Factbook dossier
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.
Location
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
Area
total : 110,879 sq km land: 108,489 sq km water: 2,390 sq km
Natural resources
bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Natural hazards
earthquakes; landslides
Population
total: 6,737,997 (2025 est.) male: 3,281,215 female: 3,456,782
Ethnic groups
Bulgarian 78.5%, Turkish 7.8%, Roma 4.1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 9.4% (2021 est.) note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 9 11% of Bulgaria's population
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.)
Environmental issues
air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
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 Church of Saint Sofia in the city, parts of which may date to the 4th century
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 election results: 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 2028
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$219.645 billion (2024 est.) $213.64 billion (2023 est.) $209.683 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$34,100 (2024 est.) $33,100 (2023 est.) $32,400 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.4% (2024 est.) 9.4% (2023 est.) 15.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
Germany 14%, Romania 11%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, Turkey 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
Germany 12%, Turkey 8%, Romania 8%, Russia 7%, Italy 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Bulgarian Armed Forces (aka Bulgarian Army): Land Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Interior: General Directorate National Police (GDNP), General Directorate Border Police (GDBP), Special Unit for Combating Terrorism (SOBT) (2025) note: the GDNP includes the Gendarmerie, a special police force with military status deployed to secure important facilities, buildings and infrastructure, respond to riots, and counter militant threats
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.)