Bulgaria now Europe's 6th poorest country with GDP per capita at 12.77 euro (2024)

Political conflicts, wars, high unemployment

Whether it is Luxembourg, Switzerland or Norway, the focus is often on the wealth of European countries. But there are always two sides to the coin. Because people in Europe are also struggling to survive. A brief overview of the poorest countries in Europe, measured as gross domestic product per capita converted into euros.

The first is Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is the poorest country in Europe. The unemployment rate alone is 40 per cent. It is the third-highest level in the world after Djibouti and Congo. This puts Bosnia and Herzegovina far below the level of its poor neighbours. GDP per capita is 7.46 euros.

Albania follows. Over the last two decades, poverty in Albania has decreased significantly. However, about one-seventh of Albanians are still considered poor. More than five per cent of the population is malnourished, and about eleven per cent of children under the age of five suffer from growth retardation. Infrastructure is the biggest problem in the country. Therefore, Albania is very unattractive to foreign investors. GDP per capita is 8.50 euros.

The "bronze" medal is for RN Macedonia. It is the third poorest country in Europe. The Balkans continue to be considered the most volatile region in Europe. More than two-thirds of the population of the former Yugoslav republic live in rural areas. GDP per capita is 9.20 euros.

Serbia is fourth. In the last 30 years, the people of Serbia have experienced a huge political conflict: the break-up of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the wars that accompanied it, and the international isolation from the community of states. Poverty continues to be a pressing social problem in Serbia. According to the World Bank, about 25 per cent of the population lives below the national poverty line. High levels of corruption and poor infrastructure are a serious burden on the country. More than 1.3 million people are struggling to survive. GDP per capita is 9.92 euros.

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Montenegro is in fifth place. Compared to other European countries, Montenegro is extremely small and can easily be ignored, but poverty is staggering. Unemployment is twice the EU average. Most of the income comes from the services sector. GDP per capita is 10.13 euros.

The sixth place is for Bulgaria. It is one of the poorest countries in Europe. 65 per cent of the population is currently unable or barely able to cover their living expenses. This is due to the high level of indebtedness of state-owned companies in the energy sector and hospitals, poor infrastructure and the threat of population decline. GDP per capita is 12.77 euros.

Seventh is Belarus, which is also still hit hard by the economic crisis. In recent years, the situation has improved very little. More than a quarter of Belarus' population still lives below the poverty line. This mainly affects children - they are the biggest victims of this problem. Roma children and those living in remote rural areas are most affected by poverty. GDP per capita is 13.42 euros.

After the wars in Yugoslavia, Croatia struggled with the gap between rich and poor, as poverty was particularly prevalent in former military zones. The economy has been recovering somewhat for only a few years. Tourism and the processing industry have contributed to the development. GDP per capita is 15.73 euros.

In ninth place is Russia, where the gap between rich and poor is large: some cannot get enough, others are fighting for their lives. Poverty does not correspond to the great power that Russia should be under Putin. But it still exists, especially in the villages. GDP per capita is 15.81 euros.

In 10th place is Romania, which suffers from extreme poverty. Almost half of the population lives in poor conditions. Many homes are full of orphans, abandoned children and children with disabilities whose parents are unable to care for them. GDP per capita is 16 euros.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Bulgaria now Europe's 6th poorest country with GDP per capita at 12.77 euro (2024)

FAQs

Bulgaria now Europe's 6th poorest country with GDP per capita at 12.77 euro? ›

Ukraine is the poorest country in Europe, with a GNI per capita of $3,500, while Moldova is the second poorest country with $4,600, Albania the third, with $5.200, the Republic of Macedonia comes fourth, with a GNI of $5,700, and Bosnia and Herzegovina the fifth poorest, with $6,100.

What is the number 1 poorest country in Europe? ›

Ukraine is the poorest country in Europe, with a GNI per capita of $3,500, while Moldova is the second poorest country with $4,600, Albania the third, with $5.200, the Republic of Macedonia comes fourth, with a GNI of $5,700, and Bosnia and Herzegovina the fifth poorest, with $6,100.

Why is Bulgaria's GDP so low? ›

In real terms, the economy contracted by 5.5 percent in 2009 primarily due to a decline in foreign direct investment and international trade. Since then, growth has not returned to previous levels, with 2011 figures showing GDP growth to be 1.7 percent.

Is Bulgaria a rich or poor country? ›

Bulgaria is a member of the United Nations and is one of the newest members of the European Union. It is a member of other major organizations, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO. The World Bank classifies Bulgaria as an upper-middle income nation.

What is the poorest country in terms of GDP per capita? ›

Here are the countries with the lowest per capita GDP, all below the global average. Burundi, with a population of nearly 13 million people, is one of the smallest countries in Africa by physical size. The country has the lowest per capita GDP at $308.

What are the 5 poorest countries in order? ›

In the world, the poorest countries are mostly located in Africa and Asia, with Burundi being the poorest country followed by Somalia, Mozambique, Central African Republic, and Madagascar.

Is there a lot of poverty in Bulgaria? ›

Following the European Union standard, the national poverty line in Bulgaria is set at 60 percent of equivalized median disposable income after social transfers.

What is Bulgaria's main source of income? ›

The strongest sectors in the economy are energy, mining, metallurgy, machine building, agriculture and tourism.

What is Bulgaria known for? ›

The country is remarkable for its variety of scenery; its rugged mountains and relaxing Black Sea resorts attract many visitors. Like other nations of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria claims a mix of Eastern and Western cultures, and the mingling is evident in its cuisine, its architecture, and its religious heritage.

What rank of economy is Bulgaria? ›

Bulgaria's economic freedom score is 69.3, making its economy the 32nd freest in the 2023 Index. Its score has declined by 1.7 points. Bulgaria is ranked 19th out of 44 countries in the Europe region, and its overall score is above the world and regional averages.

Is Bulgaria poorer than Mexico? ›

Bulgaria has a GDP per capita of $22,400 as of 2020, while in Mexico, the GDP per capita is $17,900 as of 2020. In Bulgaria, 23.8% live below the poverty line as of 2019. In Mexico, however, that number is 41.9% as of 2018.

Why is Bulgaria so cheap for property? ›

Reasons why in Bulgaria cheap property, a few: The consequences of the 2008 crisis and the sharp drop in demand, causing prices have fallen by 40%. Lower purchasing power of the population compared to an average level. The socialist heritage of the country.

Are Bulgarians Caucasians? ›

About 55% of the Bulgarian autosomal genetic legacy is Mediterranean, about the half of which resembles the Caucasian, Middle Eastern and to a lesser extent the North African genetics.

Where does the US rank in poverty? ›

Table 1. Extent of Poverty across 26 OECD Countries
CountryOverallPoverty Gap
Mexico16.633.5
Korea17.435.5
25 country average10.729.6
United States17.839.8
23 more rows

Which country has zero poverty? ›

Iceland stands at the top of countries with the lowest poverty rates with a poverty rate of 4.9% in 2021.

What's the poorest city in the world? ›

And these conditions are exemplified by what the UN has identified as the poorest city in the world, Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Liberia was founded in the early 19th century by free African Americans (not by freed slaves, as is often presumed, though many freed slaves followed).

What is the poorest country in the United States? ›

50 counties/parishes with lowest median household income
RankCounty / ParishState
1Buffalo CountySouth Dakota
2Holmes CountyMississippi
3McDowell CountyWest Virginia
4Issaquena CountyMississippi
46 more rows

What is the poorest country in the Americas? ›

1. Haiti. The poorest country in North America, Haiti is experiencing rapid population growth, which is outpacing the country's ability to provide for its current population.

Which is the 10 poorest country? ›

The 10 Poorest Countries in the World (based upon their 2020 GNI per capita in current US$):
  • Mozambique - $460.
  • Madagascar - $480.
  • Sierra Leone - $490.
  • Afghanistan - $500.
  • Central African Republic - $510.
  • Liberia - $530.
  • Niger - $540.
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) - $550.

Why is Bulgaria declining? ›

The National Statistical Institute pointed to the low birth rate, high mortality rate and migration as key factors in Bulgaria's demographic decline.

What is the crisis in Bulgaria? ›

The 2021–2023 Bulgarian political crisis is an unresolved period of instability in Bulgaria, which has seen the country face five elections over two years: April 2021, July 2021, November 2021, October 2022 and April 2023.

Are there homeless people in Bulgaria? ›

According to the independent charity organization “Caritas”, there are hundreds of thousands homeless people in Bulgaria today.

Who is the largest employer in Bulgaria? ›

Companies registered in Bulgaria have 3,211,038 employees, which represents 0.83% of all employees of companies available in the HitHorizons database. The company with the highest number of employees is NATIONAL RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE COMPANY with 10,679 people followed by KAUFLAND BULGARIA EOOD & CO.

What is the quality of life in Bulgaria? ›

In the "Catch-Up Index 2019", Bulgaria occupies 29th place with 36 points. The country performs best in the categories "Economy" - 28th place with 40 points and in "Governance" - also 28th place with 38 points. The worst performance is in the "Quality of Life" category, where this country ranks 30th with 29 points.

What is Bulgaria biggest producer of? ›

Bulgaria is among Europe's largest producers of lead, zinc and copper, and produces around ten percent of the world's hydraulic machinery.

What is Bulgaria's traditional food? ›

Traditional Bulgarian foods

Banitsa – baked pastry made of layered stuffing and phyllo. There are many varieties with different names, with arguably the most famous one being with eggs, sirene, and yogurt. Tutmanik – similar to pita, made with yeast dough and milk, but with white cheese.

What is an unknown fact about Bulgaria? ›

Bulgaria is the oldest country in Europe that hasn't changed its name since it was first established. This happened in 681 AD. Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, was founded 7000 years ago. This makes it the second oldest city in Europe.

Is Bulgaria a communist or Democratic country? ›

Bulgaria has been a parliamentary democracy since 1990. Four parliamentary and two presidential elections have been held since the fall of the communist dictatorship in November 1989, each followed by peaceful and orderly change.

Is Bulgaria a first second or third world country? ›

By the first definition, some examples of second world countries include: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia, and China, among others.

Is Bulgaria a socialist or capitalist country? ›

Government and politics

According to article 1, "The People's Republic of Bulgaria is a socialist state, headed by the working people of the village and the city. The leading force in society and politics is the Bulgarian Communist Party."

Can Americans live in Bulgaria? ›

Americans traveling to Bulgaria don't need to apply for a visa if they're staying for fewer than 90 days. However, if you're planning to move, you'll need a residency permit and a Type D visa. To be considered for a residency permit, you need to apply for a Type D visa first.

Is Bulgaria a friend of USA? ›

Bulgaria continues to participate actively in military missions and to have a close security partnership with the U.S., NATO and the European Union.

Is it safe for Americans to live in Bulgaria? ›

Is Bulgaria safe to live? Bulgaria is not only a safe place to live, but it's a great place to live. There are many reasons to visit Bulgaria: there's a great climate, the cost of living is low, there's rich history, some lovely natural landscapes and a fairly laid back lifestyle.

Can a US citizen buy a house in Bulgaria? ›

Bulgarian law allows foreigners to own property in the country, but, however, there are some restrictions. A foreigner can buy a property in their own name, provided that the property doesn't come with the land it is built on. In most cases, apartments in Bulgaria are sold without land.

How much does an average house cost in Bulgaria? ›

A three-bedroom house tends to be the most popular type of dwelling when it comes to properties available for sale in Bulgaria. The average price of such homes comes to approximately 32,000 euros, and it works out at about 7,000 euro more for an extra bedroom. Meanwhile, the 2-bedroom property costs about 25,000 euros.

Can an American buy real estate Bulgaria? ›

The most important thing to consider is that as a foreigner you cannot buy land in Bulgaria, but you can acquire a house with a plot if you are an EU or EEA citizen. If you are not citizens of these countries, you can access the golden visa scheme that has certain advantages.

How many Bulgarians live in USA? ›

The United States has one of the highest numbers of Bulgarians of any country in the world. As many as 250,000 Bulgarians live in the country.

Can you drink the tap water in Bulgaria? ›

Tap water is safe to drink all over the country but not always pleasant in taste or appearance. Bulgaria's vast supplies of mineral water are widely available in 0.5 litre and 1.5 litre bottles.

What race percentage is Bulgaria? ›

Approximately 85% of the population is Bulgarian, with other major ethnic groups being Turkish (8.8%), Roma (4.9%) and about 40 small minority groups totaling 0.7%.

Which race has the highest poverty rate in the US? ›

While the poverty rate for the population as a whole is 11.6% the rate varies greatly by race. Blacks have the highest poverty rate at 19.5% and Non-Hispanic whites have the lowest at 8.1%.

What is 100% of the US poverty level? ›

48 Contiguous States
# of Persons in Household2023 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 Contiguous States (Annual Income)
100%200%
1$14,580$29,160
2$19,720$39,440
3$24,860$49,720
6 more rows
Jan 16, 2023

What percent of USA lives in poverty line? ›

Official Poverty Measure

The official poverty rate in 2021 was 11.6 percent, with 37.9 million people in poverty.

What country helped the poor the most? ›

Look no further than Denmark. The Nordic nation has been named the country with the most positive influence on people living in poorer nations.

What country is #1 in poverty? ›

According to World Bank, the countries with the highest poverty rates in the world are: South Sudan - 82.30% Equatorial Guinea - 76.80% Madagascar - 70.70%

What is the poverty rate in the US over time? ›

U.S. poverty rate for 2019 was 1.70%, a 0% increase from 2018. U.S. poverty rate for 2018 was 1.70%, a 0.3% decline from 2017. U.S. poverty rate for 2017 was 2.00%, a 0% increase from 2016. U.S. poverty rate for 2016 was 2.00%, a 0.2% decline from 2015.

Which city is the poorest in America? ›

In the United States (in 2017), the place with the lowest median household income was Little River, California (population 117), while the place with the lowest median household income with a population of more than 1,000 was Comerío Zona Urbana in Comerío, Puerto Rico (population 4,312).

What is the poorest white city in the United States? ›

Beattyville, Kentucky - Wikipedia.

What is the poorest zip code in the United States? ›

1. Zip code: 15929 │ East Wheatfield, Pennsylvania.

Which European country has the worst poverty? ›

  1. Ukraine. With a per capita GNI of $3,540, Ukraine is the poorest country in Europe as of 2020. ...
  2. Georgia. Georgia posted a GNI per capita of $4,290 in 2020, lower than any European country except Ukraine. ...
  3. Kosovo. ...
  4. Moldova. ...
  5. Albania. ...
  6. North Macedonia. ...
  7. Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...
  8. Belarus.

What is the 4 richest country in Europe? ›

Norway has a per capita GDP of $88,750 (IMF, 2023), making it the fourth-richest economy in Europe.

Which European economy is the lowest? ›

The smallest economy in this statistic is that of the small Balkan nation of Montenegro, which had a GDP of 4.9 billion Euros.
...
CharacteristicGDP in million euros (at current prices)
Norway407,754.8
12 more rows
Feb 28, 2023

Which European country has highest income? ›

Luxembourg had the highest average annual wage in Europe in 2021, at approximately 75 thousand U.S. dollars, compared with Slovakia, which had an average annual salary of just over 24.7 thousand U.S dollars a year, the lowest among the countries provided in this statistic.

What is the poverty rate in the US? ›

As of January 2021, 37.9 million Americans lived in poverty, accounting for 11.6% of the total population, according to the latest report from the United States Census Bureau. That's despite the fact that America ranks first as the richest nation in the world in terms of GDP.

What continent has the worst poverty? ›

Africa is considered the poorest continent on Earth. Almost every second person living in the states of sub-Saharan Africa lives below the poverty line. Particularly affected by poverty in Africa are the weakest members of society, their children and women.

What's the richest country in America? ›

Top 10 Richest Countries in North America (GNI per capita - in current US$, Atlas method, 2021)
  • United States - $64,530.
  • Canada - $43,530.
  • Bahamas -$27,780.
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis - $17,400.
  • Trinidad and Tobago - $15,410.
  • Barbados - $14,460.
  • Antigua and Barbuda - $14,250.
  • Panama - $11,880.

Is Europe rich than America? ›

Indeed the US is roughly 40% to 50% richer than the EU on a PPP basis. That's partly due to fewer hours worked and partly due to lower productivity.

Who is richest man in the world? ›

Who is the richest man in the world? As of April 1, 2023, the richest man in the world is Bernard Arnault, the CEO and chairman of LVMH of France; he's worth nearly $226 billion. He moved into the number one spot after Elon Musk's fortune fell in late 2022 as shares of electric carmaker Tesla fell.

What are the top 3 economy in Europe? ›

The European Union has the third-largest economy in the world and accounts for one-sixth of global trade, says Visual Capitalist. The GDPs of Germany, France and Italy make up more than half of the EU's entire economic output.

Who has the best economy in the world? ›

United States

What is the GDP of Bulgaria 2023? ›

GDP in Bulgaria is expected to reach 86.58 USD Billion by the end of 2023, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations.

Why are US salaries higher than Europe? ›

In general, wages in the United States tend to be higher than those in Europe, particularly for skilled and high-paying jobs. Part of the reason for this is that the cost of living in the U.S. is usually higher than in Europe. This means that workers need to make more money to keep their standard of living the same.

What is average salary in USA? ›

The average salary in USA per month or year varies widely across industries, jobs, age, experience & education, and geographical locations. According to the latest figures by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average salary in USA per month is $6,228 or $74,738 per year.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Europe? ›

The cost of living is among the biggest draws, and can be as low as $650 for those living on a budget, and scale up from there to $1,000 per month for a middle-class life, and $2,000 for a lot of luxury.

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