Civil liberties rating in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Civil liberties rating was 2 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
121st
of 199 countries
All-time high
7
in 1972
All-time low
2
in 1993
Years of data
53
1972–2025
Civil liberties rating in Bulgaria, 1972–2025
Source: Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, civil liberties rating in Bulgaria stood at 2. That is the lowest value across all 53 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, civil liberties rating in Bulgaria peaked at 7 in 1972 and was at its lowest, 2, in 1993.
Bulgaria ranks 121st of 199 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Civil liberties rating in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 7 | — |
| 1973 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 4 | -42.9% |
| 1991 | 3 | -25.0% |
| 1992 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 1994 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 3 | +50.0% |
| 1997 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 3 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2 | -33.3% |
| 2003 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2 | +0.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 2 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1, 2.0× the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 2 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| 1980s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
| 1990s | 2.8 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.2 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 121 Antigua and Barbuda 2 compare
- 121 Argentina 2 compare
- 121 Bahamas 2 compare
- 121 Botswana 2 compare
- 121 Croatia 2 compare
- 121 Cyprus 2 compare
- 121 Fiji 2 compare
- 121 France 2 compare
- 121 Ghana 2 compare
- 121 Greece 2 compare
- 121 Grenada 2 compare
- 121 Guyana 2 compare
- 121 Italy 2 compare
- 121 Jamaica 2 compare
- 121 Latvia 2 compare
- 121 Lithuania 2 compare
- 121 Mauritius 2 compare
- 121 Mongolia 2 compare
- 121 Namibia 2 compare
- 121 Panama 2 compare
- 121 Poland 2 compare
- 121 Romania 2 compare
- 121 Samoa 2 compare
- 121 Sao Tome and Principe 2 compare
- 121 Seychelles 2 compare
- 121 Solomon Islands 2 compare
- 121 South Africa 2 compare
- 121 South Korea 2 compare
- 121 Suriname 2 compare
- 121 Tonga 2 compare
- 121 Trinidad and Tobago 2 compare
- 121 United States 2 compare
- 121 Vanuatu 2 compare
More reference data data for Bulgaria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3067 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2728 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2506 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.36 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is civil liberties rating in Bulgaria?
- Civil liberties rating in Bulgaria was 2 in 2025, according to Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest civil liberties rating recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 1972.
- What is the lowest civil liberties rating recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 in 1993.
- How does Bulgaria rank for civil liberties rating?
- Bulgaria ranks 121st out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is civil liberties rating rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Freedom House (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Civil liberties rating. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Identifies the extent of freedom of expression and association, the rule of law, and personal autonomy. Lower ratings indicate more liberties.