Photo: Pamporoff · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 14 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Bulgaria: Poverty & Inequality
How is a country’s income shared, and how many live below a line?
Bulgaria is placed joint 82nd of 159 countries on poverty & inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Gini Index 39.47 (2023); Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day 0.42 (2023).
Share
Poverty & Inequality
joint82nd
of 159 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Bulgaria on poverty & inequality — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 3
Gini Index
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Bulgaria’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
39.47
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)
Lower is better
Bulgaria: 39.47. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 23 (India) to 59.07 (Namibia); the world median is 33.72.
- World median
- 33.72
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 23.82 Slovakia
- Land neighbours
- Greece 33.44 · North Macedonia 33.51 · Romania 29.83 · Serbia 32.82 · Türkiye 43.68
Key 2 of 3
Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2013–2023 · Bulgaria’s is from 2023 · CC BY 4.0
0.42
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)
Lower is better
Bulgaria: 0.42. Across the 159 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0 (Czechia) to 48.69 (DR Congo); the world median is 0.345.
- World median
- 0.345
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 0 Czechia and Belarus
- Land neighbours
- Greece 0.23 · North Macedonia 1.5 · Romania 0.25 · Serbia 0.48 · Türkiye 0.04
Key 3 of 3
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
20.7
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%)
Lower is better
Bulgaria: 20.7. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Belarus) to 93.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 26.4.
- World median
- 26.4
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 0.6 Belarus
- Land neighbours
- Greece 22.7 · North Macedonia 15.6 · Romania 20.1 · Serbia 8.5 · Türkiye 4
02Over time
Which way Bulgaria is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Gini Index
Gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) · lower is better
BulgariaWorld median
Bulgaria rose from 28.92 in 2003 to 39.47 in 2023; the world median went from 35.46 to 33.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Bulgaria World median 2023 39.5 33.72 2022 38.2 33.91 2021 39.0 34.04 2020 40.5 34.18 2019 40.3 33.51 2018 41.3 35.25 2017 40.4 34.86 2016 40.6 34.47 2015 38.6 35.52 2014 37.4 34.79 2013 36.6 36.16 2012 36.0 35.40 2011 34.3 33.96 2010 35.7 33.71 2009 33.8 34.91 2008 33.6 34.60 2007 36.1 34.26 2006 35.7 35.63 2005 — 36.28 2004 — 34.29 2003 28.9 35.46 2002 — 37.14 Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day
Poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) · lower is better
BulgariaWorld median
Bulgaria fell from 0.47 in 2003 to 0.42 in 2023; the world median went from 1.65 to 0.345.
Every year’s figures
Year Bulgaria World median 2023 0.42 0.345 2022 0.42 0.420 2021 0.35 0.335 2020 0.18 0.280 2019 0.54 0.380 2018 0.46 0.460 2017 0.73 0.300 2016 1.11 0.440 2015 1.96 0.500 2014 0.88 0.635 2013 1.12 0.515 2012 1.21 0.640 2011 1.39 0.430 2010 1.03 0.530 2009 0.59 0.600 2008 0.66 0.350 2007 0.99 0.360 2006 3.56 0.465 2005 — 1.250 2004 — 0.790 2003 0.47 1.650 2002 — 3.010 Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet
Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) · lower is better
BulgariaWorld median
Bulgaria fell from 51.7 in 2017 to 20.7 in 2025; the world median went from 32.4 to 26.4.
Every year’s figures
Year Bulgaria World median 2025 21 26.40 2024 23 27.10 2023 25 27.15 2022 28 27.90 2021 35 29.65 2020 34 31.80 2019 40 29.05 2018 43 29.85 2017 52 32.40
03In context
Bulgaria beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 159 countries on poverty & inequality, never a place within the region.
Bulgaria and the countries it borders
Standing among all 159; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Gini IndexGini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality) | Poverty Gap at $3.00 a DayPoverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%) | Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietShare of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Romania | =44th | 29.83 | 0.25 | 20.1 |
 Serbia | =49th | 32.82 | 0.48 | 8.5 |
 Greece | 55th | 33.44 | 0.23 | 22.7 |
 Türkiye | 57th | 43.68 | 0.04 | 4 |
 North Macedonia | 69th | 33.51 | 1.5 | 15.6 |
| Bulgaria | =82nd | 39.47 | 0.42 | 20.7 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 159.
Placed either side on poverty & inequality
The countries immediately above and below Bulgaria in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Bulgaria is ahead of the world, and behind
26 more statistics filed under poverty & inequality, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median14
Statistics on which Bulgaria does better than the middle country measured.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.190.25No real change since 2014
Bulgaria: 0.19 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Income Growth of the Poorest 40%World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 1.8416.6311.841▲ Improved since 2014
Bulgaria: 6.631 · world median 1.841 · Annualized growth in real income or consumption per person of the bottom 40% (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -4.185 to 14.51; higher is better.
Exclusion by Socio-Economic GroupV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2023 · world median 0.4130.1340.413▲ Improved since 2013
Bulgaria: 0.134 · world median 0.413 · Exclusion by socio-economic group index (0–1; higher = more exclusion). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.014 to 0.969; lower is better.
Position 141st of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adequacy of Social Protection and Labour BenefitsWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 18.6532.1918.65No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 32.19 · world median 18.65 · Benefits received as a share of beneficiaries' total income or consumption (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.455 to 90.86; higher is better.
Multidimensional Poverty MeasureWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.2521.2544.252No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 1.254 · world median 4.252 · Multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.96; lower is better.
Position 114th of 157 · derived, 1st = worst.
Inequality-adjusted Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.6090.7480.609No real change since 2013
Bulgaria: 0.748 · world median 0.609 · IHDI (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.226 to 0.923; higher is better.
Position 52nd of 169 · derived.
Coefficient of Human InequalityUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 17.0510.9717.05▼ Worsened since 2013
Bulgaria: 10.97 · world median 17.05 · Coefficient of Human Inequality (%). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.865 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 117th of 169 · derived, 1st = worst.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80021,11912,800▲ Improved since 2017
Bulgaria: 21,119 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 55th of 173 · derived.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.910.520.9▲ Improved since 2015
Bulgaria: 10.5 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 89th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Median Daily Income or Consumption per PersonWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 22.7630.1822.76▲ Improved since 2013
Bulgaria: 30.18 · world median 22.76 · Median income or consumption per person, 2021 PPP dollars a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.803 to 89.49; higher is better.
Position 25th of 60 · derived.
Poverty Headcount at $3.00 a Day, Line-up EstimatesWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.112.1No real change since 2014
Bulgaria: 1 · world median 2.1 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP, World Bank line-up estimate (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 89.54; lower is better.
Prosperity GapWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.7541.4031.754▲ Improved since 2013
Bulgaria: 1.403 · world median 1.754 · Average factor incomes must rise by to reach $28 a day. World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.406 to 12.06; lower is better.
Position 35th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $8.30 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.824.377.82▲ Improved since 2013
Bulgaria: 4.37 · world median 7.82 · Population below $8.30 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.07 to 93.58; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Societal Poverty RateWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 17.217.0417.2No real change since 2013
Bulgaria: 17.04 · world median 17.2 · Population below the societal poverty line, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 7 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 31st of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Bulgaria does worse than the middle country measured.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.931.010.93▲ Improved since 2013
Bulgaria: 1.01 · world median 0.93 · Population below $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 54.36; lower is better.
Position 29th of 58 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Headcount Ratio at $4.20 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.341.591.34▲ Improved since 2013
Bulgaria: 1.59 · world median 1.34 · Population below $4.20 a day, 2021 PPP (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 72.3; lower is better.
Position 29th of 59 · derived, 1st = worst.
Poverty Severity (Squared Poverty Gap) at $3.00 a DayWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 0.1850.240.185▲ Improved since 2013
Bulgaria: 0.24 · world median 0.185 · Squared poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (0–100). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 9.74; lower is better.
Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID)Frederick Solt, University of Iowa · 2023 · world median 3337.833▼ Worsened since 2013
Bulgaria: 37.8 · world median 33 · Gini index of disposable household income (0–100), SWIID estimate. Frederick Solt, University of Iowa, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 22.3 to 51.2; lower is better.
Position 24th of 79 · derived, 1st = worst.
Palma RatioWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 1.3321.8031.332▼ Worsened since 2013
Bulgaria: 1.803 · world median 1.332 · Palma ratio (income share of the richest 10% ÷ share of the poorest 40%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.771 to 4.193; lower is better.
Position 17th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gini Index of Monthly EarningsILO · 2024 · world median 0.3370.390.337▼ Worsened since 2014
Bulgaria: 0.39 · world median 0.337 · Gini index of employees’ monthly earnings (0 = all paid the same, 1 = maximum inequality). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.182 to 0.643; lower is better.
Position 20th of 75 · derived, 1st = worst.
Income Share Held by Lowest 20%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 7.125.997.12▼ Worsened since 2013
Bulgaria: 5.99 · world median 7.12 · Share of national income held by the poorest fifth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.24 to 11.07; higher is better.
Position 45th of 60 · derived.
Income Share Held by Richest 10%World Bank Group · 2023 · world median 26.1831.1426.18▼ Worsened since 2013
Bulgaria: 31.14 · world median 26.18 · Share of national income or consumption held by the richest tenth (%). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 18.79 to 43.08; lower is better.
Position 13th of 60 · derived, 1st = worst.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.660.446No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 0.66 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 1st of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end3
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.555.754.55Moved since 2017
Bulgaria: 5.75 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.8812.846.88No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 12.84 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Poverty Headcount at National Poverty LinesWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 21.821.721.8No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 21.7 · world median 21.8 · Population below the national poverty line (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 82.3.
No current reading for Bulgaria
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Low Pay Rate (last 2010), Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion and Working Poverty Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Poverty & Inequality among Bulgaria’s 16 topics
Poverty & Inequality is Bulgaria’s 15th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture25th of 1844/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 27th of 1934/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 26th of 1834/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital39th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour44th of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing55th of 2004/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 59th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation55th of 1764/4 keys
- Digital & Technology64th of 1984/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 67th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy64th of 1653/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade79th of 1774/4 keys
- Peace & Security84th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties96th of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 82nd of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 126th of 1863/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on poverty & inequality
The three countries placed highest of 159, and the leaders Bulgaria can most readily be measured against.
1
BelarusEastern Europe
1st of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
SloveniaSouthern Europe
2nd of 159 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
=3
UkraineEastern Europe
Joint 3rd of 159 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Europe
Belarus1st3/3 keysThis page
Bulgaria=82nd3/3 keys
Positions out of 159 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Bulgaria on poverty & inequality: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Bulgaria rank on poverty & inequality?
Bulgaria is placed joint 82nd of 159 countries on Poverty & Inequality in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Gini Index, Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day and Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Gini Index figure for Bulgaria?
39.47 in 2023 (gini index (0 = perfect equality, 100 = perfect inequality)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 33.72.
What is the latest Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day figure for Bulgaria?
0.42 in 2023 (poverty gap at $3.00 a day, 2021 PPP (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 0.345.
How does Bulgaria compare with Türkiye on poverty & inequality?
Türkiye is placed 57th of 159, and Bulgaria joint 82nd. Gini Index: Türkiye 43.68, Bulgaria 39.47; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day: Türkiye 0.04, Bulgaria 0.42; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet: Türkiye 4, Bulgaria 20.7.
How have Bulgaria’s poverty & inequality figures changed?
Gini Index rose from 28.92 in 2003 to 39.47 in 2023; Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day fell from 0.47 in 2003 to 0.42 in 2023; Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet fell from 51.7 in 2017 to 20.7 in 2025.
Which poverty & inequality statistics are missing for Bulgaria?
No current reading is published for Bulgaria on Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Low Pay Rate, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion and Working Poverty Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
These figures come from household surveys, which most countries run every few years rather than every year. So the subject's standing is read from each country's most recent survey of the last decade, with the year of every reading shown, rather than from one year in which only a minority of countries were surveyed. Two readings decide it — how unequally income is shared and how deep extreme poverty runs — because the other poverty and inequality measures here largely repeat one of those two or repeat average income, which already counts under Economy and Development. Countries with no survey in the last decade have no standing here. What work pays is under Work & Labour; wealth, as opposed to income, has no global source this site is permitted to republish.
How the Poverty & Inequality standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The poverty & inequality method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Gini Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Poverty Gap at $3.00 a Day — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy Diet — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 26 statistics on this page come from 6 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Bulgaria’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Bulgaria (banner) — Pamporoff, Public domain
- Belarus — zedlik , cropped by Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Slovenia — Z.K. derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- Ukraine — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Bulgaria: Poverty & Inequality — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/bulgaria/poverty