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 users

total: 4.072 million | percent of population: 56.7% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

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, is over 125 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) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,654,535 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 9.195 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $18.25 billion | expenditures: $19.12 billion (2015 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Central bank discount rate

0.01% (31 December 2015) | 0.03% (31 December 2014) | 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 | country comparison to the world: 155

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.48% (31 December 2015 est.) | 8.28% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Current account balance

$1.043 billion (2015 est.) | $658 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Debt - external

$42.5 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $48.74 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.4 (2013) | 31.2 (2005) | country comparison to the world: 91

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, and has been slow to recover in the years since. | Despite 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 - | 1.7644 (2015 est.) | 1.4742 (2014 est.) | 1.4742 (2013 est.) | 1.52 (2012 est.) | 1.4053 (2011 est.)

Exports

$24.62 billion (2015 est.) | $27.94 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 12.5%, Italy 9.2%, Turkey 8.5%, Romania 8.2%, Greece 6.5%, France 4.2% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$47.17 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$133.9 billion (2015 est.) | $130.3 billion (2014 est.) | $128.2 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 77

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 60.9% | government consumption: 16.3% | investment in fixed capital: 21.2% | investment in inventories: 0.2% | exports of goods and services: 66.5% | imports of goods and services: -65% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 5.1% | industry: 27.6% | services: 67.2% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,100 (2015 est.) | $18,500 (2014 est.) | $18,100 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 89

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2015 est.) | 1.5% (2014 est.) | 1.3% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Gross national saving

22.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | 22.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | 22.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$26.74 billion (2015 est.) | $31.63 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 12.9%, Russia 12%, Italy 7.6%, Romania 6.8%, Turkey 5.7%, Greece 4.8%, Spain 4.8% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Industries

electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.1% (2015 est.) | -1.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Labor force

2.552 million | note: number of employed persons (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 7% | industry: 30.1% | services: 62.9% (2014)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$4.797 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $5.45 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $6.666 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Population below poverty line

21.8% (2014 est.)

Public debt

26.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | 27% of GDP (2014 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 | country comparison to the world: 148

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$22.09 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $20.11 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Stock of broad money

$41.32 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $37.99 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$4.49 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $5.354 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$44.29 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $51.78 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Stock of domestic credit

$29.83 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $32.47 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Stock of narrow money

$20.09 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $19.34 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Taxes and other revenues

38.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Unemployment rate

10.1% (2015 est.) | 11.2% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

43.61 million Mt (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Crude oil - imports

129,300 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Crude oil - production

1,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Crude oil - proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - consumption

31 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Electricity - exports

14.7 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Electricity - from fossil fuels

41.7% of total installed capacity (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

8.5% of total installed capacity (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

16.9% of total installed capacity (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - from other renewable sources

32.9% of total installed capacity (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 4

Electricity - imports

4.3 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Electricity - installed generating capacity

11.84 million kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Electricity - production

44 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

2.86 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas - imports

2.725 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas - production

180 million cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 92

Refined petroleum products - consumption

84,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79

Refined petroleum products - exports

92,350 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Refined petroleum products - imports

41,320 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Refined petroleum products - production

139,100 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate

temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Coastline

354 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 472 m | 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

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 (2012)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

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

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Administrative divisions

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

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

Citizenship

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

several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 12 July 1991; amended several times, last in 2015 (2016)

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Eric RUBIN (since February 2016) | embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408 | 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 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

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 7 November 2014); Deputy Prime Ministers Tomislav DONCHEV (since 7 November 2014), Rumyana BACHVAROVA (since 7 November 2014), Meglena KUNEVA (since 7 November 2014); note - this is BORISOV's second term as prime minister, he first served between 27 July 2009 and 13 March 2013 | 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 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 runoff election; percent of vote - Rumen RADEV (independent) 59.4%, Tsetska TSACHEVA (GERB) 36.2%; note - Rumen RADEV will assume office on 22 January 2017

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 republic

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, 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

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of a chairman and approximately 72 judges organized into penal, civil, and commercial colleges); Supreme Administrative Court (organized in 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

civil law

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 terms) | elections: last held on 5 October 2014 (next to be held in 2018) | election results: percent of vote by party - GERB 32.7%, CfB 15.4%, DPS 14.8%, RB 8.9%, PF 7.3%, BBTs 5.7%, Ataka 4.5%, ABV 4.2%, other 6.5%; seats by party - GERB 84, CfB 39, DPS 38, RB 23, PF 19, BBTs 15, Ataka 11, ABV 11

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

National holiday

Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: white, green, red

Political parties and leaders

Alternative for Bulgarian Revival or ABV [Georgi PARVANOV] | Attack (Ataka) [Volen Nikolov SIDEROV] | Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Mihail MIKOV] | Bulgaria of the Citizens or DBG [Meglena KUNEVA] | Bulgaria Without Censorship or BBTs [Nikolay BAREKOV] | Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko BORISOV] | Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB [Mikhail MIKOV] (coalition dominated by BSP) | Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Radan KANEV] | IMRO - Bulgarian National Movement or IMRO-BNM [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV] | Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS [Lyutvi MESTAN] | National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria or NFSB [Valeri SIMEONOV] | National Movement for Stability and Progress or NDSV [Hristina HRISTOVA] (formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2) | United Patriots Front (alliance of IMRO-BNM, NFSB, and Attack) | Union of Democratic Forces or SDS [Bozhidar LUKARSKI] | Reformist Bloc or RB (a five-party alliance including the DSB, DBG, and SDS)

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.

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2015) | 1.6% of GDP (2013) | 1.46% of GDP (2012) | 1.55% of GDP (2011) | 1.46% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 66

Military service age and obligation

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.54% (male 535,131/female 503,540) | 15-24 years: 9.73% (male 362,805/female 332,358) | 25-54 years: 43.33% (male 1,589,183/female 1,506,285) | 55-64 years: 13.38% (male 447,865/female 507,805) | 65 years and over: 19.03% (male 552,217/female 807,464) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

8.8 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Contraceptive prevalence rate

69.2% | note: percent of women age 20-49 (2007)

Death rate

14.5 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 2

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.9% | youth dependency ratio: 21.5% | elderly dependency ratio: 30.4% | potential support ratio: 3.3% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 99.6% of population | rural: 99% of population | total: 99.4% of population | urban: 0.4% of population | rural: 1% of population | total: 0.6% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 108

Ethnic groups

Bulgarian 76.9%, Turkish 8%, Roma 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Russian, Armenian, and Vlach), other (unknown) 10% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

8.4% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 71

Hospital bed density

6.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.5 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.5 years | male: 71.2 years | female: 78 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121

Literacy

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

Major urban areas - population

SOFIA (capital) 1.226 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

11 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Median age

total: 42.4 years | male: 40.6 years | female: 44.5 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.5 (2013 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bulgarian(s) | adjective: Bulgarian

Net migration rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.6% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 72

Physicians density

3.87 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

7,144,653 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.6% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 229

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% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 86.8% of population | rural: 83.7% of population | total: 86% of population | urban: 13.2% of population | rural: 16.3% of population | total: 14% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years | male: 15 years | female: 15 years (2014)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female | total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.46 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 23.8% | male: 23.8% | female: 23.7% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Urbanization

urban population: 73.9% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: -0.31% 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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 13,819 (Syria) (2015) | stateless persons: 67 (2015) | note: 46,032 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (2015 - November 2016)

Trafficking in persons

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)

Airports

68 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 73

Airports - with paved runways

total: 57 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 | under 914 m: 26 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

LZ (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 22 | 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) | country comparison to the world: 93

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 8 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,118,689 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,583,340 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

gas 2,887 km; oil 346 km; refined products 378 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

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

Railways

total: 5,114 km | standard gauge: 4,989 km 1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified) | narrow gauge: 125 km 0.760-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 36

Roadways

total: 19,512 km | paved: 19,235 km (includes 458 km of expressways) | unpaved: 277 km | note: does not include Category IV local roads (2011) | country comparison to the world: 111

Waterways

470 km (2009) | country comparison to the world: 83