Life in Bulgaria: Every Number That Shapes It (1800–2100)
Updated September 2026 · methodology
A child born in Bulgaria in the 2020s can expect to live 79 years on an average income of 38,000 international dollars. (UN WPP / World Bank, compiled by MYRIAD)
To look at the human experience in Bulgaria is to witness a profound shift in the daily rhythms of life. A reality once defined by 64 years of expectancy and 6 years of schooling has evolved into one where citizens anticipate 79 years and 12 years of schooling. This transition represents a fundamental change in how time is spent; annual working hours dropped from 2,200 to 1,550, allowing for new pursuits in a society where electricity at home is now 100 %.
The historical arc of this nation reveals a rapid transformation. In the 1950s, the landscape was largely rural, with 52 % of the population living in cities, a figure that has climbed to 75 % today. Economic indicators mirror this movement, as income per person shifted from 7,000 to 38,000 intl-$. Simultaneously, risks have diminished; child mortality plummeted from 70 to 4.5 per 1,000 births, while extreme poverty fell from 12 % to 0.5 %.
For a child born in Bulgaria in the 2020s, the environment is defined by unprecedented access. With 85 % internet access and an average male height of 180 cm, the physical and digital reach of the individual has expanded. Families are smaller, with children per woman moving from 2.6 to 1.5, while the homicide rate holds steady at 1.2 per 100,000. This child can expect to live 79 years on an average income of 38,000 international dollars.
Explore the data to see your parallel life in Bulgaria.
🇧🇬 Every dimension below links to the full three-century series for Bulgaria — and to the same series for every other country, so you can see exactly where the birth lottery placed its people.
The numbers today vs 1950
| Dimension | 1950s | 2020s | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 64 | 79 years | history → |
| Income per Person (GDP per capita, PPP) | 7,000 | 38,000 intl-$ | history → |
| Child Mortality (under 5) | 70 | 4.5 per 1,000 births | history → |
| Years of Schooling | 6 | 12 years | history → |
| Children per Woman | 2.6 | 1.5 births | history → |
| Living in Cities | 52 | 75 % | history → |
| Internet Access | 0 | 85 % | history → |
| Electricity at Home | 85 | 100 % | history → |
| Homicide Rate | 1.5 | 1.2 per 100,000 | history → |
| Annual Working Hours | 2,200 | 1,550 hours/year | history → |
| Average Male Height | 174 | 180 cm | history → |
| Extreme Poverty | 12 | 0.5 % | history → |
See your parallel life in Bulgaria →
Questions people ask
What is life expectancy in Bulgaria?
79 years in the 2020s (UN WPP / World Bank data compiled by MYRIAD).
Is Bulgaria a good place to be born, statistically?
MYRIAD ranks every country by a composite of longevity, income, child survival, education and safety for each birth decade — enter your details on the homepage to see where Bulgaria lands for your cohort.