2009 Edition

Background

The 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.

Area

total: 110,879 sq km country comparison to the world: 104 land: 108,489 sq km water: 2,390 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate

temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline

354 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Environment - current issues

air 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 agreements

party 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 6.92 cu km/yr (3%/78%/19%) per capita: 895 cu m/yr (2003)

Geographic coordinates

43 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note

strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

Irrigated land

5,880 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,808 km border countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Land use

arable land: 29.94% permanent crops: 1.9% other: 68.16% (2005)

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

earthquakes; landslides

Natural resources

bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land

Terrain

mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Total renewable water resources

19.4 cu km (2005)

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.)

Birth rate

9.51 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Death rate

14.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 90

Ethnic groups

Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

346 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Infant mortality rate

total: 17.87 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 115 male: 21.28 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.09 years country comparison to the world: 111 male: 69.48 years female: 76.91 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.2% male: 98.7% female: 97.7% (2001 census)

Median age

total: 41.4 years male: 39.2 years female: 43.6 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian

Net migration rate

-3.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Population

7,204,687 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Population growth rate

-0.79% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 231

Religions

Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2006)

Sex ratio

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.41 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 192

Urbanization

urban population: 71% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Administrative divisions

28 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

Capital

name: 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

Constitution

adopted 12 July 1991

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria local long form: Republika Balgariya local short form: Balgariya

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy McELDOWNEY embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407 mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740 telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Latchezar PETKOV chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174

Executive branch

chief 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%; Sergei STANISHEV elected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 168 to 67

FAX

[1] (202) 234-7973 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

[359] (2) 937-5320

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

International organization participation

ACCT, 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, NAM (guest), 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

Judicial branch

independent 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)

Legal system

civil and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral 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

National holiday

Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

Political parties and leaders

ATAKA (Attack Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by the Attack National Union); Attack National Union [Volen SIDEROV]; Agrarian National Union or ANU [Stefan LICHEV]; Blue Coalition (a coalition of center-right parties dominated by UDF and DSB); Bulgarian New Democracy [Borislav RALCHEV]; Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Tsvetan TSVETANOV]; Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV]; Gergyovden [Petar STOYANOVICH]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Liberal Initiative for Democratic European Development or LIDER [Khristo KOVACHKI]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; Movement Forward (LIDER, IMRO, ANU, Gergyovden); National Movement for Stability and Progress or NDSV [Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA] (formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2); New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Order, Law, Justice or RZS [Yane YANEV]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Martin DIMITROV]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Agrarians [Anastasia MOZER]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock

Budget

revenues: $22.24 billion expenditures: $20.74 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5.77% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 111 4.58% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.86% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 85 10% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$12.65 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 -$8.716 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$51.46 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $42.62 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

30.7 (2007) country comparison to the world: 109 26.4 (2001)

Economy - overview

Bulgaria, 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.

Electricity - consumption

31.08 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Electricity - exports

8.441 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.097 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

40.25 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Exchange rates

leva (BGN) per US dollar - 1.3171 (2008 est.), 1.4366 (2007), 1.5576 (2006), 1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004)

Exports

$22.71 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 $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)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 7.3% industry: 30.5% services: 62.2% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $12,100 (2007 est.) $11,300 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 6.2% (2007 est.) 6.3% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$49.9 billion (2008)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$93.98 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $88.66 billion (2007 est.) $83.48 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 25.5% (2007)

Imports

$35.64 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $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)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Industries

electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 9.8% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

33.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Labor force

2.67 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 7.5% industry: 35.5% services: 57% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$8.858 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 68 $21.79 billion (31 December 2007) $10.32 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

3.4 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 198

Natural gas - imports

3.1 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Natural gas - production

300 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Oil - consumption

124,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Oil - exports

76,570 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Oil - imports

189,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Oil - production

3,357 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Oil - proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Population below poverty line

14.1% (2003 est.)

Public debt

14.1% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 41.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$17.93 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $17.54 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.292 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $559 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$42.91 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 52 $33.91 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$32.04 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 52 $25.18 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$14.29 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 40 $15.58 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$19.67 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 42 $17.03 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

6.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 7.7% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.bg

Internet hosts

706,648 (2009) country comparison to the world: 45

Internet users

2.647 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 63

Radio broadcast stations

AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)

Telephone system

general 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.258 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 55

Telephones - mobile cellular

10.633 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 59

Television broadcast stations

39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)

Airports

212 (2009) country comparison to the world: 29

Airports - with paved runways

total: 132 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 under 914 m: 97 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 73 (2009)

Heliports

3 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 74 country comparison to the world: 59 by type: bulk carrier 37, cargo 14, chemical tanker 5, container 6, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 1 foreign-owned: 65 (Germany 63, Ireland 1, Russia 1) registered in other countries: 31 (Comoros 2, Malta 5, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15, Slovakia 6) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 2,926 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Burgas, Varna

Railways

total: 4,294 km country comparison to the world: 38 standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified) narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 40,231 km country comparison to the world: 89 paved: 39,587 km (includes 331 km of expressways) unpaved: 644 km (2005)

Waterways

470 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 83

Bulgarian Armed Forces

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,701,979 females age 16-49: 1,691,092 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,351,312 females age 16-49: 1,381,017 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 38,263 female: 36,374 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Military service age and obligation

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)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; vulnerable to money laundering because of corruption, organized crime; some money laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions (2008) page last updated on November 11, 2009