Location:

South-eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey

Area:

110,910 sq km

land:

110,550 sq km

water:

360 sq km

Land Boundaries:

Total: 1,808 km

Border Countries:

Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Coastline:

354km (Black Sea)

Climate:

Temperate, cold, damp winters, hot, dry summers

Terrain:

Mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Geography:

Strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

Population:

7,450,349 (July 2005 est.)

Age Structure:

0-14 Years:

13.9% (male 527,881/female 502,334)

15-64 Years:

68.7% (male 2,496,054/female 2,579,680)

65 Years and Over:

17.3% (male 527,027/female 752,391) (2006 est.)

Average Age:

Total:

40.8 years

Male:

38.7 years

Female:

42.9 years (2006 est.)

Ethnic Groups:

Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)

Religions:

Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)

General

Languages:

Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Government

Type:

Parliamentary Democracy

Capital:

Sofia

Provincial:

28 provinces; Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

Independence:

22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

Economy

Currency:

Leva (BGL)

Exchange Rates:

1.00 BGL = 0.513196 EUR (€)
1.00 BGL = 0.347734 GBP (£)
1.00 BGL = 0.614402 USD ($) (Dec´ 05)

GDP:

€51,183,000 (Est 2004)

GDP Growth Rate:

6.5% (2006 est.)

Economic Sectors:

Agriculture: 11.5%
industry: 30.1%
services: 58.4% (2004 est.)

Labour Occupations:

Agriculture 11%, industry 32.7%, services 56.3% (2004 est.)

Unemployment Rate:

9.6% (2006 est.)

Inflation Rate:

6.5% (2006 est.)

Agriculture Produce:

Vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets

Transportation

Railways:

Total: 4,294 km track

Motorways:

328km (not including EU funded Motorways under construction)

Waterways:

470km

Airports:

213

International Airports:

Burgas BOJ
Plovdiv PDV
Sofia SOF
Varna VAR

Ports & Harbours:

Burgas, Varna (Black Sea)

Communications

Mains Telephones:

2.483 million (2005)

Mobile Telephones:

6.245 million (2005)

Television Stations:

39 Terrestrial plus Satellite

Internet Users:

2.2 million (2005)

Country Internet Code: