If you lived in Albania instead of Bulgaria, you would:

Health

live 4.0 years longer

In Bulgaria, the average life expectancy is 76 years (72 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024. In Albania, that number is 80 years (78 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 71.1% less likely to die by suicide

Bulgaria has a suicide rate of 9.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Albania, it is 2.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 18.7% more likely to be obese

In Bulgaria, 20.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Albania, that number is 24.1% of people as of 2024.

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see 50.7% less spent on your healthcare

Bulgaria spends $2,970 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Albania spends $1,465 as of 2023.

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have 56.6% fewer doctors per person

Bulgaria has 43.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Albania has 18.8 as of 2020.

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have 12.3% less access to essential health services

Bulgaria scores 73 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Albania scores 64 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 3.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In Bulgaria, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Albania, that number is 10.9% as of 2025.

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make 36.1% less money

Bulgaria has a GDP per capita of $20,328 as of 2025, while in Albania, the GDP per capita is $12,998 as of 2025.

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Life

have 22.0% more children

In Bulgaria, there are approximately 8.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Albania, there are 10.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 16.7% more likely to die during childbirth

In Bulgaria, approximately 6.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Albania, 7.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 80.4% more likely to die during infancy

In Bulgaria, approximately 4.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Albania, on the other hand, 8.3 children do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 31.3% less on education

Bulgaria spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Albania spends 3.1% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 11.0% less on healthcare

Bulgaria spends 7.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Albania, that number is 7.0% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 27.5% more likely to be murdered

Bulgaria has a homicide rate of 1.1 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Albania, that number is 1.4 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 28.6% more likely to die in a road accident

In Bulgaria, road accidents kill 8.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Albania, they kill 10.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 88.1% less strain on fresh water

Bulgaria withdraws 40% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Albania withdraws 5% as of 2022.

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find 32.8% less home broadband

Bulgaria has 37.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Albania has 24.9 as of 2024.

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use 46.1% less electricity

Bulgaria uses 5,360 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Albania uses 2,892 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 66.3% less CO2

Bulgaria emits 5.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Albania emits 1.8 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Albania: At a glance

Albania is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 27,398 sq km. Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but was conquered by Italy in 1939, and occupied by Germany in 1943. Communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (to 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997; however, each of Albania's post-communist elections have been marred by claims of electoral fraud. The 2009 general elections resulted in a coalition government, the first such in the country's history. In 2013, general elections achieved a peaceful transition of power and a second successive coalition government. Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and is a potential candidate for EU accession. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, it has slowed, and the country is still one of the poorest in Europe. A large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure remain obstacles.
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How big is Albania compared to Bulgaria? See an in-depth size comparison.

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