Europe
Living in Bulgaria
Photo: Varosha quarter of Veliko Tarnovo · Plamen Agov, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
A Balkan EU country with mountains, Black Sea beaches and some of the lowest living costs in the European Union. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate-2° to 21°CColdest and warmest month averages, Sofia · 2020
Average temperature9.7°CSofia (whole country 11.3°C) · 2020
Price level24%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$2,120Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2025
Income per person$44,500GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment3.5%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides1.1Per 100,000 people a year · 2023
Life expectancy75.8 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air20 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest36%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers74%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenue20.7%Of GDP · 2024
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Bulgarian. Some English, mostly in cities and business.
- Public transport: Moderate: good in the main cities, a car helps elsewhere.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Sofia.
Moving to Bulgaria
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: www.mvr.bg.
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 44,451.1 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 3.54 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 1.09 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 0.25 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 0.13 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 75.76 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 1,257.88 US$ per person | 2023 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | 20.67 % of GDP | 2024 | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 74.17 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 36.35 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 19.68 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.24 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 2,120.3 international $ per person per month | 2025 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 11.3 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 9.7 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | -2.3 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 21.2 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 704 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Sofia are 2001–2020 averages.
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