Bulgaria

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, and all of Bulgaria became independent in 1908. Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, and Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.

Geography

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

Climate
temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

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

People and Society

Population
total: 6,782,659 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Bulgarian 78.5%, Turkish 7.8%, Roma 4.1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 9.4% (2021 est.)

Languages
Bulgarian (official) 77.3%, Turkish 7.9%, Romani 3.5%, other 1%, unspecified 10.4% (2021 est.)

Religions
Christian 64.7%, Muslim 9.8%, other 0.1%, none 4.7%, unspecified 20.7% (2021 est.)

Population growth rate
-0.66% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
parliamentary republic

Capital
name: Sofia

Executive branch
chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017)
head of government: Prime Minister Rosen ZHELYAZKOV (since 16 January 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Stefka YOVCHEVA (since 7 May 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires H. Martin McDOWELL (since May 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
upper-middle-income EU economy; currency pegged to the euro, with eurozone accession pending; declining energy prices helping lower inflation rate; EU structural funds contributing to investment recovery; skilled labor shortage driven by emigration and aging population

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$219.645 billion (2024 est.)
$213.64 billion (2023 est.)
$209.683 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$34,100 (2024 est.)
$33,100 (2023 est.)
$32,400 (2022 est.)

Exports
$62.661 billion (2024 est.)
$63.415 billion (2023 est.)
$63.246 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
Germany 14%, Romania 11%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)

Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, garments, refined copper, wheat, natural gas (2023)

Imports
$60.029 billion (2024 est.)
$59.158 billion (2023 est.)
$62.261 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
Germany 12%, Turkey 8%, Romania 8%, Russia 7%, Italy 6% (2023)

Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, copper ore, cars, packaged medicine, electricity (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.845, ranking it 55th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 40th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 6.358. (more information)