Quality of life comparison
If you lived in United States instead of Bulgaria, you would:
Health
live 3.1 years longer
In Bulgaria, the average life expectancy is 76 years (72 years for men, 80 years for women) as of 2024. In United States, that number is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.
see 4.5 times more spent on your healthcare
Bulgaria spends $2,970 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). United States spends $13,473 as of 2023.
have 17.8% more access to essential health services
Bulgaria scores 73 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. United States scores 86 as of 2021.
be 2.0 times more likely to be obese
In Bulgaria, 20.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United States, that number is 41.0% of people as of 2024.
have 14.9% fewer doctors per person
Bulgaria has 43.3 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. United States has 36.8 as of 2022.
be 64.4% more likely to die by suicide
Bulgaria has a suicide rate of 9.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In United States, it is 15.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
make 4.4 times more money
Bulgaria has a GDP per capita of $20,328 as of 2025, while in United States, the GDP per capita is $90,027 as of 2025.
be 18.6% more likely to be unemployed
In Bulgaria, 3.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United States, that number is 4.2% as of 2025.
Life
have 27.7% more children
In Bulgaria, there are approximately 8.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United States, there are 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 2.8 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 United States, 17.0 women do as of 2023.
be 19.6% 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 United States, on the other hand, 5.5 children do as of 2024.
Basic Needs
be 14.9% more likely to have internet access
In Bulgaria, approximately 82.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In United States, about 94.7% do as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 20.4% more on education
Bulgaria spends 4.5% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. United States spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2021.
spend 2.1 times more on healthcare
Bulgaria spends 7.9% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In United States, that number is 16.7% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 56.3 times more coastline
Bulgaria has a total of 354 km of coastline. In United States, that number is 19,924 km.
Safety
be 5.3 times more likely to be murdered
Bulgaria has a homicide rate of 1.1 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In United States, that number is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 26.8% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night
In Bulgaria, 86% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2020. In United States, that number is 63% as of 2021.
be 69.0% more likely to die in a road accident
In Bulgaria, road accidents kill 8.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In United States, they kill 14.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
live with 30.0% less strain on fresh water
Bulgaria withdraws 40% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United States withdraws 28% as of 2022.
use 2.4 times more electricity
Bulgaria uses 5,360 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. United States uses 12,839 kWh as of 2024.
Environment
be 77.8% less likely to die from air pollution
In Bulgaria, air pollution causes 63.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In United States, it causes 14.0 as of 2019.
emit 2.6 times more CO2
Bulgaria emits 5.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United States emits 13.6 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: Bulgaria vs. United States
United States: At a glance
How big is United States compared to Bulgaria? See an in-depth size comparison.