2018 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

almost identical in size to Virginia; slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate

temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline

354 km

Elevation

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Black Sea

mean elevation

472 m

note

2925 highest point: Musala

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

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

1,020 sq km (2012)

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% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.5% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 15.5% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

46.9% (2011 est.)

forest

36.7% (2011 est.)

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

Population Distribution

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations

Terrain

mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Age Structure

0-14 years

14.6% (male 530,219 /female 500,398)

15-24 years

9.43% (male 346,588 /female 318,645)

25-54 years

43.12% (male 1,565,770 /female 1,477,719)

55-64 years

13.3% (male 442,083 /female 496,888)

65 years and over

19.54% (male 557,237 /female 821,957) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

8.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

14.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

30.5 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

3.3 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.7 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

21.2 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 99% of population

total: 99.4% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 1% of population

total: 0.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic Groups

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

note

Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 9–11% of Bulgaria's population

Health Expenditures

8.4% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

<.1% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

<100 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

2,800 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

6.8 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

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

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

78.3 years (2018 est.)

male

71.5 years (2018 est.)

total population

74.8 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

98.1% (2015 est.)

male

98.7% (2015 est.)

total population

98.4% (2015 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

1.272 million SOFIA (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

11 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

44.9 years (2018 est.)

male

41.2 years

total

43 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

26.7 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Bulgarian

noun

Bulgarian(s)

Net Migration Rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

25% (2016)

Physicians Density

4 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

7,057,504 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-0.63% (2018 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

improved: urban: 86.8% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 83.7% of population (2015 est.)

total: 86% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 13.2% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 16.3% of population (2015 est.)

total: 14% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

15 years (2015)

male

15 years (2015)

total

15 years (2015)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.09 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.88 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.69 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.47 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

16.9% (2016 est.)

male

17.4% (2016 est.)

total

17.2% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.22% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

75% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Sofia-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, 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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Bulgaria

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; passage requires three-fourths majority vote of National Assembly members in three ballots; signed by the National Assembly chairperson; note - under special circumstances, a "Grand National Assembly" is elected with the authority to write a new constitution and amend certain articles of the constitution, including those affecting basic civil rights and national sovereignty; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in each of several readings; amended several times, last in 2015 (2016)

history

several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991 (2016)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Bulgaria

conventional short form

Bulgaria

etymology

named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D.

former

Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Repulic of Bulgaria

local long form

Republika Bulgaria

local short form

Bulgaria

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Eric Seth RUBIN (since 24 February 2016)

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 Tihomir Anguelov STOYTCHEV (since 27 June 2016)

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 Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017); Vice President Iliana IOTOVA (since 22 January 2017)

election results

Rumen RADEV elected president in second round; percent of vote - Rumen RADEV (independent, supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party) 59.4%, Tsetska TSACHEVA (GERB) 36.2%, neither 4.5%; Boyko BORISSOV (GERB) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 133 to 100

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 6 and 13 November 2016 (next to be held in fall 2021); 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 BORISSOV (since 4 May 2017); note - BORISSOV served 2 previous terms as prime minister (27 July 2009-13 March 2013 and 7 November 2014-27 January 2017)

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 republic

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 courts

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; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; 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/coalition - GERB 32.7%, BSP 27.2%, United Patriots 9.1%, DPS 9%, Volya 4.2%, other 17.8%; seats by party/coalition - GERB 95, BSP 80, United Patriots 27, DPS 26, Volya 12; composition - men 183, women 57, percent of women 23.8%

elections

last held on 26 March 2017 (next to be held spring 2021)

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 [Rumen PETKOV]Attack (Ataka) [Volen Nikolov SIDEROV]Bulgarian Agrarian People’s Union [Nikolay NENCHEV]Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Korneliya NINOVA]Bulgaria of the Citizens or DBG [Dimiter DELCHEV]]Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko BORISSOV]Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Atanas ATANASOV]Democrats for Responsibility, Solidarity, and Tolerance or DOST [Lyutvi MESTAN]IMRO - Bulgarian National Movement or IMRO-BNM [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS [Mustafa KARADAYI]National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria or NFSB [Valeri SIMEONOV]Reformist Bloc or RB (a four-party alliance including DBG and SDS)United Patriots (alliance of IMRO-BNM, NFSB, and Attack)Union of Democratic Forces or SDS [Bozhidar LUKARSKI]Yes! Bulgaria [Hristo IVANOV]Volya [Veselin MARESHKI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

19.35 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

20.35 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

0% (31 December 2017)

0.01% (31 December 2015)

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

5.41% (31 December 2017 est.)

6.39% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$2.562 billion (2017 est.)

$1.207 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$42.06 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$35.98 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

40.2 (2017)

38.3 (2016)

Economy Overview

Bulgaria, a former communist country that entered the EU in 2007, has an open economy that historically has demonstrated strong growth, but its per-capita income remains the lowest among EU members and its reliance on energy imports and foreign demand for its exports makes its growth sensitive to external market conditions.The government undertook significant structural economic reforms in the 1990s to move the economy from a centralized, planned economy to a more liberal, market-driven economy. These reforms included privatization of state-owned enterprises, liberalization of trade, and strengthening of the tax system - changes that initially caused some economic hardships but later helped to attract investment, spur growth, and make gradual improvements to living conditions. From 2000 through 2008, Bulgaria maintained robust, average annual real GDP growth in excess of 6%, which was followed by a deep recession in 2009 as the financial crisis caused domestic demand, exports, capital inflows and industrial production to contract, prompting the government to rein in spending. Real GDP growth remained slow - less than 2% annually - until 2015, when demand from EU countries for Bulgarian exports, plus an inflow of EU development funds, boosted growth to more than 3%. In recent years, strong domestic demand combined with low international energy prices have contributed to Bulgaria’s economic growth approaching 4% and have also helped to ease inflation. Bulgaria’s prudent public financial management contributed to budget surpluses both in 2016 and 2017.Bulgaria is heavily reliant on energy imports from Russia, a potential vulnerability, and is a participant in EU-backed efforts to diversify regional natural gas supplies. In late 2016, the Bulgarian Government provided funding to Bulgaria’s National Electric Company to cover the $695 million compensation owed to Russian nuclear equipment manufacturer Atomstroyexport for the cancellation of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, which the Bulgarian Government terminated in 2012. As of early 2018, the government was floating the possibility of resurrecting the Belene project. The natural gas market, dominated by state-owned Bulgargaz, is also almost entirely supplied by Russia. Infrastructure projects such as the Inter-Connector Greece-Bulgaria and Inter-Connector Bulgaria-Serbia, which would enable Bulgaria to have access to non-Russian gas, have either stalled or made limited progress. In 2016, the Bulgarian Government established the State eGovernment Agency. This new agency is responsible for the electronic governance, coordinating national policies with the EU, and strengthening cybersecurity.Despite a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, low productivity, lack of transparency in public procurements, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.

Exchange Rates

leva (BGN) per US dollar -

1.63 (2017 est.)

1.86 (2016 est.)

1.768 (2015 est.)

1.7644 (2014 est.)

1.4742 (2013 est.)

Exports

$29.08 billion (2017 est.)

$25.37 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels, agriculture, tobacco, IT components

Exports Partners

Germany 13.5%, Italy 8.3%, Romania 8.2%, Turkey 7.7%, Greece 6.5%, Belgium 4.2%, France 4.1% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

66.3% (2017 est.)

government consumption

16% (2017 est.)

household consumption

61.6% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-64.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

19.2% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.7% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

4.3% (2017 est.)

industry

28% (2017 est.)

services

67.4% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$56.94 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$21,800 (2017 est.)

$20,900 (2016 est.)

$19,900 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$153.5 billion (2017 est.)

$148.2 billion (2016 est.)

$142.6 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

3.6% (2017 est.)

3.9% (2016 est.)

3.6% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

25.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

21.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

21.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

31.2% (2017)

lowest 10%

31.2% (2017)

Imports

$31.43 billion (2017 est.)

$26.66 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

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

Imports Partners

Germany 12.3%, Russia 10.3%, Italy 7.3%, Romania 7.1%, Turkey 6.2%, Spain 5.3%, Greece 4.4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

3.6% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

1.2% (2017 est.)

-1.3% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

3.357 million (2017 est.)

note

number of employed persons

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

6.8%

industry

26.6%

services

66.6% (2016 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$14.49 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$5.205 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$4.797 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

23.4% (2016 est.)

Public Debt

23.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

27.4% of GDP (2016 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

$28.38 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$25.13 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$29.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$22.01 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$5.868 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.988 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$46.92 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$45.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$33.44 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$27.57 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$29.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$22.01 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

35.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

6.2% (2017 est.)

7.7% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

46.31 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

133,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

1,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

32.34 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

9.187 billion kWh (2017 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

39% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

4.568 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

10.75 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

42.29 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

3.313 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

31.15 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

3.256 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

79.28 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

97,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

92,720 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

49,260 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

144,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

25 (2017 est.)

total

1,764,782 (2017 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

59.8% (July 2016 est.)

total

4,274,328 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

fixed-line 18 per 100 persons,  mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service providers, is over 120 telephones per 100 persons (2017)

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; Bulgaria has a mature mobile market with active competition (2017)

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) (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

1,302,316 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

120 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

8,532,908 (2017 est.)

Airports

68 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

12 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

17 (2017)

over 3,047 m

2 (2017)

total

57 (2017)

under 914 m

26 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2013)

total

11 (2013)

under 914 m

9 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

LZ (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant Marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, general cargo 18, oil tanker 8, other 52 (2017)

total

80 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1,583,340 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,118,689 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

44 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

8 (2015)

Pipelines

2765 km gas, 346 km oil, 378 km refined products (2017)

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) (2014)

total

5,114 km (2014)

Roadways

note

does not include Category IV local roads

paved

19,235 km (includes 458 km of expressways) (2011)

total

19,512 km (2011)

unpaved

277 km (2011)

Waterways

470 km (2009)

Military Branches

Bulgarian Armed Forces: Land Forces (aka Army), Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Voennovazdushni Sili, VVS) (2018)

Military Expenditures

1.53% of GDP (2017)

1.44% of GDP (2016)

1.32% of GDP (2015)

1.47% of GDP (2014)

1.61% of GDP (2013)

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

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

note

53,426 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-December 2018); Bulgaria is predominantly a transit country and hosts approximately 992 migrants and asylum seekers as of the end of September 2018; 2,562 migrant arrivals in 2017

refugees (country of origin)

16,549 (Syria) (2017)

stateless persons

48 (2017)

Trafficking In Persons

current situation

Bulgaria is a source and, to a lesser extent, a transit and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Bulgaria is one of the main sources of human trafficking in the EU; women and children are increasingly sex trafficked domestically, as well as in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and the US; adults and children become forced laborers in agriculture, construction, and the service sector in Europe, Israel, and Zambia; Romanian girls are also subjected to sex trafficking in Bulgaria

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Bulgaria does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, authorities prosecuted and convicted fewer traffickers and issued suspended sentences for the majority of those convicted; victim protection efforts declined and were minimal relative to the number of victims identified; funding for the state’s two NGO-operated shelters was significantly cut, forcing them to close; specialized services for child and adult male victims were non-existent; the government took action to combat trafficking-related complicity among public officials and police officers (2015)