2015 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

land

108,489 sq km

total

110,879 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

highest point

Musala 2,925 m

lowest point

Black Sea 0 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)

per capita

821.8 cu m/yr (2009)

total

6.12 cu km/yr (16%/68%/16%)

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

1,046 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

border countries (5)

Greece 472 km, Macedonia 162 km, Romania 605 km, Serbia 344 km, Turkey 223 km

total

1,806 km

Land use

arable land 29.9%; permanent crops 1.5%; permanent pasture 15.5%

agricultural land

46.9%

forest

36.7%

other

16.4% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 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

21.3 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

14.53% (male 538,266/female 505,927)

15-24 years

9.95% (male 373,340/female 341,507)

25-54 years

43.35% (male 1,598,130/female 1,517,744)

55-64 years

13.45% (male 451,841/female 514,696)

65 years and over

18.72% (male 547,887/female 797,555) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

8.92 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

69.2%

note

percent of women age 20-49 (2007)

Death rate

14.44 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

30.4%

potential support ratio

3.3% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.9%

youth dependency ratio

21.5%

Drinking water source

urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 99% of population

total: 99.4% of population

urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 1% of population

total: 0.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

Bulgarian 76.9%, Turkish 8%, Roma 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Russian, Armenian, and Vlach), other (unknown) 10% (2011 est.)

Health expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

6.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

9.73 deaths/1,000 live births

total

8.66 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Roma 3.8%, other 0.7%, unspecified 10.5% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.93 years (2015 est.)

male

71.05 years

total population

74.39 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.1% (2015 est.)

male

98.7%

total population

98.4%

Major urban areas - population

SOFIA (capital) 1.226 million (2015)

Median age

female

44.2 years (2015 est.)

male

40.2 years

total

42.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Bulgarian

noun

Bulgarian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.6% (2014)

Physicians density

3.87 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

7,186,893 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.58% (2015 est.)

Religions

Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim 7.8%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Jewish) 1.7%, none 3.7%, unspecified 27.4% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 86.8% of population

rural: 83.7% of population

total: 86% of population

urban: 13.2% of population

rural: 16.3% of population

total: 14% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2012)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.09 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.05 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.88 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.69 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.45 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

26% (2012 est.)

male

29.5%

total

28.1%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.31% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

73.9% of total population (2015)

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 (Sofia), Sofiya-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

42 41 N, 23 19 E

name

Sofia

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 12 July 1991; amended several times, last in 2007 (2007)

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 Marcie B. RIES (since 5 September 2012)

embassy

16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408

FAX

[359] (2) 937-5320

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

chancery

1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Elena POPTODOROVA (since 4 August 2010)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 234-7973

telephone

[1] (202) 387-0174

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly

chief of state

President Rosen PLEVNELIEV (since 22 January 2012); Vice President Margarita POPOVA (since 22 January 2012)

election results

Rosen PLEVNELIEV elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Rosen PLEVNELIEV (independent) 52.6%, Ivailo KALFIN (BSP) 47.4%

elections/appointments

president and vice president elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 and 30 October 2011 (next to be held in 2016); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Boyko BORISOV (since 7 November 2014); Deputy Prime Ministers Tomislav DONCHEV (since 7 November 2014), Rumyana BACHVAROVA (since 7 November 2014), Meglena KUNEVA (since 7 November 2014), Ivaylo KALFIN (since 7 November 2014); note - this is BORISOV's second term as prime minister, he first served between 27 July 2009 and 13 March 2013

Flag description

three 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

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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of a chairman and approximately 72 judges organized into penal, civil, and commercial colleges); Supreme Administrative Court (organized in 2 colleges with various panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 justices); note - Constitutional Court resides outside the Judiciary

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court of Cassation and Supreme Administrative judges elected by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC (consists of 25 members with extensive legal experience) and appointed by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly and appointed by the president and the SJC; justices appointed for 9-year terms with renewal of 4 justices every 3 years

subordinate courts

appeals courts; regional and district courts; administrative courts; courts martial

Legal system

civil law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - GERB 32.7%, BSP 15.4%, DPS 14.8%, RB 8.9%, PF 7.3%, BBTs 5.7%, Ataka 4.5%, ABV 4.2%, other 6.5%; seats by party - GERB 84, BSP 39, DPS 38, RB 23, PF 19, BBTs 15, Ataka 11, ABV 11

elections

last held on 5 October 2014 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Tsvetan Tsvetkov RADOSLAVOV

name

"Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland)

note

adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War

National holiday

Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: white, green, red

Political parties and leaders

Alternative for Bulgarian Revival or ABV [Georgi PARVANOV]

Attack (Ataka) [Volen Nikolov SIDEROV]

Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Mihail MIKOV]

Bulgaria of the Citizens or DBG [Meglena KUNEVA]

Bulgaria Without Censorship or BBTs [Nikolay BAREKOV]

Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko BORISOV]

Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB [Sergei STANISHEV] (coalition of parties dominated by BSP)

Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Radan KANEV]

IMRO - Bulgarian National Movement or IMRO-BNM [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]

Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS [Lyutvi MESTAN]

National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria or NFSB [Valeri SIMEONOV]

National Movement for Stability and Progress or NDSV [Hristina HRISTOVA] (formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2)

Order, Law, and Justice or RZS [Yane YANEV]

Patriotic Front or PF (alliance of IMRO-BNM and NFSB)

Union of Democratic Forces or SDS [Bozhidar LUKARSKI]

Reformist Bloc or RB (a five-party alliance including the DSB, DBG, and SDS)

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

expenditures

$21.25 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$19.62 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.03% (31 December 2014)

0.02% (31 December 2013)

note

Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has had no independent monetary policy since the introduction of the Currency Board regime in 1997; this is BNB's base interest rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.56% (31 December 2014 est.)

8.11% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$25 million (2014 est.)

$564.7 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$54.04 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$52 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.4 (2012)

26 (2001)

Economy - overview

Bulgaria, a former Communist country that entered the EU on 1 January 2007, averaged more than 6% annual growth from 2004 to 2008, driven by significant amounts of bank lending, consumption, and foreign direct investment. Successive governments have demonstrated a commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but the global downturn sharply reduced domestic demand, exports, capital inflows, and industrial production. GDP contracted by 5.5% in 2009, and has been slow to recover in the years since. Despite having a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.

Exchange rates

leva (BGN) per US dollar -

1.465 (2014 est.)

1.4736 (2013 est.)

1.52 (2012 est.)

1.4053 (2011 est.)

1.4774 (2010 est.)

Exports

$29.25 billion (2014 est.)

$29.58 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels

Exports - partners

Germany 12.3%, Italy 9.1%, Turkey 8.9%, Romania 8.1%, Greece 6.8%, France 4.4%, Belgium 4.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

71.4%

government consumption

17.1%

household consumption

63.7%

imports of goods and services

-72.5%

investment in fixed capital

21.2%

investment in inventories

-0.9%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

4.9%

industry

31.2%

services

63.9% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,900 (2014 est.)

$17,600 (2013 est.)

$17,400 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2014 est.)

1.1% (2013 est.)

0.5% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$55.84 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$128.6 billion (2014 est.)

$126.5 billion (2013 est.)

$125.1 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

21.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

23.8% of GDP (2013 est.)

21.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

35.2% (2007)

lowest 10%

2%

Imports

$33.56 billion (2014 est.)

$32.81 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials

Imports - partners

Russia 14.5%, Germany 12.4%, Italy 7.2%, Romania 6.9%, Turkey 5.6%, Greece 5.2%, Spain 5% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

3.5% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.4% (2014 est.)

0.9% (2013 est.)

Labor force

2.981 million

note

number of employed persons (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

6.7%

industry

30.2%

services

63.1% (2013)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$7.232 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$7.014 billion (31 December 2013)

$6.666 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

21% (2012 est.)

Public debt

25.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

25.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$20.27 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$19.78 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$46.42 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$47.33 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$2.599 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.199 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$52.75 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$50.75 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$38.58 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$40.21 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$20.85 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$19.05 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

35.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.5% (2014 est.)

11.8% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

44.51 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

124,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

1,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

28.5 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

6.2 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

46% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

21% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

15.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

17.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.351 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

12.9 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

47.21 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

2.813 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.569 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

283 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

94,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

73,740 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

50,130 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

128,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

4 national terrestrial TV stations with 1 state-owned and 3 privately owned; a vast array of TV stations are available from cable and satellite TV providers; state-owned national radio broadcasts over 3 networks; large number of private radio stations broadcasting, especially in urban areas (2010)

Internet country code

.bg

Internet users

percent of population

57.0% (2014 est.)

total

4.1 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line monopoly terminated in 2005 in an effort to upgrade fixed-line services; mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service providers, has reached 150 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

inherited an extensive but antiquated telecommunications network from the Soviet era; quality has improved with a modern digital trunk line now connecting switching centers in most of the regions; remaining areas 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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

25 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.8 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

137 (2014 est.)

total

9.9 million

Television broadcast stations

39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)

Airports

68 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

12

2,438 to 3,047 m

17

over 3,047 m

2

total

57

under 914 m

26 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

9 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

11

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 9, cargo 8, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2

foreign-owned

14 (Germany 12, Russia 2)

registered in other countries

30 (Belize 1, Comoros 4, Georgia 1, Malta 8, Moldova 1, Panama 6, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9) (2010)

total

22

Pipelines

gas 2,887 km; oil 346 km; refined products 378 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Burgas, Varna (Black Sea)

Railways

narrow gauge

125 km 0.760-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

4,989 km 1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified)

total

5,114 km

Roadways

note

does not include Category IV local roads (2011)

paved

19,235 km (includes 458 km of expressways)

total

19,512 km

unpaved

277 km

Waterways

470 km (2009)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,621,352 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,637,470

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

1,337,616 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,320,955

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

32,075 (2010 est.)

male

33,444

Military branches

Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2011)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2013)

1.46% of GDP (2012)

1.55% of GDP (2011)

1.46% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2008; service obligation 6-9 months (2012)

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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

8,501 (Syria) (2014)

stateless persons

67 (2014)