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Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Population
6.4M
Rank #110Source: World Bank
Capital
Sofia
Source: REST Countries
Region
Europe
Europe & Central Asia
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$113.34B
Rank #68Source: World Bank
Land Area
110.9K km²
Rank #104Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
75.707 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 110,879 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation: mean elevation: 472 m lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural Hazards: earthquakes; landslides
Environmental 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...
Land Use: agricultural land: 46.9% (2011 est.) forest: 36.7% (2011 est.) other: 16.4% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
Natural Resources
bauxitecopperleadzinccoaltimberarable land
People & Society
Fertility Rate
1.81
Population
6.4M
Ethnic Groups
Bulgarian (76.9%)Turkish (8%)Romani (4.4%)other (0.7%)other (unknown) (10%)
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%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$17,596.017
GDP per Capita PPP
42,224.445
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
15,370
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
39.5
(2023)
(2023)
Unemployment
4.2%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
2.447%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
100%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
20.4%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
34.189 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
4.72 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
22.192%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
36.22% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
82.439%
(2024)
(2024)
Mobile Penetration
117.933%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
37.024%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
0.626 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
254,854 TEU
(2022)
(2022)
Airports
7,027
Rail Lines
4,031 km
Roads Total
19,968 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Bulgarian Armed Forces: Land Forces (aka Army), Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Voennovazdushni Sili, VVS), Special Forces; Ministry of Interior: Border Guards
Personnel Strength
the Bulgarian Armed Forces have approximately 35,000 active duty personnel (17,000 Army; 4,000 Navy; 7,000 Air Force; 7,000 Joint Service/Central Staff)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$2.33B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
2.15%
Military Expenditure History
3.25% of GDP (2019 est.) 1.48% of GDP (2018) 1.24% of GDP (2017) 1.26% of GDP (2016) 1.26% of GDP (2015)
Deployments
160 Afghanistan (NATO) (2020)
Equipment & Inventories
the Bulgarian Armed Forces inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although in recent years, Bulgaria has attempted to procure more modern weapons systems from Western countries; since...
Service Age & Obligation
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2008; service obligation 6-9 months
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
84.285%
(2020)
(2020)
Primary Enrollment
95.423%
(2023)
(2023)
Secondary Enrollment
95.624%
(2023)
(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
79.853%
(2023)
(2023)
Education Spending
4.501% of GDP
(2022)
(2022)
Adult Literacy Rate
98.35%
(2011)
(2011)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
15.207:1
(2017)
(2017)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
4.328
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
99.185%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
96.207%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
6.1 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
14.421 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
74.98
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
73
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
94%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
1%
(2023)
(2023)
Food Insecurity
2.5%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
12.344%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
20.833%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.39
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.34
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
0.05
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
0.41
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.01
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.14
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
parliamentary republic
Legal System
civil law
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017); Vice President Iliana IOTOVA (since 22 January 2017) head of government: Prime Minister Boyko BORISOV (since 4 May 2017); note - BORISOV...
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...
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 into 2...
National Symbols
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 bluenote: the national...
National Symbols
lion; national colors: white, green, red
National Anthem
name: "Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland) lyrics/music: Tsvetan Tsvetkov RADOSLAVOV note: adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War
Safety
Homicide Rate
1.089 per 100,000
(2023)
(2023)
Travel Information
Language(s): Bulgarian
Currency: BGN (лв)
Timezone(s): UTC+02:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +359
Car Sign: BG
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Countries shown in this late winter satellite image of the southern Balkan Peninsula include Italy (left center edge), Greece (below center), and Turkey (right edge). At upper right is the Black Sea, at center is the Aegean Sea, at upper left is the Adriatic Sea, and at bottom left is the Mediterranean Sea. North of Turkey are Bulgaria and Romania. Moving clockwise from top left are Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Albania. North of Albania is Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Red dots indicating scattered fires are fairly widespread across Bulgaria. Image courtesy of NASA.
Countries shown in this late winter satellite image of the southern Balkan Peninsula include Italy (left center edge), Greece (below center), and Turkey (right edge). At upper right is the Black Sea, at center is the Aegean Sea, at upper left is the Adriatic Sea, and at bottom left is the Mediterranean Sea. North of Turkey are Bulgaria and Romania. Moving clockwise from top left are Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, and Albania. North of Albania is Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Red dots indicating scattered fires are fairly widespread across Bulgaria. Image courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Baba Vida, a medieval fortress in Vidin in northwestern Bulgaria, is the town's primary landmark and a popular tourist destination.
Baba Vida, a medieval fortress in Vidin in northwestern Bulgaria, is the town's primary landmark and a popular tourist destination. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Wall of the Belogradchik Fortress in the rocks near Vidin.
Wall of the Belogradchik Fortress in the rocks near Vidin. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Baba Vida, a medieval fortress in Vidin in northwestern Bulgaria, is the town's primary landmark and a popular tourist destination.
Baba Vida, a medieval fortress in Vidin in northwestern Bulgaria, is the town's primary landmark and a popular tourist destination. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Vidin Synagogue, completed in 1894, was the second largest synagogue in Bulgaria. Most of its congregation emigrated to Israel following World War II. Seized by the state in 1950, the synagogue is now in ruins, but there are plans to restore it as a museum.
Vidin Synagogue, completed in 1894, was the second largest synagogue in Bulgaria. Most of its congregation emigrated to Israel following World War II. Seized by the state in 1950, the synagogue is now in ruins, but there are plans to restore it as a museum. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Wall of the Belogradchik Fortress in the rocks near Vidin.
Wall of the Belogradchik Fortress in the rocks near Vidin. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
12 photos available
View All Photos→Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data