Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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Background:
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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. Bulgaria
regained its independence in 1878, but having fought on the losing
side in both World Wars, it 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. Today, reforms and democratization
keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into NATO and
the EU - with which it began accession negotiations in 2000. |
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Location:
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Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and
Turkey |
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Geographic coordinates:
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43 00 N, 25 00 E |
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 110,910 sq km
water: 360 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Tennessee |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,808 km
border countries: Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km,
Turkey 240 km |
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Coastline:
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354 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Musala 2,925 m |
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Natural resources:
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bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land: 39%
permanent crops: 1.8%
other: 59.2% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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8,000 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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earthquakes, landslides |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes
from Europe to Middle East and Asia
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Population:
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7,537,929 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 14.2% (male 549,142; female 520,057)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 2,551,548; female 2,632,978)
65 years and over: 17% (male 535,165; female 749,039) (2003
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 40.5 years
male: 38.4 years
female: 42.4 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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-1.09% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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8.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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14.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-4.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 13.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 15.43 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 71.8 years
male: 68.26 years
female: 75.56 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.13 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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346 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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100 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Bulgarian 83.6%, Turk 9.5%, Roma 4.6%, other 2.3% (including Macedonian,
Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (1998) |
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Religions:
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Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish
0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 2.3% (1998) |
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Languages:
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Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria |
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Sofia |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire) |
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National holiday:
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Liberation Day, 3 March (1878) |
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Constitution:
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adopted 12 July 1991 |
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Legal system:
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civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January
2002); Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers
(Prime Minister) Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA (since 24 July 2001);
Deputy Prime Ministers Nikolay VASILEV (since 24 July 2001), and
Lidiya SHULEVA (since 24 July 2001), Plamen PANAYOTOV (since 17
July 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 11
November and 18 November 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); chairman
of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president;
deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister
election results: Georgi PURVANOV elected president; percent
of vote - Georgi PURVANOV 54.13%, Petar STOYANOV 45.87% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 June 2001 (next to be held NA June
2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NMS2 42.74%,
UtdDF 18.18%, CfB 17.15%, MRF 7.45%; seats by party - NMS2 120,
UtdDF 51, CfB 48, MRF 21; note - seating as of March 2003 - NMS2
110, UtdDF 50, CfB 48, MRF 20, independents 12 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation; Constitutional
Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year terms); Supreme
Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the two Supreme Courts,
the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members; responsible for appointing
the justices, prosecutors, and investigating magistrates in the
justice system; members of the Supreme Judicial Council elected
for five-year terms, 11 elected by the National Assembly and 11
by bodies of the judiciary) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Coalition for
Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei
STANISHEV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or VMRO
[Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF
[Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA];
Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Nadezhda MIKHAYLOVA]; Union of
Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces
or UtdDF (a coalition between the UDF and other center-right parties)
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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agrarian movement; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of
Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional,
ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA
consulate(s): New York
FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174
chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador James William PARDEW
embassy: 1 Suborna Street, Sofia 1000
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State,
5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
FAX: [359] (2) 981-89-77 |
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Flag description:
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three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the
national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe has
been removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath of wheat
ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing the
dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation
from Nazi control)
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Economy - overview:
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Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the European
Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth
since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then
socialist government. As a result, the government became committed
to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. A $300 million
stand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at the end of 2001 has
supported government efforts to overcome high rates of poverty and
unemployment. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $49.23 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.8% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 13.7%
industry: 28.5%
services: 57.9% (2001) |
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Population below poverty line:
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12.6% (2001 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: 4.5%
highest 10%: 22.8% (1997) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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26.4 (2001) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5.9% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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3.83 million (2000 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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18% (2002 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $5.57 billion
expenditures: $5.68 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2001 est.) |
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Industries:
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electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery
and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum,
nuclear fuel |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2% (2002 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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41.38 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 47.8%
hydro: 8.1%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 44.1% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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32.52 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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6.79 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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830 million kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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603 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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94,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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8.1 million bbl (37257) |
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Natural gas - production:
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4 million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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5.804 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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5.8 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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3.724 billion cu m (37257) |
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Agriculture - products:
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vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers,
sugar beets |
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Exports:
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$5.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
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Exports - partners:
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Italy 15.5%, Germany 9.6%, Turkey 9.4%, Greece 9.2%, France 5.3%,
US 4.8% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$6.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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fuels, minerals, and raw materials; machinery and equipment; metals
and ores; chemicals and plastics; food, textiles |
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Imports - partners:
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Russia 14.6%, Germany 14.4%, Italy 11.4%, Greece 6.1%, France 5.7%,
Turkey 5% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$10.3 billion (yearend 2002) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$300 million (2000 est.) |
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Currency:
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lev (BGL) |
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Currency code:
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BGN |
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Exchange rates:
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leva per US dollar - 2.08 (2002), 2.18 (2001), 2.12 (2000), 1.84
(1999), 1.76 (1998)
note: on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5
July 1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 lev |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 4,294 km
standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 37,286 km
paved: 35,049 km (including 324 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,237 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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470 km (1987) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 2,425 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 829,421 GRT/1,252,496
DWT
ships by type: bulk 42, cargo 10, chemical tanker 4, container
2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, railcar carrier 2, roll
on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 1 (2002
est.) |
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Airports:
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216 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 128
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 92 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 88
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 74 (2002) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2002)
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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