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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 1,903,946 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2018 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

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

Internet country code [time series]

.bg

Internet users [time series]

total: 4,571,851 | percent of population: 64.78% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

general assessment: telecom sector has benefited from Bulgaria's adaptation of EU regulatory measures, more privatization and less govt. monopoly; population is moving to fiber networks for broadband; govt. investment in programs for broadband in rural areas; 5G trials by 2 operators; quality has improved with a modern digital trunk line 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 (2020) | domestic: fixed-line 14 per 100 persons, mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service providers, is over 116 telephones per 100 persons (2019) | international: country code - 359; Caucasus Cable System via submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine, Georgia 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) (2019) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 974,056 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13.89 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 8,149,389 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116.21 (2019 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: 20.35 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 19.35 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings [time series]

Fitch rating: BBB (2017) | Moody's rating: Baa1 (2020) | Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019)

Current account balance [time series]

$2.06 billion (2019 est.) | $611 million (2018 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$42.06 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $35.98 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores [time series]

72.0 (2020)

Economic overview [time series]

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 [time series]

leva (BGN) per US dollar - | 1.61885 (2020 est.) | 1.7669 (2019 est.) | 1.7172 (2018 est.) | 1.7644 (2014 est.) | 1.4742 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$42.369 billion (2019 est.) | $40.779 billion (2018 est.) | $40.091 billion (2017 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$68.49 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity) - real) [time series]

$151.132 billion (2019 est.) | $146.181 billion (2018 est.) | $141.645 billion (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 61.6% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 16% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 19.2% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 1.7% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 66.3% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -64.8% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 4.3% (2017 est.) | industry: 28% (2017 est.) | services: 67.4% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$9,888 (2019 est.) | $9,494 (2018 est.) | $9,133 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

3.39% (2019 est.) | 3.2% (2018 est.) | 3.5% (2017 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

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 [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.9% | highest 10%: 31.2% (2017)

Imports [time series]

$44.853 billion (2019 est.) | $42.841 billion (2018 est.) | $40.53 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

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 [time series]

3.6% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

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) [time series]

3.1% (2019 est.) | 2.8% (2018 est.) | 2% (2017 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.113 million (2020 est.) | note: number of employed persons

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 6.8% | industry: 26.6% | services: 66.6% (2016 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

23.4% (2016 est.)

Public debt [time series]

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 [time series]

$28.38 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $25.13 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

35.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.66% (2019 est.) | 6.18% (2018 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

46.31 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

133,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

1,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

15 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

32.34 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

9.187 billion kWh (2017 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

39% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

4.568 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

10.75 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

42.29 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

3.313 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

31.15 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

3.256 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

79.28 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

97,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

92,720 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

49,260 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

144,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 110,879 sq km | land: 108,489 sq km | water: 2,390 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

almost identical in size to Virginia; slightly larger than Tennessee | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Bulgaria Print Image Description almost identical in size to Virginia; slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate [time series]

temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline [time series]

354 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 472 m | lowest point: Black Sea 0 m | highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

43 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

Irrigated land [time series]

1,020 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,806 km | border countries (5): Greece 472 km, Macedonia 162 km, Romania 605 km, Serbia 344 km, Turkey 223 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 46.9% (2011 est.) | arable land: 29.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.5% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 15.5% (2011 est.) | forest: 36.7% (2011 est.) | other: 16.4% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

earthquakes; landslides

Natural resources [time series]

bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land

Population distribution [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

name: Sofia | geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E | time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October | etymology: named after the Saint Sofia Church in the city, parts of which date back to the 4th century A.D.

Citizenship [time series]

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 [time series]

history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991 | 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

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria | conventional short form: Bulgaria | local long form: Republika Bulgaria | local short form: Bulgaria | former: Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Republic of Bulgaria | etymology: named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D.

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Herro MUSTAFA (since 18 October 2019) | telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100 | embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408 | mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740 | FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Tihomir Anguelov STOYTCHEV (since 27 June 2016) | chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174 | FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973 | consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch [time series]

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 served 2 previous terms as prime minister (27 July 2009-13 March 2013 and 7 November 2014-27 January 2017) | cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly | 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 | 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 BORISOV (GERB) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 133 to 100

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

parliamentary republic

Independence [time series]

3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

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 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 [time series]

civil law

Legislative branch [time series]

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) | elections: last held on 26 March 2017 (next to be held in March 2021) | 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%

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

National symbol(s) [time series]

lion; national colors: white, green, red

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military and Security

Military and security forces [time series]

Bulgarian Armed Forces: Land Forces (aka Army), Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Voennovazdushni Sili, VVS), Special Forces; Ministry of Interior: Border Guards (2020)

Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]

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) (2019 est.)

Military deployments [time series]

160 Afghanistan (NATO) (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]

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 2010, it has acquired limited quantities of military equipment from France, Israel, Italy, Norway, and the US (2019 est.)

Military expenditures [time series]

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)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.52% (male 520,190/female 491,506) | 15-24 years: 9.4% (male 340,306/female 314,241) | 25-54 years: 42.87% (male 1,538,593/female 1,448,080) | 55-64 years: 13.15% (male 433,943/female 482,474) | 65 years and over: 20.06% (male 562,513/female 835,053) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Bulgaria Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Bulgaria. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

8.3 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

1.9% (2014)

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

8.1% (2017)

Death rate [time series]

14.6 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 56.6 | youth dependency ratio: 23 | elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 | potential support ratio: 3 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.1% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

<.1% (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

<100 (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

3,300 (2019 est.)

Hospital bed density [time series]

7.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 9 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75 years | male: 71.8 years | female: 78.5 years (2020 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 98.4% | male: 98.7% | female: 98.1% (2015)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

1.281 million SOFIA (capital) (2020)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

10 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 43.7 years | male: 41.9 years | female: 45.6 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

27.1 years (2017 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bulgarian(s) | adjective: Bulgarian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

25% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

4.03 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population [time series]

6,966,899 (July 2020 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

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

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.65% (2020 est.)

Religions [time series]

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 [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 14 years | male: 14 years | female: 14 years (2018)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.49 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 12.7% | male: 13.2% | female: 11.9% (2018 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 75.7% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: -0.22% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s) [time series]

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force (2020) | note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 17,551 (Syria) (2019) | stateless persons: 116 (2019) | note: 58,294 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-November 2020); Bulgaria is predominantly a transit country

Trafficking in persons [time series]

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)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

68 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 57 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 2 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2017) | under 914 m: 26 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 11 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013) | under 914 m: 9 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

LZ (2016)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 83 | by type: bulk carrier 5general cargo 16, oil tanker 8, other 54 (2019)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 8 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,022,645 (2018) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.38 million mt-km (2018)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Burgas, Varna (Black Sea)

Railways [time series]

total: 5,114 km (2014) | standard gauge: 4,989 km 1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified) (2014) | narrow gauge: 125 km 0.760-m gauge (2014)

Roadways [time series]

total: 19,512 km (2011) | paved: 19,235 km (includes 458 km of expressways) (2011) | unpaved: 277 km (2011) | note: does not include Category IV local roads

Waterways [time series]

470 km (2009)