Bulgaria country profile

27 August 2006
by eub2 -- last modified 04 January 2008

Founded in 681, Bulgaria is one of the oldest states in Europe. Bulgaria became a Member State of the European Union on 1 January 2007.

Located in the heart of the Balkans, Bulgaria offers a highly diverse landscape: the north is dominated by the vast lowlands of the Danube and the south by the highlands and elevated plains. In the east, the Black Sea coast attracts tourists all year round.

Founded in 681, Bulgaria is one of the oldest states in Europe. Its history is marked by its location near Europe’s frontier with Asia. Some 85% of the population are Orthodox Christians and 13% Muslims. Around 10% of the population are of Turkish origin while 3% are Roma. Similarly, its traditional dishes are a mixture of east and west. The most famous Bulgarian food is probably yoghurt, with its reputed gift of longevity for those Bulgarians who consume it regularly.

The Bulgarian National Assembly (the single chamber parliament) consists of 240 members who are elected for a four-year period.

Bulgaria's main exports are light industrial products, foods and wines, which are successfully competing on European markets.

Bulgaria is famous for its folk music. A Bulgarian folk song was recorded on the Voyager Golden Record which was sent into outer space by NASA. Famous Bulgarians include philosopher Julia Kristeva and Elias Canetti, Nobel Prize winner for literature in 1981 and Christo Javachev ("Christo"), the creator of many unorthodox outdoor sculptures.

Area: 110 099 km²
Population: 7.8 million
Capital city: Sofia
Currency: 1 lev = 100 stotinki, 1 euro = 1.97 leva (BGL) (dec. 2006)
National day: 3 March
EU-membership: 1 January 2007

Head of State: President Georgi Parvanov
Head of Government: Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev
Foreign Minister: Ivailo Georgiev Kalfin
Government: Coalition: Koalicija za Balgarija (KB, Coalition für Bulgaria, 81 seats), Nationalno Dviženie Simeon Vtori (NDSV, National Movement Simeon II, 52 seats), Dviženie za Prava i Svobodie (DPS, Movement for Rights and Freedoms, 34 seats)
Parliament: Unicameral: Narodno Sobranje, 240 members, elections every 4 years

GDP: € 21.5 billion (2005)
GDP per capita in PPS: € 2 745 (2005)
Economic growth in real terms: + 6.2% (2005)

Links:
Head of State: http://www.president.bg
Head of Government: http://www.government.bg
Foreign Minister: http://www.mfa.government.bg
Parliament: http://www.parliament.bg

Map of Bulgaria


Source: European Commission