Updated
Overview
Romania has 3.0 times the population of Bulgaria: 19.02 million people against 6.43 million (2025).
Romania's economy is 3.3 times the size of Bulgaria's, at $428.68B versus $130.78B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Romania | Bulgaria | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $428.68B | $130.78B | 2025 | $382.77B / $112.21B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $22,538 | $20,328 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.7% | Higher: 3.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 7.2% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | 5.7% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 44 | 23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $1,722 | $1,573 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $906 | $318 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.01 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 19.02 million | 6.43 million | 2025 | 18.15 million / 6.74 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 43.2 yrs | 44.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.71 | 1.74 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 76.5 yrs | 75.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 52% | 74% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 91% | 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 238,391 km² | 110,879 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 79.8/km² | 58.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 69 Mt | Lower: 32 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.6 t | 4.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $8.72B | $2.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 128,000 | 37,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Bulgaria is growing faster: 3.1% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 4.6%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bulgaria: a price level of 23 versus 44 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Romania: $1,722 against $1,573 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 43.2 (Romania) and 44.8 (Bulgaria).
Bulgaria is considerably more urbanized: 74% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Romania is 2.2 times the size of Bulgaria: 238,391 km² versus 110,879 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Romania spends 3.7 times as much on defence as Bulgaria: $8.72B versus $2.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Romania fields the larger armed forces: 128,000 personnel against 37,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Romania bigger than Bulgaria?
- Romania is larger by land area. Romania covers 238,391 km² while Bulgaria covers 110,879 km², so Romania is 2.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Romania or Bulgaria?
- Romania has the larger population: 19.02 million versus 6.43 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Romania richer than Bulgaria?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Romania is richer: $22,538 against $20,328. Total GDP tells the same story: $428.68B for Romania versus $130.78B for Bulgaria.
- Who spends more on their military, Romania or Bulgaria?
- Romania spends more: $8.72B versus $2.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).