About  |   Contact  |  Mongabay on Facebook  |  Mongabay on Twitter  |  Subscribe
Rainforests | Tropical fish | Environmental news | For kids | Madagascar | Photos

Bulgaria Historical and Political Profile








MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)







WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Email:


Bulgaria Index

  • Bulgaria-Government Minority Policy ETHNOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
  • Bulgaria-BULGARIA
  • Bulgaria-The Political Atmosphere in the 1970s
  • Bulgaria-Domestic Policy and Its Results
  • Bulgaria-The Second Balkan War
  • Bulgaria-Initial Maneuvering COMMUNIST CONSOLIDATION
  • Bulgaria-The Union of Democratic Forces
  • Bulgaria-Zhivkov Takes Control
  • Bulgaria-Pomaks
  • Bulgaria-Chapter 5 - National Security
  • Bulgaria-The Warsaw Pact
  • Bulgaria-Postwar Trade Policy
  • Bulgaria-Social Groups and Their Work
  • Bulgaria-Zhivkov's Political Methodology
  • Bulgaria-SOCIETY
  • Bulgaria-THE EARLY COMMUNIST ERA
  • Bulgaria-Islam
  • Bulgaria-Topography
  • Bulgaria-Bulgarians
  • Bulgaria-GEOGRAPHY
  • Bulgaria-Chapter 1 - Historical Setting
  • Bulgaria-Revolution in the Balkans THE BULGARIAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT
  • Bulgaria-The Role of Unofficial Organizations GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
  • Bulgaria-The Planning System
  • Bulgaria-Post-Zhivkov Agricultural Reform
  • Bulgaria-The Tsankov and Liapchev Governments
  • Bulgaria-Greece
  • Bulgaria-Military Budget
  • Bulgaria-Border Troops
  • Bulgaria-Introduction of the Ottoman System
  • Bulgaria-Factors of Availability LABOR FORCE
  • Bulgaria-Administrative Subdivisions POPULATION
  • Bulgaria-Domestic Policy in the 1960s and 1970s
  • Bulgaria-Electoral Procedures
  • Bulgaria-The Ministry of Internal Affairs
  • Bulgaria-LAW AND ORDER
  • Bulgaria-NATIONAL DEFENSE POSTURE
  • Bulgaria-Cultural Expressions of Nationalism
  • Bulgaria-Crime
  • Bulgaria-Turks
  • Bulgaria-Industrial Decentralization
  • Bulgaria-Recruitment and Service Obligations
  • Bulgaria-Farm Consolidation in the 1960s
  • Bulgaria-Industrial Policy
  • Bulgaria-Early Successes
  • Bulgaria-Family Life and Modern Society
  • Bulgaria-Capitulation and Settlement
  • Bulgaria-Agricultural Products
  • Bulgaria-Police Organizations
  • Bulgaria-Yugoslavia
  • Bulgaria-The State Council and the Presidency
  • Bulgaria-Military Cooperation and Exchanges
  • Bulgaria-Acknowledgments
  • Bulgaria-Commerce and Western Influences
  • Bulgaria-Bulgaria in Comecon
  • Bulgaria-ECONOMIC STRUCTURE AND CONTROL MECHANISMS
  • Bulgaria-Foreign Policy in the Late 1930s
  • Bulgaria -COUNTRY PROFILE
  • Bulgaria-Housing
  • Bulgaria-The Last Zhivkov Decade
  • Bulgaria-The 1990 Stalemate
  • Bulgaria-Officer Education
  • Bulgaria-Chervenkov and Stalinism in Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-Full Independence
  • Bulgaria-Air and Air Defense Forces
  • Bulgaria-The Council of Ministers
  • Bulgaria-Civil Defense Troops
  • Bulgaria-Education
  • Bulgaria-Internal Migration
  • Bulgaria-Terrorist and Espionage Activities
  • Bulgaria-Eastern Orthodoxy RELIGION
  • Bulgaria-Environment
  • Bulgaria-THE PREWAR POLITICAL CONTEXT
  • Bulgaria-MARKET REFORM
  • Bulgaria-Ranks, Uniforms, and Insignia
  • Bulgaria-Fuels ECONOMIC SECTORS
  • Bulgaria-Foreword
  • Bulgaria-The Final Move to Independence
  • Bulgaria-Ground Forces
  • Bulgaria-The Judiciary
  • Bulgaria-The Foreign Policy Establishment
  • Bulgaria-MILITARY PERSONNEL
  • Bulgaria-The Penal System
  • Bulgaria-Doctrine and Strategy
  • Bulgaria-Traditional Society
  • Bulgaria-Struggle for National Independence to World War I
  • Bulgaria-The Passive Alliance WORLD WAR II
  • Bulgaria-The Bulgarian Communist (Socialist) Party NONGOVERNMENTAL POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
  • Bulgaria-The State under Dimitrov
  • Bulgaria-The Constitution of 1971
  • Bulgaria-The Chervenkov Era
  • Bulgaria-Intellectual Life
  • Bulgaria-World War I
  • Bulgaria-Banking System
  • Bulgaria-The New Economic Model
  • Bulgaria-The Ferment of 1988-90
  • Bulgaria-Boundaries NATURAL FEATURES
  • Bulgaria-The Monarchist Movement
  • Bulgaria-The Rule of Ferdinand
  • Bulgaria-ECONOMY
  • Bulgaria-Government Organization for Defense
  • Bulgaria-Early Development
  • Bulgaria-Postwar Development
  • Bulgaria-Chapter 4 - Government and Politics
  • Bulgaria-Industry
  • Bulgaria-Trade Unions
  • Bulgaria-Climate
  • Bulgaria-Trade with the West and the Third World
  • Bulgaria-Foreign and Economic Policies
  • Bulgaria-Nuclear Power
  • Bulgaria-Zhivkov Takes Control THE ZHIVKOV ERA
  • Bulgaria-TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS
  • Bulgaria-Construction Troops
  • Bulgaria-The Removal of Zhivkov
  • Bulgaria-Investment Policy
  • Bulgaria-The Rise of Zhivkov THE ZHIVKOV ERA
  • Bulgaria-The Crises of the 1930s
  • Bulgaria-The Economic Policy Commission
  • Bulgaria-Foreign Citizens in Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-The Mladenov Government GOVERNANCE AFTER ZHIVKOV
  • Bulgaria-FOREIGN POLICY
  • Bulgaria-OTTOMAN RULE
  • Bulgaria-Romania
  • Bulgaria-Relations with Balkan Neighbors
  • Bulgaria-Security and Intelligence Services
  • Bulgaria-Western Europe and the United States
  • Bulgaria-New Trade Conditions, 1990
  • Bulgaria-European and Russian Policies, 1800
  • Bulgaria-Zhivkov and the Intelligentsia
  • Bulgaria-The Stambolov Years
  • Bulgaria-NATIONAL SECURITY
  • Bulgaria-The First Five-Year Plans
  • Bulgaria-Protestantism
  • Bulgaria-Penal System
  • Bulgaria-Turkey
  • Bulgaria-The Intelligentsia
  • Bulgaria-SOCIAL SYSTEM
  • Bulgaria-Cities
  • Bulgaria-Threat Perception
  • Bulgaria-FOREIGN TRADE
  • Bulgaria-The First Golden Age
  • Bulgaria-The Fall of Stamboliiski
  • Bulgaria-Stamboliiski and Agrarian Reform THE INTERWAR PERIOD
  • Bulgaria-The Fall of Chervenkov
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-Prices
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment
  • Bulgaria-GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
  • Bulgaria-Early Collectivization Campaigns
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-High Command
  • Bulgaria-Macedonians
  • Bulgaria-Religious Independence
  • Bulgaria-Reform Mechanisms
  • Bulgaria-The First Balkan War THE BALKAN WARS AND WORLD WAR I
  • Bulgaria-Chapter 3 - The Economy
  • Bulgaria-Industrial Recentralization
  • Bulgaria-The Interwar Economy
  • Bulgaria-Issues of Dissent
  • Bulgaria-Balkan Politics of the Mid-Nineteenth Century
  • Bulgaria-The Soviet Union
  • Bulgaria-Postwar Economic Policy ECONOMIC POLICY AND PERFORMANCE
  • Bulgaria-Naval Forces
  • Bulgaria-The Dimitrov Constitution
  • Bulgaria-Revived Prewar Parties
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-Transportation
  • Bulgaria-Bulgarian Society under the Turks
  • Bulgaria-Independent Union Organizations
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-Conventional Power Generation
  • Bulgaria-THE PUBLIC AND POLITICAL DECISION MAKING
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-Coal and Minerals RESOURCE BASE
  • Bulgaria-The First Freely Elected Assembly, 1990
  • Bulgaria-Drainage
  • Bulgaria-The Macedonian Issue
  • Bulgaria-Table A - Chronology of Important Events
  • Bulgaria-Stalemate and Demoralization
  • Bulgaria-Agriculture
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-The Interwar Years and World War II
  • Bulgaria-The Movement for Rights and Freedoms
  • Bulgaria-Bulgaria in the 1980s
  • Bulgaria-Early Decay and Upheaval in the Empire
  • Bulgaria-Other Minorities
  • Bulgaria-Domestic and International Economic Policies in the 1990s
  • Bulgaria-Local Government
  • Bulgaria-Arms Sales
  • Bulgaria-DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-The Media and Public Issues
  • Bulgaria-Pre-Bulgarian Civilizations EARLY SETTLEMENT AND EMPIRE
  • Bulgaria-Youth Organizations
  • Bulgaria-Preface
  • Bulgaria-The Soviet Occupation
  • Bulgaria-DEFENSE ORGANIZATION
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-Wartime Crisis
  • Bulgaria-The Written Word
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-The First Independence Organizations
  • Bulgaria-Energy Generation
  • Bulgaria-Labor and Economic Reform
  • Bulgaria-Armed Services
  • Bulgaria-The National Assembly
  • Bulgaria-Environmental Problems Agricultural Resources
  • Bulgaria-SOCIAL SERVICES
  • Bulgaria-The Constitution of 1971
  • Bulgaria-The Slavs and the Bulgars
  • Bulgaria-Roman Catholicism
  • Bulgaria-FOREIGN MILITARY RELATIONS
  • Bulgaria-The Military in the Political System
  • Bulgaria-The Second Golden Age
  • Bulgaria-Reserves and Mobilization
  • Bulgaria-Early Insurrections
  • Bulgaria-The Role of Private Plots
  • Bulgaria-Foreign Affairs in the 1960s and 1970s
  • Bulgaria-Industrial Centers
  • Bulgaria-The Last Round of Zhivkov Reforms
  • Bulgaria-Reform in the 1980s
  • Bulgaria-Military Training
  • Bulgaria-The Royal Dictatorship
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria
  • Bulgaria-Forming the New State THE DECADES OF NATIONAL CONSOLIDATION
  • Bulgaria-Logistics and Arms Procurement
  • Bulgaria-Obstacles to Industrial Growth
  • Bulgaria-Settlement Patterns
  • Bulgaria-Gypsies
    • BackgroundThe Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
    LocationSoutheastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
    Area(sq km)total: 110,879 sq km
    land: 108,489 sq km
    water: 2,390 sq km
    Geographic coordinates43 00 N, 25 00 E
    Land boundaries(km)total: 1,808 km
    border countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km
    Coastline(km)354 km
    Climatetemperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
    Elevation extremes(m)lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
    highest point: Musala 2,925 m
    Natural resourcesbauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
    Land use(%)arable land: 29.94%
    permanent crops: 1.9%
    other: 68.16% (2005)
    Irrigated land(sq km)5,880 sq km (2003)
    Total renewable water resources(cu km)19.4 cu km (2005)
    Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 6.92 cu km/yr (3%/78%/19%)
    per capita: 895 cu m/yr (2003)
    Natural hazardsearthquakes; landslides
    Environment - current issuesair pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
    Environment - international agreementsparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
    signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
    Geography - notestrategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
    Population7,204,687 (July 2009 est.)
    Age structure(%)0-14 years: 13.8% (male 509,544/female 484,816)
    15-64 years: 68.5% (male 2,426,060/female 2,508,772)
    65 years and over: 17.7% (male 518,711/female 756,784) (2009 est.)
    Median age(years)total: 41.4 years
    male: 39.2 years
    female: 43.6 years (2009 est.)
    Population growth rate(%)-0.79% (2009 est.)
    Birth rate(births/1,000 population)9.51 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Death rate(deaths/1,000 population)14.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
    Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population)-3.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Urbanization(%)urban population: 71% of total population (2008)
    rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
    Sex ratio(male(s)/female)at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
    under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
    15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
    Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births)total: 17.87 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 21.28 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
    Life expectancy at birth(years)total population: 73.09 years
    male: 69.48 years
    female: 76.91 years (2009 est.)
    Total fertility rate(children born/woman)1.41 children born/woman (2009 est.)
    Nationalitynoun: Bulgarian(s)
    adjective: Bulgarian
    Ethnic groups(%)Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)
    Religions(%)Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)
    Languages(%)Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
    Country nameconventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
    conventional short form: Bulgaria
    local long form: Republika Balgariya
    local short form: Balgariya
    Government typeparliamentary democracy
    Capitalname: Sofia
    geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E
    time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
    daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
    Administrative divisions28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
    Constitutionadopted 12 July 1991
    Legal systemcivil and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
    Suffrage18 years of age; universal
    Executive branchchief of state: President Georgi PARVANOV (since 22 January 2002); Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)
    head of government: Prime Minister Boyko BORISSOV (since 27 July 2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Simeon DJANKOV and Tsvetan TSVETANOV (since 27 July 2009);
    cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
    elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
    election results: Georgi PARVANOV reelected president; percent of vote - Georgi PARVANOV 77.3%, Volen SIDEROV 22.7%; Boyko BORISSOV elected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 162 to 77 with 1 abstension
    Legislative branchunicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
    elections: last held 5 July 2009 (next to be held mid-2013)
    election results: percent of vote by party - GERB 39.7%, BSP 17.7%, MRF 14.4%, ATAKA 9.4%, Blue Coalition 6.8%, RZS 4.1%, other 7.9%; seats by party - GERB 116, BSP 40, MRF 38, ATAKA 21, Blue Coalition 15, RZS 10
    Judicial branchindependent judiciary comprised of judges, prosecutors and investigating magistrates who are appointed, promoted, demoted, and dismissed by a 25-member Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 members, half of whom are elected by the National Assembly and the other half by the bodies of the judiciary for a 5-year term in office); three levels of case review; 182 courts of which two Supreme Courts act as the last instance on civil and criminal cases (the Supreme Court of Cassation) and appeals of government decisions (the Supreme Administrative Court)
    Political pressure groups and leadersConfederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation
    other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
    International organization participationACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
    Flag descriptionthree equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the pan-Slavic white-blue-red colors were modified by substituting a green band (representing freedom) for the blue
    note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed
    Economy - overviewBulgaria, a former Communist country that entered the EU on 1 January 2007, has experienced strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996. Successive governments have demonstrated a commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but have failed so far to rein in rising inflation and large current account deficits. Bulgaria has averaged more than 6% growth since 2004, attracting significant amounts of foreign direct investment, but corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime remain significant challenges.
    GDP (purchasing power parity)$93.98 billion (2008 est.)
    $88.66 billion (2007 est.)
    $83.48 billion (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP (official exchange rate)$49.9 billion (2008)
    GDP - real growth rate(%)6% (2008 est.)
    6.2% (2007 est.)
    6.3% (2006 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP)$12,900 (2008 est.)
    $12,100 (2007 est.)
    $11,300 (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP - composition by sector(%)agriculture: 7.3%
    industry: 30.5%
    services: 62.2% (2008 est.)
    Labor force2.67 million (2008 est.)
    Labor force - by occupation(%)agriculture: 7.5%
    industry: 35.5%
    services: 57% (2007 est.)
    Unemployment rate(%)6.3% (2008 est.)
    7.7% (2007 est.)
    Population below poverty line(%)14.1% (2003 est.)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share(%)lowest 10%: 3%
    highest 10%: 25.5% (2007)
    Distribution of family income - Gini index30.7 (2007)
    26.4 (2001)
    Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP)33.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
    Budgetrevenues: $22.24 billion
    expenditures: $20.74 billion (2008 est.)
    Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%)12.3% (2008 est.)
    9.8% (2007 est.)
    Stock of money$14.29 billion (31 December 2008)
    $15.58 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of quasi money$19.67 billion (31 December 2008)
    $17.03 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of domestic credit$32.04 billion (31 December 2008)
    $25.18 billion (31 December 2007)
    Market value of publicly traded shares$8.858 billion (31 December 2008)
    $21.79 billion (31 December 2007)
    $10.32 billion (31 December 2006)
    Economic aid - recipient$742 million (2005-06 est.)
    Public debt(% of GDP)14.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
    41.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
    Agriculture - productsvegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock
    Industrieselectricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel
    Industrial production growth rate(%)1.5% (2008 est.)
    Current account balance-$12.65 billion (2008 est.)
    -$8.716 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports$22.71 billion (2008 est.)
    $18.58 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports - commodities(%)clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
    Exports - partners(%)Greece 9.9%, Germany 9.2%, Turkey 8.9%, Italy 8.5%, Romania 7.2%, Belgium 5.9%, France 4.1% (2008)
    Imports$35.64 billion (2008 est.)
    $28.65 billion (2007 est.)
    Imports - commodities(%)machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials
    Imports - partners(%)Russia 14.6%, Germany 11.8%, Italy 7.9%, Ukraine 7.3%, Romania 5.6%, Turkey 5.5%, Greece 5.4%, Austria 4.1% (2008)
    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$17.93 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $17.54 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Debt - external$51.46 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $42.62 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home$42.91 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $33.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad$1.292 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $559 million (31 December 2007 est.)
    Exchange ratesleva (BGN) per US dollar - 1.3171 (2008 est.), 1.4366 (2007), 1.5576 (2006), 1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004)
    Currency (code)lev (BGN)
    Telephones - main lines in use2.258 million (2008)
    Telephones - mobile cellular10.633 million (2008)
    Telephone systemgeneral assessment: an extensive but antiquated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; quality has improved; the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line monopoly terminated in 2005 when alternative fixed-line operators were given access to its network; a drop in fixed-line connections in recent years has been more than offset by a sharp increase in mobile-cellular telephone use fostered by multiple service providers; the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now greatly exceeds the population
    domestic: a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions; the others are connected by digital microwave radio relay
    international: country code - 359; submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2008)
    Internet country code.bg
    Internet users2.647 million (2008)
    Airports212 (2009)
    Pipelines(km)gas 2,926 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2008)
    Roadways(km)total: 40,231 km
    paved: 39,587 km (includes 331 km of expressways)
    unpaved: 644 km (2005)
    Ports and terminalsBurgas, Varna
    Military branchesBulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2009)
    Military service age and obligation(years of age)18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; as of May 2006, 67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers; conscription ended January 2008; Air Forces and Naval Forces became fully professional at the end of 2006 (2008)
    Manpower available for military servicemales age 16-49: 1,701,979
    females age 16-49: 1,691,092 (2008 est.)
    Manpower fit for military servicemales age 16-49: 1,351,312
    females age 16-49: 1,381,017 (2009 est.)
    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annuallymale: 38,263
    female: 36,374 (2009 est.)
    Military expenditures(% of GDP)2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
    Disputes - internationalnone
    Electricity - production(kWh)40.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - production by source(%)fossil fuel: 47.8%
    hydro: 8.1%
    nuclear: 44.1%
    other: 0% (2001)
    Electricity - consumption(kWh)31.08 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - exports(kWh)8.441 billion kWh (2008 est.)
    Electricity - imports(kWh)3.097 billion kWh (2008 est.)
    Oil - production(bbl/day)3,357 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - consumption(bbl/day)124,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - exports(bbl/day)76,570 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - imports(bbl/day)189,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - proved reserves(bbl)15 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
    Natural gas - production(cu m)300 million cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - consumption(cu m)3.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - exports(cu m)0 cu m (2008)
    Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m)5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%)less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS346 (2001 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deaths100 (2001 est.)
    Literacy(%)definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 98.2%
    male: 98.7%
    female: 97.7% (2001 census)
    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years)total: 14 years
    male: 13 years
    female: 14 years (2006)
    Education expenditures(% of GDP)4.5% of GDP (2005)
    BackgroundThe Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
    LocationSoutheastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
    Area(sq km)total: 110,879 sq km
    land: 108,489 sq km
    water: 2,390 sq km
    Geographic coordinates43 00 N, 25 00 E
    Land boundaries(km)total: 1,808 km
    border countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km
    Coastline(km)354 km
    Climatetemperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
    Elevation extremes(m)lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
    highest point: Musala 2,925 m
    Natural resourcesbauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
    Land use(%)arable land: 29.94%
    permanent crops: 1.9%
    other: 68.16% (2005)
    Irrigated land(sq km)5,880 sq km (2003)
    Total renewable water resources(cu km)19.4 cu km (2005)
    Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 6.92 cu km/yr (3%/78%/19%)
    per capita: 895 cu m/yr (2003)
    Natural hazardsearthquakes; landslides
    Environment - current issuesair pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
    Environment - international agreementsparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
    signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
    Geography - notestrategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
    Population7,204,687 (July 2009 est.)
    Age structure(%)0-14 years: 13.8% (male 509,544/female 484,816)
    15-64 years: 68.5% (male 2,426,060/female 2,508,772)
    65 years and over: 17.7% (male 518,711/female 756,784) (2009 est.)
    Median age(years)total: 41.4 years
    male: 39.2 years
    female: 43.6 years (2009 est.)
    Population growth rate(%)-0.79% (2009 est.)
    Birth rate(births/1,000 population)9.51 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Death rate(deaths/1,000 population)14.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
    Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population)-3.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Urbanization(%)urban population: 71% of total population (2008)
    rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
    Sex ratio(male(s)/female)at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
    under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
    15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
    65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
    total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
    Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births)total: 17.87 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 21.28 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
    Life expectancy at birth(years)total population: 73.09 years
    male: 69.48 years
    female: 76.91 years (2009 est.)
    Total fertility rate(children born/woman)1.41 children born/woman (2009 est.)
    Nationalitynoun: Bulgarian(s)
    adjective: Bulgarian
    Ethnic groups(%)Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)
    Religions(%)Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)
    Languages(%)Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
    Country nameconventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
    conventional short form: Bulgaria
    local long form: Republika Balgariya
    local short form: Balgariya
    Government typeparliamentary democracy
    Capitalname: Sofia
    geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E
    time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
    daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
    Administrative divisions28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
    Constitutionadopted 12 July 1991
    Legal systemcivil and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
    Suffrage18 years of age; universal
    Executive branchchief of state: President Georgi PARVANOV (since 22 January 2002); Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)
    head of government: Prime Minister Boyko BORISSOV (since 27 July 2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Simeon DJANKOV and Tsvetan TSVETANOV (since 27 July 2009);
    cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
    elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
    election results: Georgi PARVANOV reelected president; percent of vote - Georgi PARVANOV 77.3%, Volen SIDEROV 22.7%; Boyko BORISSOV elected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 162 to 77 with 1 abstension
    Legislative branchunicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
    elections: last held 5 July 2009 (next to be held mid-2013)
    election results: percent of vote by party - GERB 39.7%, BSP 17.7%, MRF 14.4%, ATAKA 9.4%, Blue Coalition 6.8%, RZS 4.1%, other 7.9%; seats by party - GERB 116, BSP 40, MRF 38, ATAKA 21, Blue Coalition 15, RZS 10
    Judicial branchindependent judiciary comprised of judges, prosecutors and investigating magistrates who are appointed, promoted, demoted, and dismissed by a 25-member Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 members, half of whom are elected by the National Assembly and the other half by the bodies of the judiciary for a 5-year term in office); three levels of case review; 182 courts of which two Supreme Courts act as the last instance on civil and criminal cases (the Supreme Court of Cassation) and appeals of government decisions (the Supreme Administrative Court)
    Political pressure groups and leadersConfederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation
    other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
    International organization participationACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
    Flag descriptionthree equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the pan-Slavic white-blue-red colors were modified by substituting a green band (representing freedom) for the blue
    note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed
    Economy - overviewBulgaria, a former Communist country that entered the EU on 1 January 2007, has experienced strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996. Successive governments have demonstrated a commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but have failed so far to rein in rising inflation and large current account deficits. Bulgaria has averaged more than 6% growth since 2004, attracting significant amounts of foreign direct investment, but corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime remain significant challenges.
    GDP (purchasing power parity)$93.98 billion (2008 est.)
    $88.66 billion (2007 est.)
    $83.48 billion (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP (official exchange rate)$49.9 billion (2008)
    GDP - real growth rate(%)6% (2008 est.)
    6.2% (2007 est.)
    6.3% (2006 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP)$12,900 (2008 est.)
    $12,100 (2007 est.)
    $11,300 (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP - composition by sector(%)agriculture: 7.3%
    industry: 30.5%
    services: 62.2% (2008 est.)
    Labor force2.67 million (2008 est.)
    Labor force - by occupation(%)agriculture: 7.5%
    industry: 35.5%
    services: 57% (2007 est.)
    Unemployment rate(%)6.3% (2008 est.)
    7.7% (2007 est.)
    Population below poverty line(%)14.1% (2003 est.)
    Household income or consumption by percentage share(%)lowest 10%: 3%
    highest 10%: 25.5% (2007)
    Distribution of family income - Gini index30.7 (2007)
    26.4 (2001)
    Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP)33.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
    Budgetrevenues: $22.24 billion
    expenditures: $20.74 billion (2008 est.)
    Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%)12.3% (2008 est.)
    9.8% (2007 est.)
    Stock of money$14.29 billion (31 December 2008)
    $15.58 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of quasi money$19.67 billion (31 December 2008)
    $17.03 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of domestic credit$32.04 billion (31 December 2008)
    $25.18 billion (31 December 2007)
    Market value of publicly traded shares$8.858 billion (31 December 2008)
    $21.79 billion (31 December 2007)
    $10.32 billion (31 December 2006)
    Economic aid - recipient$742 million (2005-06 est.)
    Public debt(% of GDP)14.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
    41.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
    Agriculture - productsvegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock
    Industrieselectricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel
    Industrial production growth rate(%)1.5% (2008 est.)
    Current account balance-$12.65 billion (2008 est.)
    -$8.716 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports$22.71 billion (2008 est.)
    $18.58 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports - commodities(%)clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
    Exports - partners(%)Greece 9.9%, Germany 9.2%, Turkey 8.9%, Italy 8.5%, Romania 7.2%, Belgium 5.9%, France 4.1% (2008)
    Imports$35.64 billion (2008 est.)
    $28.65 billion (2007 est.)
    Imports - commodities(%)machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials
    Imports - partners(%)Russia 14.6%, Germany 11.8%, Italy 7.9%, Ukraine 7.3%, Romania 5.6%, Turkey 5.5%, Greece 5.4%, Austria 4.1% (2008)
    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$17.93 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $17.54 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Debt - external$51.46 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $42.62 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home$42.91 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $33.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad$1.292 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $559 million (31 December 2007 est.)
    Exchange ratesleva (BGN) per US dollar - 1.3171 (2008 est.), 1.4366 (2007), 1.5576 (2006), 1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004)
    Currency (code)lev (BGN)
    Telephones - main lines in use2.258 million (2008)
    Telephones - mobile cellular10.633 million (2008)
    Telephone systemgeneral assessment: an extensive but antiquated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; quality has improved; the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line monopoly terminated in 2005 when alternative fixed-line operators were given access to its network; a drop in fixed-line connections in recent years has been more than offset by a sharp increase in mobile-cellular telephone use fostered by multiple service providers; the number of cellular telephone subscriptions now greatly exceeds the population
    domestic: a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions; the others are connected by digital microwave radio relay
    international: country code - 359; submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2008)
    Internet country code.bg
    Internet users2.647 million (2008)
    Airports212 (2009)
    Pipelines(km)gas 2,926 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2008)
    Roadways(km)total: 40,231 km
    paved: 39,587 km (includes 331 km of expressways)
    unpaved: 644 km (2005)
    Ports and terminalsBurgas, Varna
    Military branchesBulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2009)
    Military service age and obligation(years of age)18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; as of May 2006, 67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers; conscription ended January 2008; Air Forces and Naval Forces became fully professional at the end of 2006 (2008)
    Manpower available for military servicemales age 16-49: 1,701,979
    females age 16-49: 1,691,092 (2008 est.)
    Manpower fit for military servicemales age 16-49: 1,351,312
    females age 16-49: 1,381,017 (2009 est.)
    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annuallymale: 38,263
    female: 36,374 (2009 est.)
    Military expenditures(% of GDP)2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
    Disputes - internationalnone
    Electricity - production(kWh)40.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - production by source(%)fossil fuel: 47.8%
    hydro: 8.1%
    nuclear: 44.1%
    other: 0% (2001)
    Electricity - consumption(kWh)31.08 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - exports(kWh)8.441 billion kWh (2008 est.)
    Electricity - imports(kWh)3.097 billion kWh (2008 est.)
    Oil - production(bbl/day)3,357 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - consumption(bbl/day)124,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - exports(bbl/day)76,570 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - imports(bbl/day)189,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - proved reserves(bbl)15 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
    Natural gas - production(cu m)300 million cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - consumption(cu m)3.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - exports(cu m)0 cu m (2008)
    Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m)5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%)less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS346 (2001 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deaths100 (2001 est.)
    Literacy(%)definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 98.2%
    male: 98.7%
    female: 97.7% (2001 census)
    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years)total: 14 years
    male: 13 years
    female: 14 years (2006)
    Education expenditures(% of GDP)4.5% of GDP (2005)








    Copyright mongabay 2000-2013