Introduction
Background
Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, and all of Bulgaria became independent in 1908. Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, and Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
Geography
Area
total : 110,879 sq km
land: 108,489 sq km
water: 2,390 sq km
Climate
temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Natural resources
bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
People and Society
Population
total: 6,782,659
Ethnic groups
Bulgarian 78.5%, Turkish 7.8%, Roma 4.1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 9.4% (2021 est.)
Languages
Bulgarian (official) 77.3%, Turkish 7.9%, Romani 3.5%, other 1%, unspecified 10.4% (2021 est.)
Religions
Christian 64.7%, Muslim 9.8%, other 0.1%, none 4.7%, unspecified 20.7% (2021 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.66% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Sofia
Executive branch
chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017)
head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar GLAVCHEV (since 9 April 2024)
Legislative branch
summary: unicameral National Assembly (240 seats)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Georgi Velikov PANAYOTOV (since 7 June 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth MERTEN (since 7 April 2023)
Economy
Economic overview
upper-middle-income EU economy; currency pegged to the euro with accession pending; joined Schengen area as of March 2024; global events and internal political turmoil triggered export slump and stalled reforms; EU structural funds contributing to investment recovery; skilled labor shortage driven by emigration and aging population
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$214.061 billion (2023 est.)
$210.181 billion (2022 est.)
$202.24 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$33,300 (2023 est.)
$32,500 (2022 est.)
$29,400 (2021 est.)
Exports
$62.118 billion (2023 est.)
$60.712 billion (2022 est.)
$51.49 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 13%, Romania 13%, Italy 7%, Turkey 6%, Greece 6% (2022)
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, wheat, refined copper (2022)
Imports
$58.79 billion (2023 est.)
$60.252 billion (2022 est.)
$50.048 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
Germany 10%, Russia 10%, Turkey 9%, Romania 7%, Greece 6% (2022)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, copper ore, cars, packaged medicine (2022)
Page last updated: Thursday, October 03, 2024
