Bulgaria's population in 2008 of 7,640,238 was lower by almost 300,000 people than in 1998. People are leaving to find better opportunities in the rest of the EU, which Bulgaria joined in 2007. Today it is a democracy, but previously it was a Communist country, politically and economically dominated by the USSR. With the break-up of the Communist bloc in the 1990s, its standard of living fell by 40%. Although Bulgaria is the second poorest country in the EU and on its economic peripherary, new funding and projects are improving quality of life.
Ireland's 2008 population of 4,442,100 is growing slowly because of natural increase (wow) and migrant labour. Until it joined the EU in 1973, it was a poor country within Europe. Membership has benefitted Ireland enormously, changing it's focus from agriculture to high-tech services. Its 10% per annum increase from 1995-2000 earned it the title 'Celtic Tiger'. Ireland is no longer on the economic peripherary but part of the economic core.