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

Health

be 23.2% less likely to die by suicide

Bulgaria has a suicide rate of 9.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Gabon, it is 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 28.0 times more likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Bulgaria, 0.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 2.8% of people as of 2024.

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live 7.2 years less

In Bulgaria, the average life expectancy is 76 years (72 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 69 years (66 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 11.6% more likely to be obese

In Bulgaria, 20.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 22.7% of people as of 2024.

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see 77.3% less spent on your healthcare

Bulgaria spends $2,970 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Gabon spends $673 as of 2023.

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have 88.0% fewer doctors per person

Bulgaria has 43.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Gabon has 5.2 as of 2022.

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have 32.9% less access to essential health services

Bulgaria scores 73 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Gabon scores 49 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 5.7 times more likely to be unemployed

In Bulgaria, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Gabon, that number is 20.1% as of 2025.

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make 59.4% less money

Bulgaria has a GDP per capita of $20,328 as of 2025, while in Gabon, the GDP per capita is $8,263 as of 2025.

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Life

have 3.3 times more children

In Bulgaria, there are approximately 8.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Gabon, there are 27.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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be 38.8 times 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 Gabon, 233.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 5.6 times 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 Gabon, on the other hand, 25.9 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 16.6% less likely to have internet access

In Bulgaria, approximately 82.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Gabon, about 68.7% do as of 2024.

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be 10.7% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Bulgaria, approximately 99% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 98% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Gabon, that number is 89% of people on average (92% in urban areas, and 49% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 48.4% less on education

Bulgaria spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Gabon spends 2.3% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 60.5% less on healthcare

Bulgaria spends 7.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Gabon, that number is 3.1% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 2.5 times more coastline

Bulgaria has a total of 354 km of coastline. In Gabon, that number is 885 km.

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Safety

be 48.8% more likely to die in a road accident

In Bulgaria, road accidents kill 8.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Gabon, they kill 12.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 98.8% less strain on fresh water

Bulgaria withdraws 40% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Gabon withdraws 0% as of 2022.

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find 87.3% less home broadband

Bulgaria has 37.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Gabon has 4.7 as of 2024.

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use 80.9% less electricity

Bulgaria uses 5,360 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Gabon uses 1,023 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 15.9% less likely to die from air pollution

In Bulgaria, air pollution causes 63.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Gabon, it causes 53.0 as of 2019.

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emit 61.4% less CO2

Bulgaria emits 5.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Gabon emits 2.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Gabon: At a glance

Gabon is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 257,667 sq km. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
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How big is Gabon compared to Bulgaria? See an in-depth size comparison.

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