180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Highly RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Recommended
Bulgaria is the EU at its cheapest, and it isn't cutting corners: Rila Monastery's painted walls, Plovdiv's Roman old town, Black Sea beaches around Sozopol, and skiing in Bansko for the price of a lift pass alone in the Alps. It's safe and easygoing. Attitudes to LGBT+ people trail the west, so a bit of awareness helps outside Sofia.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Bulgaria: 1.2
Ranked 47th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
1.17 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — a low rate by world standards.
Lower than 74% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Bulgaria: 1.6
Ranked 40th most peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 82% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 1.610.
Barely moved — up one place since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Bulgaria: 7.8
Ranked 47th freest country in the world.
Freer than 73% of the 165 countries measured — 7.85 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 8.37; doing business and owning property, 7.13.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Bulgaria: 4.2
Ranked 84th most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 54% of the 197 countries scored — 42 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 57 out of 100, everyday attitudes 27.