Human Development Index in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Human Development Index was 0.845 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Human Development Index in Bulgaria, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for human development index in Bulgaria is 0.845, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 3.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human development index in Bulgaria peaked at 0.845 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.706, in 1990.
Bulgaria ranks 55th of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Human Development Index in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.706 | — |
| 1991 | 0.706 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.709 | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 0.711 | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 0.713 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 0.709 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 0.718 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 0.713 | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 0.723 | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 0.728 | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 0.733 | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 0.742 | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 0.753 | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 0.762 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 0.769 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 0.775 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 0.779 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 0.785 | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 0.791 | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 0.793 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 0.799 | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 0.803 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 0.807 | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 0.815 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 0.819 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 0.824 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 0.827 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 0.829 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 0.832 | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 0.835 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 0.826 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 0.817 | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 0.835 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 0.845 | +1.2% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 0.845 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.913, 93% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 0.845 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.895, 94% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7136 | 0.706 | 0.728 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7682 | 0.733 | 0.793 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.819 | 0.799 | 0.835 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.8307 | 0.817 | 0.845 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 52 Kuwait 0.852 compare
- 53 Antigua and Barbuda 0.851 compare
- 54 Seychelles 0.848 compare
- 55 Romania 0.845 compare
- 57 Georgia 0.844 compare
- 58 Saint Kitts and Nevis 0.84 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 human development index in Bulgaria?
- Human development index in Bulgaria was 0.845 in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest human development index recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 0.845 in 2023.
- What is the lowest human development index recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.706 in 1990.
- How does Bulgaria rank for human development index?
- Bulgaria ranks 55th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is human development index rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Human Development Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, a good education, and a decent standard of living. Higher values indicate higher human development.