World Factbook
Bulgaria
Introduction
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.
Geography
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates
43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references
Europe
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
Land boundaries
total: 1,806 km
border countries (5): Greece 472 km, Macedonia 162 km, Romania 605 km, Serbia 344 km, Turkey 223 km
Coastline
354 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
contiguous zone: 24nm
Climate
temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain
mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation
mean elevation: 472 m
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources
bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use
agricultural land: 46.9% (2011 est.)
arable land: 29.9% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 1.5% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 15.5% (2011 est.)
forest: 36.7% (2011 est.)
other: 16.4% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
1,020 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations
Natural hazards
earthquakes; landslides
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
Geography - note
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
People and Society
Population
7,057,504 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Nationality
noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian
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
Languages
Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Romani 3.8%, other 0.7%, unspecified 10.5% (2011 est.)
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.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 14.6%(male 530,219 /female 500,398)
15-24 years: 9.43%(male 346,588 /female 318,645)
25-54 years: 43.12%(male 1,565,770 /female 1,477,719)
55-64 years: 13.3%(male 442,083 /female 496,888)
65 years and over: 19.54%(male 557,237 /female 821,957) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 21.2 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 30.5 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.3 (2015 est.)
Median age
total: 43 years (2018 est.)
male: 41.2 years
female: 44.9 years
country comparison to the world: 22
Population growth rate
-0.63% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
Birth rate
8.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
Death rate
14.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Net migration rate
-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Population distribution
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations
Urbanization
urban population: 75.3% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: -0.22% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.277 million SOFIA (capital) (2019)
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: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
26.7 years (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
10 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Infant mortality rate
total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 148
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 74.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 71.5 years
female: 78.3 years
country comparison to the world: 119
Total fertility rate
1.47 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 99.6% of population
rural: 99% of population
total: 99.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population
rural: 1% of population
total: 0.6% of population (2015 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
8.2% (2016)
Physicians density
3.99 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density
6.8 beds/1,000 population (2013)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 86.8% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 83.7% of population (2015 est.)
total: 86% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 13.2% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 16.3% of population (2015 est.)
total: 14% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
<.1% (2018 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
3,500 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
HIV/AIDS - deaths
<100 (2018 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
25% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 53
Education expenditures
4.1% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 96
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.7%
female: 98.1% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2016)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 12.9%
male: 13.3%
female: 12.4% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria
local long form: Republika Bulgaria
local short form: Bulgaria
former: Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Repulic of Bulgaria
etymology: named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D.
Government type
parliamentary republic
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
etymology: named after the Saint Sofia Church in the city, parts of which date back to the 4th century A.D.
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
Independence
3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday
Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
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)
Legal system
civil law
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017); Vice President Iliana IOTOVA (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
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 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; composition - men 183, women 57, percent of women 23.8%
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of a chairman and approximately 72 judges organized into penal, civil, and commercial colleges); Supreme Administrative Court (organized into 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
Political parties and leaders
Alternative for Bulgarian Revival or ABV [Rumen PETKOV]
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 [Dimiter DELCHEV]]
Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko BORISSOV]
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Atanas ATANASOV]
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 KARADAYI]
National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria or NFSB [Valeri SIMEONOV]
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]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Herro MUSTAFA (since 18 October 2019)
telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320
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
National symbol(s)
lion; national colors: white, green, red
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
Economy
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 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, strong domestic demand combined with low international energy prices have contributed to Bulgaria’s economic growth approaching 4% and have also helped to ease inflation. Bulgaria’s prudent public financial management contributed to budget surpluses both in 2016 and 2017.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. As of early 2018, the government was floating the possibility of resurrecting the Belene project. The natural gas market, dominated by state-owned Bulgargaz, is also almost entirely supplied by Russia. Infrastructure projects such as the Inter-Connector Greece-Bulgaria and Inter-Connector Bulgaria-Serbia, which would enable Bulgaria to have access to non-Russian gas, have either stalled or made limited progress. In 2016, the Bulgarian Government established the State eGovernment Agency. This new agency is responsible for the electronic governance, coordinating national policies with the EU, and strengthening cybersecurity.Despite a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, low productivity, lack of transparency in public procurements, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$153.5 billion (2017 est.)
$148.2 billion (2016 est.)
$142.6 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 76
GDP (official exchange rate)
$56.94 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3.6% (2017 est.)
3.9% (2016 est.)
3.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$21,800 (2017 est.)
$20,900 (2016 est.)
$19,900 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 87
Gross national saving
25.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
21.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
21.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 61.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 16% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.2% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 66.3% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -64.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 4.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 28% (2017 est.)
services: 67.4% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock
Industries
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, automotive parts, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel; outsourcing centers
Industrial production growth rate
3.6% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Labor force
3.357 million (2017 est.)
note: number of employed persons
country comparison to the world: 102
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 6.8%
industry: 26.6%
services: 66.6% (2016 est.)
Unemployment rate
6.2% (2017 est.)
7.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Population below poverty line
23.4% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 31.2% (2017)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
40.2 (2017)
38.3 (2016)
country comparison to the world: 64
Budget
revenues: 20.35 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 19.35 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
35.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Public debt
23.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
27.4% of GDP (2016 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: 181
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.2% (2017 est.)
-1.3% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Central bank discount rate
0% (31 December 2017)
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: 149
Commercial bank prime lending rate
5.41% (31 December 2017 est.)
6.39% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Stock of narrow money
$29.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$22.01 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Stock of broad money
$29.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$22.01 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Stock of domestic credit
$33.44 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$27.57 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Market value of publicly traded shares
$14.49 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$5.205 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$4.797 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Current account balance
$2.562 billion (2017 est.)
$1.207 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Exports
$29.08 billion (2017 est.)
$25.37 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Exports - partners
Germany 13.5%, Italy 8.3%, Romania 8.2%, Turkey 7.7%, Greece 6.5%, Belgium 4.2%, France 4.1% (2017)
Exports - commodities
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels, agriculture, tobacco, IT components
Imports
$31.43 billion (2017 est.)
$26.66 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials
Imports - partners
Germany 12.3%, Russia 10.3%, Italy 7.3%, Romania 7.1%, Turkey 6.2%, Spain 5.3%, Greece 4.4% (2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$28.38 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$25.13 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Debt - external
$42.06 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$35.98 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$46.92 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$45.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$5.868 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.988 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Exchange rates
leva (BGN) per US dollar -
1.63 (2017 est.)
1.86 (2016 est.)
1.768 (2015 est.)
1.7644 (2014 est.)
1.4742 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Electricity - production
42.29 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - consumption
32.34 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - exports
9.187 billion kWh (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - imports
4.568 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Electricity - installed generating capacity
10.75 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - from fossil fuels
39% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - from other renewable sources
19% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Crude oil - production
1,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Crude oil - imports
133,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Crude oil - proved reserves
15 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Refined petroleum products - production
144,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Refined petroleum products - consumption
97,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Refined petroleum products - exports
92,720 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Refined petroleum products - imports
49,260 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Natural gas - production
79.28 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Natural gas - consumption
3.313 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Natural gas - exports
31.15 million cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - imports
3.256 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - proved reserves
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
46.31 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1,302,316
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 8,532,908
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
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; Bulgaria has a mature mobile market with active competition (2018)
domestic: fixed-line 18 per 100 persons, mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service providers, is over 120 telephones per 100 persons (2018)
international: country code - 359; Caucasus Cable System via submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine, Georgia 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) (2019)
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
Internet country code
.bg
Internet users
total: 4,274,328
percent of population: 59.8% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 1,764,782
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Military and Security
Military expenditures
3.25% of GDP (2019 est.)
1.48% of GDP (2018)
1.24% of GDP (2017)
1.26% of GDP (2016)
1.26% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 21
Military and security forces
Bulgarian Armed Forces: Land Forces (aka Army), Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Voennovazdushni Sili, VVS) (2019)
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)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 8 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 44 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,118,689 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,583,340mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
LZ (2016)
Airports
68 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 73
Airports - with paved runways
total: 57 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 2 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 17 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2017)
under 914 m: 26 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 11 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
under 914 m: 9 (2013)
Heliports
1 (2013)
Pipelines
2765 km gas, 346 km oil, 378 km refined products (2017)
Railways
total: 5,114 km (2014)
standard gauge: 4,989 km1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified) (2014)
narrow gauge: 125 km0.760-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 37
Roadways
total: 19,512 km (2011)
paved: 19,235 km(includes 458 km of expressways) (2011)
unpaved: 277 km (2011)
note: does not include Category IV local roads
country comparison to the world: 115
Waterways
470 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 83
Merchant marine
total: 80
by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 18, oil tanker 8, other 52 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 97
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Burgas, Varna (Black Sea)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 17,161 (Syria) (2018)
stateless persons: 92 (2018)
note: 55,398 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-December 2019); Bulgaria is predominantly a transit country and hosts approximately 992 migrants and asylum seekers as of the end of September 2018; 2,576 migrant arrivals in 2018
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)
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
