Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Europe
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 110,879 sq km
country comparison to the world: 105
land: 108,489 sq km
water: 2,390 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,808 km
border countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
354 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 29.28%
permanent crops: 1.44%
other: 69.28% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,046 sq km (2007)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.3 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 6.12 cu km/yr (16%/68%/16%)
per capita: 821.8 cu m/yr (2009)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
earthquakes; landslides
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Bulgarian 76.9%, Turk 8%, Roma 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian), other (unknown) 10% (2011 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Roma 3.8%, other 0.7%, other (unknown) 10.5% (2011 census)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim (Sunni) 7.4%, Muslim (Shia) 0.4%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Judaism) 1.7%, other (unknown) 27.4%, none 3.7% (2011 census)
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6,981,642 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 506,968/female 481,962)
15-24 years: 10.5% (male 377,834/female 357,546)
25-54 years: 42.3% (male 1,467,339/female 1,486,062)
55-64 years: 14.1% (male 454,728/female 528,650)
65 years and over: 18.9% (male 532,084/female 788,469) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 49.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 20.4 %
elderly dependency ratio: 28.8 %
potential support ratio: 3.5 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 42.3 years
male: 40 years
female: 44.4 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.81% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 230
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.07 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.31 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-2.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 73.1% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
SOFIA (capital) 1.174 million (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26.2 (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 153
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 105
male: 18.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 74.08 years
country comparison to the world: 114
male: 70.49 years
female: 77.89 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.43 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
69.2%
note: percent of women age 20-49 (2007)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.6% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 73
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.76 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 72
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.6% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 125
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 92
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.7%
female: 98% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2010)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 28.1%
country comparison to the world: 32
male: 29.5%
female: 26% (2012)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria
local long form: Republika Balgariya
local short form: Balgariya
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya (Sofia), Sofiya-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 12 July 1991; amended several times, last in 2007 (2007)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil law
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Rosen PLEVNELIEV (since 22 January 2012); Vice President Margarita POPOVA (since 22 January 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Plamen ORESHARSKI (since 29 May 2013) Deputy Prime Ministers Zinaida ZLATANOVA (since 29 May 2013) and Tsvetlin YOVCHEV (since June 2013)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 and 30 October 2011 (next to be held in 2016); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
election results: Rosen PLEVNELIEV elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Rosen PLEVNELIEV 52.6%, Ivailo KALFIN 47.4%; Plamen ORESHARSKI elected prime minister; result of legislative vote - 120 to 97
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 12 May 2013 (next to be held spring 2017)
election results: percent of vote by party - GERB 30.5%, BSP 26.6%, MRF 11.3%, Ataka 7.3%; seats by party - GERB 97, BSP 84, MRF 36, Ataka 23
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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; judge tenure NA; 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 four justices every 3 years
subordinate courts: appeals courts; regional and district courts; administrative courts; courts martial
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Attack (Ataka) [Volen Nikolov SIDEROV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB
other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Elena POPTODOROVA (since 4 August 2010)
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES (since 5 September 2012)
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
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lion
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland)
lyrics/music: Tsvetan Tsvetkov RADOSLAVOV
note: adopted 1964; the anthem was composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Bulgaria, a former Communist country that entered the EU on 1 January 2007, averaged more than 6% annual growth from 2004 to 2008, driven by significant amounts of bank lending, consumption, and foreign direct investment. Successive governments have demonstrated a commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but the global downturn sharply reduced domestic demand, exports, capital inflows, and industrial production. GDP contracted by 5.5% in 2009, stagnated in 2010, despite a significant recovery in exports, grew 1.7% in 2011, and 1% in 2012. Despite having a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$102.7 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$50.33 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$14,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 72.1%
government consumption: 7.8%
investment in fixed capital: 21.4%
investment in inventories: 2.4%
exports of goods and services: 66.6%
imports of goods and services: -70.3%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 30.3%
services: 63% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.585 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 7.1%
industry: 35.2%
services: 57.7% (2009)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.8% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 35.2% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
45.3 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 39
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $18.05 billion
expenditures: $18.28 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
35.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.03% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
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
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.72% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$15.51 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$37.68 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$37.12 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8.253 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 76
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-669.5 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$26.7 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Germany 10.4%, Turkey 9.1%, Italy 8.7%, Romania 8.2%, Greece 7.3%, France 4% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$31.15 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Russia 20.9%, Germany 11.3%, Italy 6.7%, Romania 6.6%, Greece 6.1%, Turkey 4.6%, Spain 4.5% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$20.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$36.52 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$52.21 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
leva (BGN) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
43.39 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
30.46 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
12.11 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.45 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.01 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
45.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,384 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
124,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 85
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
128,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
112,700 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
73,740 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
50,130 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
410 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.54 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.64 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 93
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
52.44 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.253 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 55
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.78 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 74
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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, has reached 150 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) (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.bg
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
976,277 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 47
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.395 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
68 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 74
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 2,887 km; oil 346 km; refined products 378 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 4,152 km
country comparison to the world: 40
standard gauge: 4,072 km 1.435-m gauge (2,863 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 80 km 0.760-m gauge (2011)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 19,512 km
country comparison to the world: 111
paved: 19,235 km (includes 458 km of expressways)
unpaved: 277 km
note: does not include Category IV local roads (2011)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
470 km (2009)
country comparison to the world: 84
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 22
country comparison to the world: 93
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)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Burgas, Varna (Black Sea)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2011)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2008; service obligation 6-9 months (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,637,470
females age 16-49: 1,621,352 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,320,955
females age 16-49: 1,337,616 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 33,444
female: 32,075 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.46% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 178
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none