Bulgaria vs North Macedonia
Bulgaria vs North Macedonia: Girls in primary school
Girls in primary school in 2017: 86.3% in Bulgaria and 94.9% in North Macedonia, by Our World in Data estimates. In 2017 the value was higher in North Macedonia, by 8.5 percentage points, or 1.1 times that in Bulgaria.
% of girls of primary-school age · Our World in Data
What the numbers say
- North Macedonia has been higher since 2015, when it overtook Bulgaria.
- In 2012, Bulgaria ranked 23 and North Macedonia ranked 78 of 97 countries, counting from the highest.
- The world as a whole: 88.2% in 2017.
Every year
% of girls of primary-school age · Our World in Data
| Year | Bulgaria | North Macedonia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | – | – | 88.2 |
| 2017 | 86.3 | 94.9 | 88.2 |
| 2016 | 87.3 | – | 88.3 |
| 2015 | 90.2 | 91.9 | 88.2 |
| 2014 | 92.7 | 88.9 | 88.3 |
| 2013 | 93.8 | 88.2 | 88.2 |
| 2012 | 95.6 | 83.9 | 88.2 |
| 2011 | – | – | 88.1 |
| 2010 | – | 84.7 | 87.9 |
| 2009 | – | 84.4 | 87.9 |
| 2008 | – | 84.5 | 87.6 |
| 2007 | – | 84.9 | 87.2 |
| 2006 | 94.8 | 85.8 | 86 |
| 2005 | 94 | 86.6 | 85.4 |
| 2004 | 95.3 | 86.7 | 84.7 |
| 2003 | 94.1 | 86.9 | 83.5 |
| 2002 | 93.5 | 88.4 | 81.4 |
| 2001 | 94.6 | 88.6 | 81 |
| 2000 | 94.3 | 89.3 | 80.7 |
| 1999 | 94.6 | 89.8 | 79.9 |
| 1998 | 93.7 | 90.1 | 78.9 |
| 1997 | 94.2 | – | 78.1 |
| 1996 | 92.7 | – | 77.9 |
| 1995 | – | – | 78 |
| 1994 | – | – | 78.3 |
| 1993 | – | – | 78 |
| 1992 | – | – | 77.7 |
| 1991 | – | – | 77.8 |
| 1990 | – | – | 77.3 |
| 1989 | – | – | 77.6 |
| 1988 | – | – | 76.6 |
| 1987 | – | – | 75.8 |
| 1986 | – | – | 75.3 |
| 1985 | – | – | 74 |
| 1980 | 96 | – | 75.8 |
| 1975 | 97 | – | 72.9 |
| 1970 | 98 | – | 69 |
| 1965 | 100 | – | 66 |
| 1960 | 90.1 | – | 63.1 |
| 1955 | 90.1 | – | 57.4 |
| 1950 | 84.3 | – | 51.4 |
| 1945 | 82.9 | – | 43.5 |
| 1940 | 81.6 | – | 40 |
| 1935 | 80.2 | – | 38.2 |
| 1930 | 78.9 | – | 36.4 |
| 1925 | 77.5 | – | 33 |
| 1920 | 76.2 | – | 30.5 |
| 1915 | 74.8 | – | 29.2 |
| 1910 | 73.4 | – | 28.1 |
| 1905 | 71 | – | 25.1 |
| 1900 | 38.7 | – | 23.3 |
| 1895 | 35.2 | – | 21.8 |
| 1890 | 31.8 | – | 20 |
| 1885 | 28.3 | – | 19 |
| 1880 | 25.1 | – | 17.2 |
| 1875 | 22.1 | – | 15.7 |
| 1870 | 19.3 | – | 13.2 |
| 1865 | 16.9 | – | 10.6 |
| 1860 | 14.7 | – | 9.3 |
| 1855 | 12.7 | – | 8 |
| 1850 | 11 | – | 6.8 |
| 1845 | 9.4 | – | 5.9 |
| 1840 | 8.1 | – | 5.2 |
| 1835 | 7 | – | 4.5 |
| 1830 | 6 | – | 4 |
| 1825 | 5.1 | – | 3.5 |
| 1820 | 4.3 | – | 3.1 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of girls of primary-school age who are enrolled in school.
- Source: Our World in Data, joining historical estimates to the World Bank’s.
- Ranks count the 97 countries with a value in 2012, highest first.
- The faint line is the world as a whole, as the same source counts it.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time
Bulgaria vs North Macedonia
Health
- Life expectancyBulgaria: 75.6 years in 2023North Macedonia: 77.4 years in 2023
- Child mortalityBulgaria: 0.6 per 100 live births in 2024North Macedonia: 0.3 per 100 live births in 2024
- Infant mortalityBulgaria: 4.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023North Macedonia: 4.7 per 1,000 live births in 2023
- Safe drinking waterBulgaria: 95.7% in 2022North Macedonia: 80.5% in 2022
- DepressionBulgaria: 2.54% in 2017North Macedonia: 2.33% in 2017
- Suicide rateBulgaria: 9.5 per 100,000 people in 2017North Macedonia: 6.8 per 100,000 people in 2017
People
- PopulationBulgaria: 6.8 million people in 2023North Macedonia: 1.83 million people in 2023
- Population growthBulgaria: -0.52% a year in 2023North Macedonia: -0.47% a year in 2023
- Fertility rateBulgaria: 1.75 births per woman in 2023North Macedonia: 1.47 births per woman in 2023
- Urban populationBulgaria: 74.2% in 2025North Macedonia: 62.9% in 2025
- Median ageBulgaria: 44.3 years in 2023North Macedonia: 40.3 years in 2023
- People aged 65 and overBulgaria: 21.8% in 2023North Macedonia: 17.5% in 2023
- Net migration rateBulgaria: 0.8 per 1,000 people in 2023North Macedonia: -3.1 per 1,000 people in 2023
Economy
- GDP per personBulgaria: $10,450 in 2025North Macedonia: $6,873 in 2025
- GDP growthBulgaria: 3.1% a year in 2025North Macedonia: 3.5% a year in 2025
- InflationBulgaria: 3.5% a year in 2025North Macedonia: 4.1% a year in 2025
- Government debtBulgaria: 29.9% of GDP in 2025North Macedonia: 52.6% of GDP in 2025
Education
Politics
Conflict
Military
- Military spendingBulgaria: 2.01% of GDP in 2025North Macedonia: 1.97% of GDP in 2025
- Military spending in US dollarsBulgaria: $2.4B in 2025North Macedonia: $346M in 2025
- Military spending per personBulgaria: $384 in 2025North Macedonia: $206 in 2025
- Military share of state spendingBulgaria: 5.2% of government spending in 2025North Macedonia: 5.1% of government spending in 2025
- Armed forces personnelBulgaria: 37,000 people in 2020North Macedonia: 16,000 people in 2020
- National powerBulgaria: 0.09% of world capability in 2022North Macedonia: 0.02% of world capability in 2022
- Armed forces, share of workersBulgaria: 1.18% of the labour force in 2020North Macedonia: 2% of the labour force in 2020
- Arms importsBulgaria: 540 million TIV in 2025North Macedonia: 9 million TIV in 2025
- Arms exportsBulgaria: 33 million TIV in 2024North Macedonia: 59 million TIV in 2023