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: 4,274,328 | percent of population: 59.8% (July 2016 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) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1,478,975 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 8,978,202 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $19.2 billion | expenditures: $17.88 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

2.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Central bank discount rate

0% (31 December 2016) | 0.01% (31 December 2015) | 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: 151

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.41% (31 December 2016 est.) | 7.46% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Current account balance

$2.201 billion (2016 est.) | $-67.13 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Debt - external

$37.99 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $37.49 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37 (2015) | 35.4 (2014) | country comparison to the world: 78

Economy - overview

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 one of 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, low international energy prices have contributed to Bulgaria’s economic growth and helped to ease inflation; but, in 2017, rising international gas prices could dampen Bulgaria’s growth prospects. | 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. In 2016, the Bulgarian Government established the State eGovernment Agency. This new agency is responsible for the implementation of projects related to electronic governance as well as coordination of national policies in this area with the EU requirements and practices, as well as to strengthen cybersecurity. | Despite a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, low productivity, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.

Exchange rates

leva (BGN) per US dollar - | 1.768 (2016 est.) | 1.768 (2015 est.) | 1.7644 (2014 est.) | 1.4742 (2013 est.) | 1.52 (2012 est.)

Exports

$24.96 billion (2016 est.) | $24.32 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 13.7%, Italy 9.3%, Romania 8.8%, Turkey 7.9%, Greece 7%, France 4.5% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$52.39 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$144.6 billion (2016 est.) | $138 billion (2015 est.) | $131.7 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 77

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 60.8% | government consumption: 15.8% | investment in fixed capital: 19.1% | investment in inventories: 1.2% | exports of goods and services: 63.6% | imports of goods and services: -60.5% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 4.4% | industry: 28% | services: 67.6% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$20,400 (2016 est.) | $19,500 (2015 est.) | $18,700 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 86

GDP - real growth rate

3.4% (2016 est.) | 3.6% (2015 est.) | 1.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Gross national saving

24.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 21.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | 21.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2% | highest 10%: 28.4% (2015)

Imports

$27 billion (2016 est.) | $27.23 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Germany 13.1%, Russia 8.9%, Italy 7.9%, Romania 7%, Turkey 6.2%, Greece 4.8%, Poland 4.1% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

1.7% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Industries

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)

-1.3% (2016 est.) | -0.1% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Labor force

2.556 million | note: number of employed persons (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$5.205 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.797 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $5.45 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Population below poverty line

22% (2015 est.)

Public debt

29.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 26% of GDP (2015 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: 163

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$25.19 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $22.16 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54

Stock of broad money

$42.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $41.28 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$4.988 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.49 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$45.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $44.29 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Stock of domestic credit

$27.56 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $29.83 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Stock of narrow money

$22 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $20.09 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Taxes and other revenues

36.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Unemployment rate

7.7% (2016 est.) | 10.1% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 112

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

49.92 million Mt (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Crude oil - imports

122,800 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Crude oil - production

1,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Crude oil - proved reserves

15 million bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 87

Electricity - consumption

31.79 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Electricity - exports

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

Electricity - from fossil fuels

36.3% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

30% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

17.3% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Electricity - from other renewable sources

16.4% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Electricity - imports

4.25 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Electricity - installed generating capacity

10.91 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Electricity - production

46.15 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

3.209 billion cu m (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Natural gas - imports

3.093 billion cu m (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Natural gas - production

94 million cu m (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - proved reserves

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 93

Refined petroleum products - consumption

89,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Refined petroleum products - exports

83,450 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Refined petroleum products - imports

44,600 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Refined petroleum products - production

132,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Area

total: 110,879 sq km | land: 108,489 sq km | water: 2,390 sq km | country comparison to the world: 106

Area - comparative

almost identical in size to Virginia; 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

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 (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 Seth RUBIN (since 24 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 Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017); Vice President Iliana YOTOVA (since 22 January 2017) | head of government: Prime Minister Boyko BORISSOV (since 4 May 2017); note - BORISSOV 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 BORISSOV (GERB) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 133 to 100

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); note - the National Assembly was dissolved on 27 January 2017 and Bulgaria did not have a legislative body until after a general election on 26 March 2017 | elections: last held on 26 March 2017 (next to be held spring 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

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 [Konstantin PRODANOV] | 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 [Meglena KUNEVA] | Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko BORISSOV] | Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Radan KANEV] | 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 KARADAYA] | National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria or NFSB [Valeri SIMEONOV] | New Republic (alliance of DSB and other center-right parties) [Radan KANEV] | 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB [Plamen DIMITROV] | Podkrepa Labor Confederation [Dimitar MANOLOV] | 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.

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: Land Forces (aka Army), Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Voennovazdyshni Sily, VVS) (2017)

Military expenditures

1.44% of GDP (2016) | 1.32% of GDP (2015) | 1.47% of GDP (2014) | 1.61% of GDP (2013) | 1.5% of GDP (2012) | 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: 14.58% (male 532,924/female 502,277) | 15-24 years: 9.58% (male 354,872/female 325,538) | 25-54 years: 43.21% (male 1,576,980/female 1,491,489) | 55-64 years: 13.35% (male 445,412/female 502,924) | 65 years and over: 19.28% (male 554,486/female 814,608) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

8.7 births/1,000 population (2017 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 (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 3

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51.7 | youth dependency ratio: 21.2 | elderly dependency ratio: 30.5 | 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

4.1% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 108

Ethnic groups

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

<.1% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<200 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,500 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

Health expenditures

8.4% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 50

Hospital bed density

6.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.7 years | male: 71.4 years | female: 78.2 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

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: 146

Median age

total: 42.7 years | male: 40.9 years | female: 44.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.7 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bulgarian(s) | adjective: Bulgarian

Net migration rate

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 53

Physicians density

4 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

7,101,510 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.61% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 227

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 (2015)

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 (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 21.6% | male: 21.2% | female: 22.3% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Urbanization

urban population: 74.6% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2015-20 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 15,027 (Syria) (2016) | stateless persons: 67 (2016) | note: 47,731 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015 - November 2017); Bulgaria is predominantly a transit country and hosts approximately 1,800 migrants and asylum seekers as of September 2017

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 (2017)

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 2,765 km; oil 346 km; refined products 378 km (2017)

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