| Global Cost of Living Rank |
| CIA Background Information |
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.
| U.S. State Department Description |
Country Description:
Bulgaria is a quickly developing European nation undergoing significant economic changes. Tourist facilities are widely available, although conditions vary and some facilities may not be up to Western standards. Goods and services taken for granted in other European countries may not be available in many areas of Bulgaria. Read the Department of State Background Notes
on Bulgaria
for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A United States passport is required for U.S. citizens who are not also Bulgarian nationals. U.S. citizens who enter the country without a Bulgarian visa are authorized ... Read this Article
People
Population (2007): 7,640,238.
Growth rate (2007): -0.50%.
Ethnic groups (2001): Bulgarian 83.94%, Turkish 9.42%, Roma 4.68%, and other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian).
Religions (2001): Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Roman Catholic 0.6%, Protestant 0.5%, others.
Language: Bulgarian 84.5%, other 15.5%.
Health: Life expectancy (2006)--male 68.68 years; female 76.13 years. Infant mortality rate (2006) --19.85 deaths/1,000 live births.
Work force (2007 est.): 4.817 million. Agriculture--11%; industry--32.7%; services--32% (3rd ... Read this Article
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Location: Bulgaria is Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey See Map
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
Currency (Code): lev (BGN) ...More
Area: total: 110,910 sq km , land: 110,550 sq km , water: 360 sq km ( 1 sq km is approximately 0.4 sq miles or 250 acres)
Area Comparison: slightly larger than Tennessee
Elevation Extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m , highest point: Musala 2,925 m (1 meter = 3.28 feet)
Population: 7,262,675 (July 2008 est.)
Unemployment: 7.7% (2007 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)
Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)
Languages: Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
More Statistics
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| Geographic Info for Bulgaria : |
Geography
Area: 110,910 sq. km. (slightly larger than Tennessee).
Major cities: Capital--Sofia 1.2 million.
Others: Plovdiv--368,568, Varna--349,482.
Terrain: Bulgaria is located in South Central Europe. The terrain is varied, containing large mountainous areas, fertile valleys, plains and a coastline along the Black Sea.
Climate: Continental--mild summers and cold, snowy winters.
People
Population (2007): 7,640,238.
... Read this Article
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