Political Polarization Score in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Political Polarization Score was 1.29 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
1.29
Change on year
up 161.8%
World rank
45th
of 174 countries
All-time high
2.1
in 1947
All-time low
-1.97
in 2008
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Political Polarization Score in Bulgaria, 1900–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for political polarization score in Bulgaria is 1.29, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 161.8% on the previous year and up 230.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, political polarization score in Bulgaria peaked at 2.1 in 1947 and was at its lowest, -1.97, in 2008.
That places Bulgaria 45th out of 174 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Political Polarization Score in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | -0.696 | — |
| 1901 | -0.696 | -0.0% |
| 1902 | -0.757 | +8.8% |
| 1903 | -0.854 | +12.8% |
| 1904 | -1.02 | +20.0% |
| 1905 | -1.02 | -0.0% |
| 1906 | -1.02 | -0.0% |
| 1907 | -1.11 | +8.3% |
| 1908 | -1.27 | +14.3% |
| 1909 | -1.27 | -0.0% |
| 1910 | -1.13 | -10.9% |
| 1911 | -1.13 | -0.0% |
| 1912 | -0.832 | -26.4% |
| 1913 | -0.595 | -28.5% |
| 1914 | -0.785 | +31.9% |
| 1915 | -0.355 | -54.8% |
| 1916 | 0.169 | -147.6% |
| 1917 | 0.231 | +36.7% |
| 1918 | 0.289 | +25.1% |
| 1919 | 0.338 | +17.0% |
| 1920 | 0.481 | +42.3% |
| 1921 | 0.37 | -23.1% |
| 1922 | 0.37 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 1.66 | +348.9% |
| 1924 | 1.25 | -24.7% |
| 1925 | 1.25 | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 0.1 | -92.0% |
| 1927 | -0.1 | -200.0% |
| 1928 | -0.1 | -0.0% |
| 1929 | -0.1 | -0.0% |
| 1930 | -0.301 | +201.0% |
| 1931 | -0.301 | -0.0% |
| 1932 | -0.163 | -45.8% |
| 1933 | 0.035 | -121.5% |
| 1934 | 0.497 | +1320.0% |
| 1935 | -0.18 | -136.2% |
| 1936 | -0.18 | -0.0% |
| 1937 | -0.18 | -0.0% |
| 1938 | -0.1 | -44.4% |
| 1939 | -0.012 | -88.0% |
| 1940 | 0.525 | -4475.0% |
| 1941 | 0.757 | +44.2% |
| 1942 | 0.757 | +0.0% |
| 1943 | 0.757 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 1.59 | +109.5% |
| 1945 | 1.65 | +3.8% |
| 1946 | 1.65 | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 2.1 | +27.7% |
| 1948 | 2.1 | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 1.76 | -16.3% |
| 1950 | 1.94 | +10.1% |
| 1951 | 1.94 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 2.02 | +4.5% |
| 1953 | 2.02 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 2.02 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 2.02 | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 2.02 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 1.98 | -2.1% |
| 1958 | 1.98 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 1.98 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 1.98 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 1.98 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 1.98 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1.98 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 1.78 | -10.4% |
| 1965 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1.78 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1.67 | -5.7% |
| 1971 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1.67 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1.3 | -22.5% |
| 1981 | 1.3 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.3 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 1.3 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1.3 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 1.4 | +8.2% |
| 1986 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.71 | +21.7% |
| 1989 | 1.88 | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 0.111 | -94.1% |
| 1991 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.111 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.189 | +70.3% |
| 1994 | 0.27 | +42.9% |
| 1995 | 0.512 | +89.6% |
| 1996 | 0.512 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.615 | +20.1% |
| 1998 | 0.495 | -19.5% |
| 1999 | 0.106 | -78.6% |
| 2000 | -1.24 | -1270.8% |
| 2001 | -1.39 | +12.2% |
| 2002 | -1.73 | +24.4% |
| 2003 | -1.73 | -0.0% |
| 2004 | -1.73 | -0.0% |
| 2005 | -1.73 | -0.0% |
| 2006 | -1.56 | -10.1% |
| 2007 | -1.56 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | -1.97 | +26.4% |
| 2009 | -1.62 | -17.6% |
| 2010 | -1.41 | -13.1% |
| 2011 | -1.41 | -0.0% |
| 2012 | -1.34 | -5.1% |
| 2013 | -0.78 | -41.7% |
| 2014 | -0.789 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | -0.989 | +25.3% |
| 2016 | -0.919 | -7.1% |
| 2017 | -0.769 | -16.3% |
| 2018 | -0.69 | -10.3% |
| 2019 | -0.562 | -18.6% |
| 2020 | 0.487 | -186.7% |
| 2021 | 0.628 | +29.0% |
| 2022 | 0.886 | +41.1% |
| 2023 | 0.538 | -39.3% |
| 2024 | 0.492 | -8.6% |
| 2025 | 1.29 | +161.8% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 1.29 is above the median for high income countries, which is -0.532. (55 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 1.29 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -0.0895. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Political Polarization Score in Bulgaria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | +4475.0% | -0.012 | 0.525 |
| 1934 | +1320.0% | 0.035 | 0.497 |
| 2000 | -1270.8% | 0.106 | -1.24 |
| 1923 | +348.9% | 0.37 | 1.66 |
| 1927 | -200.0% | 0.1 | -0.1 |
| 1930 | -201.0% | -0.1 | -0.301 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | -0.9726 | -1.27 | -0.696 | 10 |
| 1910s | -0.3802 | -1.13 | 0.338 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.5182 | -0.1 | 1.66 | 10 |
| 1930s | -0.0885 | -0.301 | 0.497 | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.36 | 0.525 | 2.1 | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.99 | 1.94 | 2.02 | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.86 | 1.78 | 1.98 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.43 | 1.3 | 1.88 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.3032 | 0.106 | 0.615 | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.63 | -1.97 | -1.24 | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.9653 | -1.41 | -0.562 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.7198 | 0.487 | 1.29 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
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 political polarization score in Bulgaria?
- Political polarization score in Bulgaria was 1.29 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest political polarization score recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 2.1 in 1947.
- What is the lowest political polarization score recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.97 in 2008.
- How does Bulgaria rank for political polarization score?
- Bulgaria ranks 45th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is political polarization score rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 230.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Political Polarization Score. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which society is divided into hostile political camps, where political differences undermine social relationships and discourage interaction across ideological lines.