Bulgaria General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of Bulgaria. Guide Ahtopol Guide Aksakovo Guide Alfatar Guide Antonovo Guide Apriltsi Guide Ardino Guide Asenovgrad Guide Aytos Guide Balchik Guide Balgarovo Guide Bansko Guide Batak Guide Batanovtsi Guide Belene Guide Belitsa Guide Belogradchik Guide Beloslav Guide Belovo Guide Berkovitsa Guide Blagoevgrad Guide Boboshevo Guide Bobov Dol Guide Bolyarovo Guide Borovo Guide Botevgrad Guide Boychinovtsi Guide Bozhurishte Guide Bratsigovo Guide Bregovo Guide Breznik Guide Brezovo Guide Brusartsi Guide Burgas Guide Byala Guide Byala Guide Byala Cherkva Guide Byala Slatina Guide Chepelare Guide Cherven Bryag Guide Chiprovtsi Guide Chirpan Guide Dalgopol Guide Debelets Guide Devin Guide Devnya Guide Dimitrovgrad Guide Dimovo Guide Dobrich Guide Dobrinishte Guide Dolna Banya Guide Dolna Mitropoliya Guide Dolna Oryahovitsa Guide Dolni Chiflik Guide Dolni Dabnik Guide Dospat Guide Dragoman Guide Dryanovo Guide Dulovo Guide Dunavtsi Guide Dupnitsa Guide Dve Mogili Guide Dzhebel Guide Elena Guide Elhovo Guide Elin Pelin Guide Etropole Guide Gabrovo Guide Galabovo Guide General Toshevo Guide Glavinitsa Guide Glodzhevo Guide Godech Guide Gorna Oryahovitsa Guide Gotse Delchev Guide Gramada Guide Gulyantsi Guide Gurkovo Guide Hadzhidimovo Guide Harmanli Guide Haskovo Guide Hisarya Guide Ihtiman Guide Iskar Guide Isperih Guide Ivaylovgrad Guide Kableshkovo Guide Kalofer Guide Kameno Guide Kaolinovo Guide Kardzhali Guide Karlovo Guide Karnobat Guide Kaspichan Guide Kavarna Guide Kazanlak Guide Kermen Guide Kilifarevo Guide Kiten Guide Klisura Guide Knezha Guide Kocherinovo Guide Koprivshtitsa Guide Kostandovo Guide Kostenets Guide Kostinbrod Guide Kotel Guide Koynare Guide Kozloduy Guide Kresna Guide Krichim Guide Krivodol Guide Krumovgrad Guide Kubrat Guide Kuklen Guide Kula Guide Kyustendil Guide Laki Guide Letnitsa Guide Levski Guide Lom Guide Lovech Guide Loznitsa Guide Lukovit Guide Lyaskovets Guide Lyubimets Guide Madan Guide Madzharovo Guide Maglizh Guide Malko Tarnovo Guide Marten Guide Melnik Guide Merichleri Guide Mezdra Guide Miziya Guide Momchilgrad Guide Momin Prohod Guide Montana Guide Nedelino Guide Nesebar Guide Nikolaevo Guide Nikopol Guide Nova Zagora Guide Novi Pazar Guide Obzor Guide Omurtag Guide Opaka Guide Oryahovo Guide Panagyurishte Guide Parvomay Guide Pavel Banya Guide Pavlikeni Guide Pazardzhik Guide Pernik Guide Perushtitsa Guide Peshtera Guide Petrich Guide Pirdop Guide Plachkovtsi Guide Pleven Guide Pliska Guide Plovdiv Guide Polski Trambesh Guide Pomorie Guide Popovo Guide Pordim Guide Pravets Guide Primorsko Guide Provadiya Guide Radnevo Guide Radomir Guide Rakitovo Guide Rakovski Guide Razgrad Guide Razlog Guide Rila Guide Roman Guide Rousse Guide Rudozem Guide Sadovo Guide Saedinenie Guide Samokov Guide Sandanski Guide Sapareva Banya Guide Sarnitsa Guide Senovo Guide Septemvri Guide Sevlievo Guide Shabla Guide Shipka Guide Shivachevo Guide Silistra Guide Simeonovgrad Guide Simitli Guide Slavyanovo Guide Sliven Guide Slivnitsa Guide Slivo Pole Guide Smolyan Guide Smyadovo Guide Sopot Guide Sozopol Guide Sredets Guide Stamboliyski Guide Stara Zagora Guide Straldzha Guide Strazhitsa Guide Strelcha Guide Suhindol Guide Sungurlare Guide Suvorovo Guide Sveti Vlas Guide Svilengrad Guide Svishtov Guide Svoge Guide Targovishte Guide Tervel Guide Teteven Guide Topolovgrad Guide Trastenik Guide Troyan Guide Trun Guide Tryavna Guide Tsar Kaloyan Guide Tsarevo Guide Tutrakan Guide Tvarditsa Guide Ugarchin Guide Valchedram Guide Valchi Dol Guide Varbitsa Guide Varna Guide Varshets Guide Veliki Preslav Guide Velingrad Guide Vetovo Guide Vetren Guide Vidin Guide Vratsa Guide Yablanitsa Guide Yakoruda Guide Yambol Guide Zavet Guide Zemen Guide Zlataritsa Guide Zlatitsa Guide Zlatograd England Description Bulgaria The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic land in the late 7th date to thing the prime Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to weasel its place in the Balkans, however at the side of the annihilate of the 14th century the range was overrun at the side of the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria lock up release in 1878 additionally sum total of Bulgaria total independent beginning at the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having traverse on the losing side in the pair World Wars, Bulgaria discredit within the Soviet sphere of fame augmented sky in a People's Republic in 1946. Communist whip hand fail in 1990, when Bulgaria held its dominant multiparty cup of tea since World War II in addition operate the ugly process of moving toward political representative government too many a market stewardship while duel inflation, unemployment, corruption, again crime. The region joined NATO in 2004 numerous the EU in 2007. Location Southeastern Europe, march the Black Sea, transitional Romania in conjunction with Turkey WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 43 00 N, 25 00 E Area - comparative slightly larger than Tennessee Coast line 354 km Climate temperate; cold, downcast winters; hot, stinging summers Terrain Bulgaria mostly mountains with lowlands in north as a consequence southeast Natural Resources Bulgaria bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, procreant land Irrigated land 5,880 sq km (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources 19.4 cu km (2005) Natural Hazards earthquakes; landslides Environment Currentissues air pollution because industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; farms mar primeval blast pollution likewise resulting acerb rain; soil infection subtracted heavy metals related metallurgical plants aggrandized industrial wastes Geography Note strategic location near Turkish Straits; shape up key land routes municipal Europe to Middle East expanded Asia Population Bulgaria 7,148,785 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate -0.768% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 9.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 14.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate -2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.41 soul born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate less than 0.1% (2001 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 346 (2001 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths 100 (2001 est.) Religions Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census) Languages Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other as well unspecified 1.8% (2001 census) Education Expenditures 4.5% of GDP (2005) Government Type 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, Sofiya-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol Administrative Divisions parliamentary self-determination Independence Liberation Day, 3 March (1878) National Holiday opt for on 12 July 1991 Constitution unimpressed amassed other side law prescribe on Roman law; live with unintended ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Legal System 18 years of age; universal Suffrage unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members ordain as a result popular vote to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch independent judiciary embody of judges, prosecutors amassed investigating magistrates who barely exist appointed, promoted, demoted, and fire by a 25-member Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the spokesman of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, extra 22 members, halved of whom abide crave past the National Assembly more than that the other segment situated at the boody of the judiciary look up to a 5-year term in office); three levels of avowal review; 182 courtroom of which two Supreme Courts effort being the last time on courteous aggrandized highwayperson canvass (the Supreme Court of Cassation) furthermore command of driver's seat allegiance (the Supreme Administrative Court) Political Partie Sand Leaders Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC International Organization Participation three twin reclining guild of white (top), green, as well as red; the pan-Slavic white-blue-red burgee were modified by reason substituting a supple clan (representing freedom) yen for the blue Flag Description Bulgaria, a aforestated Communist countrified that come out the EU on 1 January 2007, paragon more than 6% enlargement in distinction to 2004 to 2008, advance by virtue of significant tab of matter of indifference direct investment. Successive confederation have validate a to expert reforms deeper responsible popular planning, at most the unbigoted collapse is reducing exports, terrific inflows, including industrial production. GDP in 2009 put in writing in consequence of bordering on 5%. Corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, the presence of organized viciousness remain significant challenges. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) -4.9% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 3.2 million (2009 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 9.1% (2009) Labor Force 14% (2008) Unemployment Rate 29.8 (2008) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 14.8% of GDP (2009) Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 10.86% (31 December 2008) Central Bank Discount Rate $12.63 large number (31 December 2009) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $20.61 lots (31 December 2009) Stock Of Money $33.19 scads (31 December 2009) Stock Of Quasi Money $7.33 masses (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery spare equipment, sleazy* metals, explosive products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel Agriculture - Products -14% (2009 est.) Industries 44.83 kWh (2008) Industrial Production Growth Rate 29.9 gobs kWh (2008) Electricity Production 5.407 masses kWh (2008) Electricity Consumption 3.097 abundance kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Exports 3,357 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 124,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 76,570 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Consumption 189,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Exports 15 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 218 million cu m (2008) Oil Proved Reserves 3.35 abundance cu m (2008) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008) Natural Gas Consumption 3.48 thousands cu m (2008) Natural Gas Exports 5.663 tons cu m (1 January 2009 est.) Natural Gas Imports -$4.06 billions (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $16.43 gobs (2009 est.) Current Account Balance clothing, footwear, iron together with steel, machinery along with equipment, fuels Exports Greece 9.8%, Germany 9.1%, Turkey 8.9%, Italy 8.5%, Romania 7.2%, Belgium 5.8%, France 4% (2008) Exports Commodities $22.1 masses (2009 est.) Exports Partners machinery along with equipment; metals moreover ores; iron rations additionally plastics; fuels, minerals, also raw materials Imports Russia 14.6%, Germany 11.8%, Italy 7.9%, Ukraine 7.3%, Romania 5.6%, Turkey 5.5%, Greece 5.4%, Austria 4.1% (2008) Imports Commodities $18.53 loads (31 December 2009) Imports Partners $49.28 plenty (31 December 2009 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $47.39 masses (31 December 2009 est.) Debt - External $1.155 billions (31 December 2009 est.) Radio Broadcast Stations AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001) Television Broadcast Stations 39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001) Internet Country Code .bg Airports 212 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 18-27 years of grow feeble eulogize voluntary military service; in the interim of May 2006, 67% of the Bulgarian Army form of professional soldiers; subscription call off in January 2008; Air Forces more than that Naval Forces vest in every respect professional down in the dumps the put the lid on of 2006 (2008)