Bulgaria

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 hosts

976,277 (2012) country comparison to the world: 47

Internet users

3.395 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 63

Telephone system

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 domestic: the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line monopoly terminated in 2005 in an effort to upgrade fixed-line services; mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service providers, has reached 150 telephones per 100 persons 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) (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.356 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 54

Telephones - mobile cellular

10.475 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 73

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $17.19 billion expenditures: $17.93 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Central bank discount rate

0.03% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 0.22% (31 December 2011 est.) 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

9.4% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 10.63% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

$542.8 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 $502.2 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$43.24 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $47.61 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.3 (2007) country comparison to the world: 40 26 (2001)

Economy - overview

Bulgaria, a former Communist country that entered the EU on 1 January 2007, averaged more than 6% annual growth from 2004 to 2008, driven by significant amounts of bank lending, consumption, and foreign direct investment. Successive governments have demonstrated a commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but the global downturn sharply reduced domestic demand, exports, capital inflows, and industrial production. GDP contracted by 5.5% in 2009, stagnated in 2010, despite a significant recovery in exports, grew 1.7% in 2011, and approximately 1% in 2012. Despite having a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.

Exchange rates

leva (BGN) per US dollar - 1.533 (2012 est.) 1.4053 (2011 est.) 1.4774 (2010 est.) 1.404 (2009) 1.3171 (2008)

Exports

$27.67 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $28.12 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels

Exports - partners

Germany 12.2%, Romania 9.7%, Italy 8.7%, Turkey 8.1%, Greece 7.2%, Belgium 5.2%, France 4.3% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$50.81 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$103.7 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $102.7 billion (2011 est.) $101 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5.6% industry: 31.2% services: 63.2% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,200 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $14,000 (2011 est.) $13,500 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 1.7% (2011 est.) 0.4% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 35.2% (2007)

Imports

$30.32 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $30.86 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Russia 17.8%, Germany 11.1%, Italy 7.2%, Romania 7%, Greece 5.7%, Spain 5.1%, Turkey 4.6% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

5.9% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45 4.2% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Labor force

2.451 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 7.1% industry: 35.2% services: 57.7% (2009)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$8.253 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 75 $7.276 billion (31 December 2010) $7.103 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line

21.8% (2008)

Public debt

17.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 16.3% of GDP (2011 est.) 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

$17.93 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $17.27 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$37.68 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $34.46 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.893 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $1.823 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$52.29 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $51.19 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$37.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $35.56 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$13.91 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $12.49 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Unemployment rate

9.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 9.6% (2011 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

42.17 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Crude oil - imports

123,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Crude oil - production

1,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Crude oil - proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - consumption

28.1 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Electricity - exports

12 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 17

Electricity - from fossil fuels

46.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 162

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

22.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

20.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.9% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Electricity - imports

1.166 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - installed generating capacity

12 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Electricity - production

41.9 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas - consumption

2.17 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Natural gas - imports

2.48 billion cu m (2010) country comparison to the world: 46

Natural gas - production

68,000 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Refined petroleum products - consumption

112,700 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Refined petroleum products - exports

78,180 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Refined petroleum products - imports

29,940 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Refined petroleum products - production

120,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Area

total: 110,879 sq km country comparison to the world: 105 land: 108,489 sq km water: 2,390 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate

temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline

354 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Musala 2,925 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 6.92 cu km/yr (3%/78%/19%) per capita: 895 cu m/yr (2003)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,808 km border countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Land use

arable land: 29.94% permanent crops: 1.9% other: 68.16% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

earthquakes; landslides

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Total renewable water resources

19.4 cu km (2005)

Administrative divisions

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 (Sofia), Sofiya-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

Capital

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

Constitution

adopted 12 July 1991

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria local long form: Republika Balgariya local short form: Balgariya

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407 mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740 telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100 FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Elena POPTODOROVA 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

chief of state: President Rosen PLEVNELIEV (since 22 January 2012); Vice President Margarita POPOVA (since 22 January 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Boyko BORISOV (since 27 July 2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Simeon DJANKOV and Tsvetan TSVETANOV (since 27 July 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 and 30 October 2011 (next to be held in 2016); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly election results: Rosen PLEVNELIEV elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Rosen PLEVNELIEV 52.6%, Ivailo KALFIN 47.4%; Boyko BORISSOV elected prime minister; result of legislative vote - 162 to 77 with 1 abstention

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 democracy

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, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, 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

independent judiciary comprised of judges, prosecutors and investigating magistrates who are appointed, promoted, demoted, and dismissed by a 25-member Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 members, half of whom are elected by the National Assembly and the other half by the bodies of the judiciary for a 5-year term in office); three levels of case review; 182 courts of which two Supreme Courts act as the last instance on civil and criminal cases (the Supreme Court of Cassation) and appeals of government decisions (the Supreme Administrative Court)

Legal system

civil law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 5 July 2009 (next to be held in mid-2013) election results: percent of vote by party - GERB 39.7%, BSP 17.7%, MRF 14.4%, ATAKA 9.4%, Blue Coalition 6.8%, RZS 4.1%, other 7.9%; seats by party - GERB 117, BSP 40, MRF 37, ATAKA 21, Blue Coalition 15, RZS 8, independents 2

National anthem

name: "Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland) lyrics/music: Tsvetan Tsvetkov RADOSLAVOV note: adopted 1964; the anthem was 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

Political parties and leaders

Agrarian National Union or ANU [Stefan LICHEV]; National Union Attack (Ataka) [Volen SIDEROV]; Blue Coalition [Ivan KOSTOV and Emil KABAIVANOV] (a coalition of center-right parties dominated by UDF and DSB); Bulgarian New Democracy [Borislav RALCHEV]; Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko BORISOV]; Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB [Sergei STANISHEV] (coalition of parties dominated by BSP); Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV]; Gergyovden [Petar STOYANOVICH]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Liberal Initiative for Democratic European Development or LIDER [Khristo KOVACHKI]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Stability and Progress or NDSV [Hristina HRISTOVA] (formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2); New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Order, Law, Justice or RZS [Yane YANEV]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Emil KABAIVANOV]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Agrarians [Anastasia MOZER]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,637,470 females age 16-49: 1,621,352 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,320,955 females age 16-49: 1,337,616 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 33,444 female: 32,075 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2011)

Military expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2008; service obligation 6-9 months (2010)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14% (male 506,224/ female 481,049) 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 2,334,394/ female 2,410,167) 65 years and over: 18.6% (male 527,127/ female 778,974) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

9.2 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.6% (2004) country comparison to the world: 116

Death rate

14.32 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Education expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 100

Ethnic groups

Bulgarian 76.9%, Turk 8%, Roma 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian), other (unknown) 10% (2011 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,800 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Health expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 69

Hospital bed density

6.49 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.13 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 105 male: 19.29 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Roma 3.8%, other 0.7%, other (unknown) 10.5% (2011 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.84 years country comparison to the world: 113 male: 70.24 years female: 77.65 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 98.7% female: 98% (2011)

Major cities - population

SOFIA (capital) 1.192 million (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

11 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 152

Median age

total: 42 years male: 39.8 years female: 44.2 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian

Net migration rate

-2.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

12.4% (2001) country comparison to the world: 47

Physicians density

3.635 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

7,037,935 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Population growth rate

-0.796% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 225

Religions

Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim (Sunni) 7.4%, Muslim (Shia) 0.4%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Judaism) 1.7%, other (unknown) 27.4%, none 3.7% (2011 census)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 16.1% country comparison to the world: 71 male: 17.8% female: 13.7% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 71% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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 (2008)

Airports

202 (2012) country comparison to the world: 28

Airports - with paved runways

total: 124 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 under 914 m: 90 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 78 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 72 (2012)

Heliports

2 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 22 country comparison to the world: 93 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 8, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 14 (Germany 12, Russia 2) registered in other countries: 30 (Belize 1, Comoros 4, Georgia 1, Malta 8, Moldova 1, Panama 6, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9) (2010)

Pipelines

gas 2,844 km; oil 346 km; refined products 156 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Burgas, Varna

Railways

total: 4,152 km country comparison to the world: 40 standard gauge: 4,072 km 1.435-m gauge (2,863 km electrified) narrow gauge: 80 km 0.760-m gauge (2011)

Roadways

total: 19,512 km country comparison to the world: 109 paved: 19,235 km (includes 458 km of expressways) unpaved: 277 km note: does not include Category IV local roads (2011)

Waterways

470 km (2009) country comparison to the world: 84