🇧🇬Bulgaria Political Stability: 45.9/100

Bulgaria scores 45.9 out of 100 on the Political Stability Index, rated "Moderate" based on World Bank 2023 Worldwide Governance Indicators across six governance dimensions.

Moderate
Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

Composite score is the unweighted average of six governance dimensions, each measured on a 0-100 percentile scale.

Bulgaria is located in Southeast Europe, covering an area of 110,994 square kilometers. The country features diverse terrain, including the Danubian Plain, Balkan Mountains, and the Rila-Rhodope massif, with the highest point being Musala at 2,925 meters. The climate is variable, influenced by Mediterranean, Oceanic, and Continental air masses, resulting in distinct seasonal patterns and significant snowfall in winter.

Bulgaria has a population of approximately 6.9 million people. The official language is Bulgarian, and the country has a rich cultural heritage influenced by various historical periods.

Governance Indicators

Voice & Accountability55/100
Regulatory Quality53/100
Political Stability45/100
Rule of Law43/100
Control of Corruption41/100
Government Effectiveness38/100

Governance Profile: Bulgaria

World Bank governance: rule of law 43rd percentile, corruption control 41st percentile, political stability 45th percentile.

Bulgaria's strongest governance dimension is Voice & Accountability at 55/100, placing it in the upper half globally. This indicates relatively strong citizen participation in selecting government, along with freedom of expression, association, and a free media.

The weakest dimension is Government Effectiveness at 38/100. Limited government effectiveness can mean inconsistent public services and gaps in policy implementation.

A moderate spread of 18 points separates the strongest and weakest indicators. This suggests governance strengths in some areas but room for improvement in others. Travelers can generally rely on institutional frameworks, though certain aspects of governance may be less dependable.

Bulgaria's moderate governance scores suggest travelers should prepare for some institutional inconsistency. Public services may be unreliable in certain areas, and regulatory enforcement can be uneven. Travel insurance and advance planning are recommended.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Bulgaria as Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.

EU Governance Comparison

Top governance performers in EU based on the corruption composite ranking (weighted: 60% corruption control, 25% rule of law, 15% government effectiveness).

CountryScore
🇩🇰Denmark96.6
🇫🇮Finland95.2
🇳🇴Norway93.9
🇨🇭Switzerland93.8
🇱🇺Luxembourg92.9
🇧🇬Bulgaria40.8

Common Questions About Bulgaria's Political Stability

What is Bulgaria's political stability score?+
Bulgaria has a composite political stability score of 45.9 out of 100, placing it in the "Moderate" category. This score is the average of six World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators for 2023: Voice & Accountability, Political Stability, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law, and Control of Corruption.
What do the World Bank governance indicators measure?+
The six indicators come from the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) project. Each measures a different dimension of governance on a 0-100 percentile scale. Voice & Accountability captures perceptions of citizen participation and media freedom. Political Stability measures the likelihood of political instability or violence. Government Effectiveness assesses the quality of public services and policy implementation. Regulatory Quality evaluates the government's ability to formulate sound policies. Rule of Law captures confidence in contract enforcement, property rights, and courts. Control of Corruption measures the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain.
How does Bulgaria's stability affect travel safety?+
Governance indicators provide context beyond traditional travel advisories. Bulgaria's strongest area is Voice & Accountability (55/100) and its weakest is Government Effectiveness (38/100). Moderate governance means travelers should expect some inconsistency in public services and regulatory enforcement.
How does Bulgaria compare to other countries in EU?+
Within EU, Bulgaria ranks among 6 peer countries with available governance data. Its composite score of 45.9/100 places it in the lower half of the regional ranking.
When was this data last updated?+
The governance data on this page is from the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators 2023 dataset. The WGI project publishes annual updates covering over 200 countries. This page is refreshed every six hours to incorporate any new data from our sources.

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