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 Ottoman Turks overran the country. 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, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024.

Area
Total: 110,879 km²
Land: 108,489 km²
Water: 2,390 km²
Comparative: almost identical in size to Virginia; slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries
Total: 1,806 km
Border countries (5): (5) Greece 472 km; Macedonia 162 km; Romania 605 km; Serbia 344 km; Turkey 223 km

Coastline: 354 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Elevation
Highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 472 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Forest: 36.2% (2023 est.)
Other: 17.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 929 km² (2016)

Major rivers: Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km
Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Natural hazards: earthquakes; landslides

Geography
Note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

Population
Total: 6,782,659 (2024 est.)
Male: 3,303,491
Female: 3,479,168
Distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations
Growth rate: -0.66% (2024 est.)

Languages: Bulgarian (official) 77.3%, Turkish 7.9%, Romani 3.5%, other 1%, unspecified 10.4% (2021 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; Светoвен Алманах, незаменимият източник за основна информация. (Bulgarian); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 479,586/female 453,423)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,250,962/female 2,171,279)
65 years and over: 21% (2024 est.) (male 572,943/female 854,466)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 53.4 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 21.1 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 45.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 43.3 years
Female: 47 years

Population growth rate: -0.66% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 7.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 14.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 76.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.288 million SOFIA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.9 years
Female: 79.4 years

Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.6% (2014)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.2% (2024 est.); 4.4% (2023 est.); 4.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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 Church of Saint Sofia in the city, parts of which may date to the 4th century

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

Legal system: civil law

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017)
Head of government: Prime Minister Rosen ZHELYAZKOV (since 16 January 2025)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly
Election/appointment process: 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); 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
Most recent election date: 14 and 21 November 2021
2021: Rumen RADEV reelected president in second round; percent of vote in the first round - Rumen RADEV (independent) 49.4%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV (independent) 22.8%, Mustafa KARADAYI (DPS) 11.6%, Kostadin KOSTADINOV (Revival) 3.9%, Lozan PANOV (independent) 3.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in the second round - Rumen RADEV 66.7%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV 31.8%, neither 1.5%
2016: 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%
Expected date of next election: fall 2026

Legislative branch
Legislature name: National Assembly (Narodno sabranie)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 240 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 10/27/2024
Parties elected and seats per party: Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Party (GERB) - Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) (66); We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (36); Revival (Vuzrazhdane) (33); Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) - New Beginning (29); Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) - United Left (19); Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (APS) (19); There is Such a People (PP-ITN) (17); Other (21)
Percentage of women in chamber: 25%
Expected date of next election: October 2,028

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red

National anthem
Title: “Mila Rodino” (Dear Homeland)
Lyrics/music: Tsvetan RADOSLAVOV
History: adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 2.8% (2024 est.); 1.9% (2023 est.); 4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 2.8% (2024 est.); 1.9% (2023 est.); 4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 57.6% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 19.7% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 55.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -53.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Industry: 22.5% (2024 est.)
Services: 62.6% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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: 1.9% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 3.124 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 4.2% (2024 est.); 4.4% (2023 est.); 4.3% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 4.2% (2024 est.); 4.4% (2023 est.); 4.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $35.615 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $37.546 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 20.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $62.661 billion (2024 est.); $63.415 billion (2023 est.); $63.246 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, garments, refined copper, wheat, natural gas (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $60.029 billion (2024 est.); $59.158 billion (2023 est.); $62.261 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: crude petroleum, copper ore, cars, packaged medicine, electricity (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 12.939 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 34.221 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 7.748 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 4.415 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.972 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 100%
Access electrification - rural areas: 99.6%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 35.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 40.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 4.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 20.97 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 20.557 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 753,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 2.174 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 101,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 10.444 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 2.607 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 2.75 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Imports: 2.544 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 33.465 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 14.486 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 13.958 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 5.021 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 102.171 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 619,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 8.01 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 2.45 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.); 2% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Airports: 107 (2025)

Heliports: 8 (2025)

Railways
Total: 4,029 km (2020) 2,871 km electrified

Merchant marine
Total: 78 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 55