Bulgaria
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Republic of Bulgaria.
CIA 2026
Identity
Name origin: named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D.
CIA 2026
Matchup file
Bulgaria vs North Macedonia
121 shared metrics.
Turn the comparison into a round
Think you can spot the next winner?
Bulgaria leads by 41 metrics. Use the same instinct in a quick real-data brawl.
Country briefing
What matters for both sides
Short real-world notes so the comparison reads like more than a stat strip.
North Macedonia
Quick notes before you compare the numbers.
Identity
Formal name: Republic of North Macedonia.
CIA 2026
Identity
Name origin: the name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.), whose name origin is unclear.
CIA 2026
Analysis
Bulgaria leads in 81 of 121 shared metrics, while North Macedonia leads in 40.
Bulgaria's Tourist Arrivals is 41.1x that of North Macedonia (4.97M vs 118.0K).
Bulgaria's Scientific Publications is 8.0x that of North Macedonia (4.8K vs 532.17).
Bulgaria's Airports is 7.4x that of North Macedonia (109 vs 13).
Bulgaria's EV Chargers per 100,000 People is 7.0x that of North Macedonia (11.16 per 100k people vs 1.4 per 100k people).
Bulgaria's Tourism Revenue is 6.1x that of North Macedonia ($1,792,000,000 vs $253,000,000).
Key Comparisons
Tourist ArrivalsBulgaria leads
Bulgaria
4.97M
North Macedonia
118.0K
Scientific PublicationsBulgaria leads
Bulgaria
4.8K
North Macedonia
532.17
AirportsBulgaria leads
Bulgaria
109
North Macedonia
13
EV Chargers per 100,000 PeopleBulgaria leads
Bulgaria
11.16 per 100k people
North Macedonia
1.4 per 100k people
Tourism RevenueBulgaria leads
Bulgaria
$1,792,000,000
North Macedonia
$253,000,000
GDP (Nominal)Bulgaria leads
Bulgaria
$113,343,355,779.99
North Macedonia
$16,951,682,245.42
All Metrics
Tourist Arrivals
BulgariaBulgaria
4.97M
North Macedonia
118.0K
4114% higher
Scientific Publications
BulgariaBulgaria
4.8K
North Macedonia
532.17
799% higher
Airports
BulgariaBulgaria
109
North Macedonia
13
738% higher
EV Chargers per 100,000 People
BulgariaBulgaria
11.16 per 100k people
North Macedonia
1.4 per 100k people
696% higher
Tourism Revenue
BulgariaBulgaria
$1,792,000,000
North Macedonia
$253,000,000
608% higher
GDP (Nominal)
BulgariaBulgaria
$113,343,355,779.99
North Macedonia
$16,951,682,245.42
569% higher
Spirits Consumption
BulgariaBulgaria
4.8 L/person/yr
North Macedonia
0.73 L/person/yr
554% higher
Electricity Generation
BulgariaBulgaria
37.13 TWh
North Macedonia
5.8 TWh
540% higher
Railway Network
BulgariaBulgaria
4.0K km
North Macedonia
683 km
490% higher
Railway Length
BulgariaBulgaria
4.0K km
North Macedonia
699 km
476% higher
Electric Generating Capacity
BulgariaBulgaria
12.94M kW
North Macedonia
2.47M kW
424% higher
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
BulgariaBulgaria
10 sites
North Macedonia
2.0 sites
400% higher
Total CO2 Emissions
BulgariaBulgaria
34.19 Mt CO2e
North Macedonia
7.3 Mt CO2e
369% higher
Land Area
BulgariaBulgaria
108.6K km²
North Macedonia
25.2K km²
330% higher
Domestic Patents
BulgariaBulgaria
165
North Macedonia
42
293% higher
Forest Area
BulgariaBulgaria
39.3K km²
North Macedonia
10.0K km²
293% higher
Population
BulgariaBulgaria
6.74M
North Macedonia
2.14M
215% higher
Teen Birth Rate
BulgariaBulgaria
39.1 per 1k
North Macedonia
12.96 per 1k
202% higher
Researchers
BulgariaBulgaria
2.6K per 1M
North Macedonia
922.47 per 1M
177% higher
Alcohol Consumption
BulgariaBulgaria
11.62 L/adult/yr
North Macedonia
4.4 L/adult/yr
167% higher
Vehicles per 1,000 People
BulgariaBulgaria
584.81 per 1k people
North Macedonia
231.62 per 1k people
152% higher
Water Withdrawal
BulgariaBulgaria
5.4 B m³
North Macedonia
2.2 B m³
151% higher
Armed Forces Personnel
BulgariaBulgaria
37.0K
North Macedonia
16.0K
131% higher
Capital Elevation
BulgariaBulgaria
560 m
North Macedonia
251 m
123% higher
Beer Consumption
BulgariaBulgaria
4.4 L/person/yr
North Macedonia
2.0 L/person/yr
121% higher
Land Border Length
BulgariaBulgaria
1.8K km
North Macedonia
838 km
116% higher
High-Tech Exports (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
13.43%
North Macedonia
6.4%
111% higher
Firms Making Informal Payments
North MacedoniaBulgaria
0.72% of firms
North Macedonia
18.39% of firms
96% lower
R&D Spending (% GDP)
BulgariaBulgaria
0.75% of GDP
North Macedonia
0.40% of GDP
91% higher
Firms Asked for Bribes
North MacedoniaBulgaria
0.92% of firms
North Macedonia
9.6% of firms
90% lower
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
BulgariaBulgaria
7.8 per 1k
North Macedonia
4.2 per 1k
86% higher
Child Mortality
BulgariaBulgaria
6.1 per 1k births
North Macedonia
3.3 per 1k births
85% higher
GNI Per Capita
BulgariaBulgaria
$15,370
North Macedonia
$8,300
85% higher
Energy Use (Per Capita)
BulgariaBulgaria
2.6K kg oil eq/person
North Macedonia
1.5K kg oil eq/person
80% higher
Health Spending Per Capita
BulgariaBulgaria
$1,011.09
North Macedonia
$561.69
80% higher
Infant Mortality
BulgariaBulgaria
5.0 per 1k births
North Macedonia
2.8 per 1k births
79% higher
Unemployment Rate
North MacedoniaBulgaria
4.1%
North Macedonia
13.42%
69% lower
Nobel Laureates Born per Million People
North MacedoniaBulgaria
0.15 per 1M people
North Macedonia
0.47 per 1M people
68% lower
Suicide Rate
BulgariaBulgaria
9.5 per 100k
North Macedonia
5.8 per 100k
65% higher
Youth Unemployment Rate
North MacedoniaBulgaria
10.15% of youth labor force
North Macedonia
28.75% of youth labor force
65% lower
Informal Employment Share
North MacedoniaBulgaria
4.1% of employed people
North Macedonia
11.96% of employed people
65% lower
Electricity Use (Per Capita)
BulgariaBulgaria
5.4K kWh/person
North Macedonia
3.3K kWh/person
61% higher
Meat Consumption per Person
BulgariaBulgaria
58.32 kg/person/yr
North Macedonia
36.62 kg/person/yr
59% higher
Protected Land (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
44.3%
North Macedonia
28.2%
57% higher
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
BulgariaBulgaria
$41,519.54
North Macedonia
$26,536.05
56% higher
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
3.1% of GDP
North Macedonia
6.2% of GDP
51% lower
Credit Card Ownership
North MacedoniaBulgaria
12.59% of adults
North Macedonia
25.95% of adults
51% lower
Official Languages Count
North MacedoniaBulgaria
1.0
North Macedonia
2.0
50% lower
Women in Parliament (%)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
20.83%
North Macedonia
39.17%
47% lower
Doctors (per 1,000)
BulgariaBulgaria
4.3 per 1k
North Macedonia
2.9 per 1k
47% higher
Death Rate
BulgariaBulgaria
14.18 per 1k
North Macedonia
9.6 per 1k
47% higher
Road Traffic Death Rate
BulgariaBulgaria
8.4 per 100k
North Macedonia
5.7 per 100k
47% higher
University Enrollment Rate
BulgariaBulgaria
79.85%
North Macedonia
55.01%
45% higher
Firms with Female Top Manager
BulgariaBulgaria
23.5% of firms
North Macedonia
16.43% of firms
43% higher
ATMs per 100,000 Adults
BulgariaBulgaria
92.7 per 100k
North Macedonia
67.15 per 100k
38% higher
Electricity Carbon Intensity
North MacedoniaBulgaria
275.55 gCO2/kWh
North Macedonia
441.35 gCO2/kWh
38% lower
Water Stress (%)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
25.92%
North Macedonia
40.21%
36% lower
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
17.15 µg/m³
North Macedonia
26.12 µg/m³
34% lower
Liberal Democracy Index
BulgariaBulgaria
0.50
North Macedonia
0.37
33% higher
Inflation Rate
North MacedoniaBulgaria
2.4%
North Macedonia
3.5%
31% lower
Homicide Rate
North MacedoniaBulgaria
1.1 per 100k
North Macedonia
1.5 per 100k
29% lower
CO2 Per Capita
BulgariaBulgaria
4.7 t/person/yr
North Macedonia
3.6 t/person/yr
29% higher
Imports (% GDP)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
53.86% of GDP
North Macedonia
74.65% of GDP
28% lower
Coal Electricity Share
North MacedoniaBulgaria
22.52%
North Macedonia
30.65%
27% lower
Border Neighbors
BulgariaBulgaria
5.0
North Macedonia
4.0
25% higher
Solar Electricity Share
North MacedoniaBulgaria
18.15%
North Macedonia
23.75%
24% lower
Food Waste per Person
North MacedoniaBulgaria
95 kg/person/yr
North Macedonia
124.83 kg/person/yr
24% lower
Broadband Access (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
36 per 100 people
North Macedonia
29.18 per 100 people
23% higher
Government Debt (% GDP)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
30.1% of GDP
North Macedonia
39.3% of GDP
23% lower
Birth Rate
North MacedoniaBulgaria
7.9 per 1k
North Macedonia
10.07 per 1k
22% lower
Elderly Population (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
22.03%
North Macedonia
18.02%
22% higher
Obesity Rate
North MacedoniaBulgaria
24.25%
North Macedonia
30.65%
21% lower
Seafood Consumption per Person
BulgariaBulgaria
7.3 kg/person/yr
North Macedonia
6.1 kg/person/yr
20% higher
Insufficient Physical Activity
BulgariaBulgaria
30.99% of adults
North Macedonia
25.8% of adults
20% higher
Wind Electricity Share
BulgariaBulgaria
3.5%
North Macedonia
2.9%
19% higher
Safe Drinking Water (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
96.21%
North Macedonia
80.79%
19% higher
Population Density
North MacedoniaBulgaria
59.38 /km²
North Macedonia
72.47 /km²
18% lower
Urban Population (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
73.95%
North Macedonia
62.56%
18% higher
Tax Revenue (% GDP)
BulgariaBulgaria
20.51% of GDP
North Macedonia
17.76% of GDP
16% higher
Political Corruption Index
North MacedoniaBulgaria
0.64
North Macedonia
0.75
15% lower
Youth Population (%)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
14.47%
North Macedonia
16.82%
14% lower
Freedom of Expression Index
BulgariaBulgaria
0.75
North Macedonia
0.66
14% higher
Sanitation Access (%)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
86.08%
North Macedonia
99%
13% lower
GDP Growth Rate
BulgariaBulgaria
3.4%
North Macedonia
3.0%
13% higher
Women's Political Empowerment
BulgariaBulgaria
0.91
North Macedonia
0.82
10% higher
Median Age
BulgariaBulgaria
44.3 years
North Macedonia
40.3 years
10% higher
Irrigated Land
BulgariaBulgaria
929 km²
North Macedonia
844 km²
10% higher
Forest Coverage (%)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
36.22%
North Macedonia
39.71%
9% lower
Mobile Subscriptions (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
118 per 100 people
North Macedonia
108 per 100 people
9% higher
Exports (% GDP)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
56.37% of GDP
North Macedonia
61.68% of GDP
9% lower
Firms Hit by Power Outages
BulgariaBulgaria
20.19% of firms
North Macedonia
18.66% of firms
8% higher
Dependency Ratio
BulgariaBulgaria
57.49% of working-age pop.
North Macedonia
53.49% of working-age pop.
7% higher
Agricultural Land (%)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
46.09%
North Macedonia
49.6%
7% lower
Electoral Democracy Index
BulgariaBulgaria
0.60
North Macedonia
0.56
7% higher
Women in Senior Management
BulgariaBulgaria
39.13% of managers
North Macedonia
36.44% of managers
7% higher
Can Raise Emergency Money
North MacedoniaBulgaria
87.88% of adults
North Macedonia
94.02% of adults
7% lower
Highest Elevation
BulgariaBulgaria
2.9K m
North Macedonia
2.8K m
6% higher
Renewable Energy (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
20.4%
North Macedonia
19.5%
5% higher
Internet Users (%)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
82.44%
North Macedonia
87%
5% lower
Skilled Birth Attendance (%)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
94.5%
North Macedonia
100%
5% lower
Human Development Index
BulgariaBulgaria
0.84
North Macedonia
0.81
4% higher
Nurses & Midwives
North MacedoniaBulgaria
4.7 per 1k
North Macedonia
4.8 per 1k
4% lower
Digital Payments Used
BulgariaBulgaria
77.6% of adults
North Macedonia
75.19% of adults
3% higher
Tobacco Use Prevalence
North MacedoniaBulgaria
38.7% of adults
North Macedonia
39.6% of adults
2% lower
Average Weekly Work Hours
North MacedoniaBulgaria
38.6 hrs/week
North Macedonia
39.39 hrs/week
2% lower
Military Spending
BulgariaBulgaria
2.1% of GDP
North Macedonia
2.1% of GDP
2% higher
Renewable Energy (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
16.42%
North Macedonia
16.04%
2% higher
Milk Consumption per Person
North MacedoniaBulgaria
155.71 kg/person/yr
North Macedonia
157.93 kg/person/yr
1% lower
Life Expectancy
BulgariaBulgaria
75.7 years
North Macedonia
75.3 years
1% higher
Fertility Rate
North MacedoniaBulgaria
1.5 children/woman
North Macedonia
1.5 children/woman
1% lower
Health Spending (% GDP)
BulgariaBulgaria
7.7% of GDP
North Macedonia
7.6% of GDP
1% higher
Corruption Perceptions Index
BulgariaBulgaria
40 pts
North Macedonia
40 pts
equal
Time Zones Count
BulgariaBulgaria
1.0 time zones
North Macedonia
1.0 time zones
equal
Minimum Paid Vacation Days
BulgariaBulgaria
20 days/yr
North Macedonia
20 days/yr
equal
Coastline Length
BulgariaBulgaria
354 km
North Macedonia
0 km
ranked higher
Hypertension Prevalence
BulgariaBulgaria
45.2% of adults
North Macedonia
45.2% of adults
equal
Electricity Access (%)
BulgariaBulgaria
100%
North Macedonia
100%
equal
Life Evaluation Score
North MacedoniaBulgaria
5.7 pts
North Macedonia
5.7 pts
equal
Lowest Elevation
North MacedoniaBulgaria
0 m
North Macedonia
50 m
ranked lower
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
North MacedoniaBulgaria
-5.9% of GDP
North Macedonia
-4.4% of GDP
ranked lower
McDonald's Outlets per Million People
BulgariaBulgaria
5.3 per 1M people
North Macedonia
0 per 1M people
ranked higher
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