of $27,000 as of 2022, while in United Kingdom, the GDP per capita is $47,600 as of 2022.

be 12.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Bulgaria, 4.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In United Kingdom, that number is 3.7% as of 2022.

be 18.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Bulgaria, 22.9% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In United Kingdom, however, that number is 18.6% as of 2017.

pay a 4.5 times higher top tax rate

Bulgaria has a top tax rate of 10.0% as of 2016. In United Kingdom, the top tax rate is 45.0% as of 2016.

Life

be 52.1% less likely to die during infancy

In Bulgaria, approximately 8.0 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In United Kingdom, on the other hand, 3.8 children do as of 2022.

have 36.7% more children

In Bulgaria, there are approximately 7.9 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United Kingdom, there are 10.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 42.9% more likely to die during childbirth

In Bulgaria, approximately 7.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In United Kingdom, 10.0 women do as of 2020.

Basic Needs

be 29.3% more likely to have internet access

In Bulgaria, approximately 75.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In United Kingdom, about 97.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 37.5% more on education

Bulgaria spends 4.0% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. United Kingdom spends 5.5% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 41.2% more on healthcare

Bulgaria spends 8.5% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In United Kingdom, that number is 12.0% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 35.1 times more coastline

Bulgaria has a total of 354 km of coastline. In United Kingdom, that number is 12,429 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, National Revenue Agency, Bulgaria, HM Revenue & Customs.

United Kingdom: At a glance

United Kingdom (sometimes abbreviated UK) is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 241,930 sq km. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith in the 19th century, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two world wars and the Irish Republic's withdrawal from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999. The latter was suspended until May 2007 due to wrangling over the peace process, but devolution was fully completed in March 2010.
Read more

How big is United Kingdom compared to Bulgaria? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about United Kingdom.or Bulgaria It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.