Bulgaria vs North Macedonia
Bulgaria vs North Macedonia: People aged 65 and over
People aged 65 and over in 2023: 21.8% in Bulgaria and 17.5% in North Macedonia, by UN estimates. In 2023 the value was higher in Bulgaria, by 4.3 percentage points, or 1.25 times that in North Macedonia.
% of people · UN
What the numbers say
- Bulgaria has been higher since 1951, when it overtook North Macedonia.
- In 2023, Bulgaria ranked 15 and North Macedonia ranked 50 of 229 countries, counting from the highest.
- The UN projection (medium variant) puts Bulgaria at 32.3% and North Macedonia at 37.8% in 2100.
- The world as a whole: 10% in 2023.
Every year
% of people · UN
| Year | Bulgaria | North Macedonia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 21.8 | 17.5 | 10 |
| 2022 | 21.7 | 17.1 | 9.8 |
| 2021 | 21.7 | 16.7 | 9.5 |
| 2020 | 21.7 | 16.4 | 9.3 |
| 2019 | 21.5 | 15.8 | 9.1 |
| 2018 | 21.2 | 15.1 | 8.9 |
| 2017 | 20.9 | 14.5 | 8.7 |
| 2016 | 20.6 | 13.9 | 8.5 |
| 2015 | 20.2 | 13.4 | 8.3 |
| 2014 | 19.8 | 12.9 | 8.1 |
| 2013 | 19.4 | 12.5 | 7.9 |
| 2012 | 19 | 12.1 | 7.8 |
| 2011 | 18.5 | 11.8 | 7.7 |
| 2010 | 18.2 | 11.6 | 7.6 |
| 2009 | 17.9 | 11.4 | 7.5 |
| 2008 | 17.7 | 11.2 | 7.5 |
| 2007 | 17.6 | 11 | 7.4 |
| 2006 | 17.5 | 10.8 | 7.3 |
| 2005 | 17.3 | 10.6 | 7.3 |
| 2004 | 17.2 | 10.5 | 7.2 |
| 2003 | 17.1 | 10.3 | 7.1 |
| 2002 | 17 | 10.2 | 7 |
| 2001 | 16.8 | 10 | 6.9 |
| 2000 | 16.6 | 9.8 | 6.8 |
| 1999 | 16.3 | 9.5 | 6.8 |
| 1998 | 16 | 9.3 | 6.7 |
| 1997 | 15.7 | 9.1 | 6.6 |
| 1996 | 15.4 | 8.9 | 6.5 |
| 1995 | 15.1 | 8.7 | 6.5 |
| 1994 | 14.8 | 8.4 | 6.4 |
| 1993 | 14.5 | 8.1 | 6.3 |
| 1992 | 14.1 | 7.8 | 6.2 |
| 1991 | 13.6 | 7.4 | 6.1 |
| 1990 | 13.2 | 7.1 | 6.1 |
| 1989 | 12.7 | 6.9 | 6 |
| 1988 | 12.3 | 6.7 | 6 |
| 1987 | 12 | 6.6 | 5.9 |
| 1986 | 11.7 | 6.4 | 5.9 |
| 1985 | 11.4 | 6.3 | 5.8 |
| 1984 | 11.1 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| 1983 | 11.2 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| 1982 | 11.5 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| 1981 | 11.8 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| 1980 | 11.8 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| 1979 | 11.6 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| 1978 | 11.5 | 6.2 | 5.7 |
| 1977 | 11.3 | 6.1 | 5.6 |
| 1976 | 11.1 | 5.9 | 5.6 |
| 1975 | 10.9 | 5.8 | 5.5 |
| 1974 | 10.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| 1973 | 10.4 | 5.5 | 5.4 |
| 1972 | 10.2 | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| 1971 | 9.9 | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| 1970 | 9.6 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| 1969 | 9.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| 1968 | 9.1 | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| 1967 | 8.9 | 5 | 5.2 |
| 1966 | 8.7 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
| 1965 | 8.4 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
| 1964 | 8.1 | 4.8 | 5 |
| 1963 | 7.9 | 4.8 | 5 |
| 1962 | 7.8 | 4.8 | 5 |
| 1961 | 7.6 | 4.8 | 5 |
| 1960 | 7.5 | 4.9 | 5 |
| 1959 | 7.3 | 5 | 5 |
| 1958 | 7.3 | 5.1 | 5 |
| 1957 | 7.2 | 5.2 | 5 |
| 1956 | 7.1 | 5.3 | 5 |
| 1955 | 7.1 | 5.4 | 5 |
| 1954 | 6.9 | 5.6 | 5 |
| 1953 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 5 |
| 1952 | 6.7 | 6 | 5 |
| 1951 | 6.6 | 6.2 | 5 |
| 1950 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 5.1 |
UN projection (medium variant) · 2024–2100
| Year | Bulgaria | North Macedonia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 22 | 18 | 10.2 |
| 2025 | 22.2 | 18.5 | 10.4 |
| 2026 | 22.5 | 19 | 10.6 |
| 2027 | 22.7 | 19.4 | 10.8 |
| 2028 | 22.9 | 19.9 | 11.1 |
| 2029 | 23.1 | 20.3 | 11.5 |
| 2030 | 23.2 | 20.8 | 11.8 |
| 2031 | 23.3 | 21.2 | 12 |
| 2032 | 23.5 | 21.6 | 12.3 |
| 2033 | 23.7 | 22 | 12.6 |
| 2034 | 24 | 22.3 | 12.8 |
| 2035 | 24.3 | 22.6 | 13.1 |
| 2036 | 24.6 | 23 | 13.4 |
| 2037 | 24.9 | 23.3 | 13.7 |
| 2038 | 25.2 | 23.6 | 13.9 |
| 2039 | 25.6 | 23.9 | 14.1 |
| 2040 | 26.1 | 24.2 | 14.3 |
| 2041 | 26.5 | 24.6 | 14.5 |
| 2042 | 26.9 | 24.9 | 14.7 |
| 2043 | 27.3 | 25.2 | 14.9 |
| 2044 | 27.6 | 25.5 | 15 |
| 2045 | 28 | 25.9 | 15.2 |
| 2046 | 28.3 | 26.2 | 15.4 |
| 2047 | 28.5 | 26.6 | 15.7 |
| 2048 | 28.8 | 26.9 | 15.9 |
| 2049 | 29.1 | 27.3 | 16.1 |
| 2050 | 29.4 | 27.6 | 16.3 |
| 2051 | 29.8 | 27.9 | 16.6 |
| 2052 | 30.1 | 28.3 | 16.8 |
| 2053 | 30.4 | 28.6 | 17.1 |
| 2054 | 30.8 | 29 | 17.3 |
| 2055 | 31.1 | 29.3 | 17.6 |
| 2056 | 31.3 | 29.7 | 17.8 |
| 2057 | 31.5 | 30 | 18 |
| 2058 | 31.5 | 30.3 | 18.2 |
| 2059 | 31.5 | 30.6 | 18.4 |
| 2060 | 31.3 | 30.9 | 18.5 |
| 2061 | 31.1 | 31.2 | 18.7 |
| 2062 | 30.9 | 31.4 | 18.8 |
| 2063 | 30.6 | 31.6 | 19 |
| 2064 | 30.5 | 31.7 | 19.1 |
| 2065 | 30.3 | 31.9 | 19.3 |
| 2066 | 30.2 | 32.1 | 19.4 |
| 2067 | 30 | 32.2 | 19.6 |
| 2068 | 29.8 | 32.4 | 19.7 |
| 2069 | 29.7 | 32.5 | 19.9 |
| 2070 | 29.5 | 32.6 | 20 |
| 2071 | 29.5 | 32.7 | 20.2 |
| 2072 | 29.4 | 32.8 | 20.3 |
| 2073 | 29.4 | 32.9 | 20.5 |
| 2074 | 29.5 | 33.2 | 20.7 |
| 2075 | 29.5 | 33.4 | 20.9 |
| 2076 | 29.6 | 33.7 | 21.1 |
| 2077 | 29.7 | 34 | 21.3 |
| 2078 | 29.7 | 34.3 | 21.5 |
| 2079 | 29.8 | 34.7 | 21.7 |
| 2080 | 29.9 | 35.1 | 21.9 |
| 2081 | 30 | 35.5 | 22.1 |
| 2082 | 30.1 | 35.9 | 22.3 |
| 2083 | 30.2 | 36.2 | 22.4 |
| 2084 | 30.3 | 36.5 | 22.6 |
| 2085 | 30.4 | 36.7 | 22.7 |
| 2086 | 30.5 | 37 | 22.8 |
| 2087 | 30.6 | 37.2 | 22.9 |
| 2088 | 30.8 | 37.3 | 22.9 |
| 2089 | 31 | 37.4 | 23 |
| 2090 | 31.2 | 37.4 | 23.1 |
| 2091 | 31.3 | 37.5 | 23.2 |
| 2092 | 31.5 | 37.5 | 23.3 |
| 2093 | 31.6 | 37.6 | 23.3 |
| 2094 | 31.7 | 37.6 | 23.4 |
| 2095 | 31.8 | 37.6 | 23.5 |
| 2096 | 31.9 | 37.6 | 23.6 |
| 2097 | 32 | 37.7 | 23.7 |
| 2098 | 32.1 | 37.7 | 23.7 |
| 2099 | 32.2 | 37.7 | 23.8 |
| 2100 | 32.3 | 37.8 | 23.9 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- The share of the population aged 65 or older.
- Source: UN DESA, World Population Prospects 2024.
- The dashed line is the UN projection (medium variant), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 229 countries with a value in 2023, 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
- 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