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Coordinates: 42°41′N 23°19′E

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This article is about the country. For other uses, see Bulgaria (disambiguation).

Republic of Bulgaria

Република България

Republika Bŭlgariya

Flag of Bulgaria

Flag

Coat of arms of Bulgaria

Coat of arms

Motto: Съединението прави силата

Sŭedinenieto pravi silata

("Unity makes strength")

Anthem: Мила Родино

Mila Rodino
("Dear Motherland")

Duration: 1 minute and 27 seconds.1:27

Location of Bulgaria (dark green) – in Europe (green & dark grey) – in the European Union (green) –
[Legend]

Location of Bulgaria (dark green)

– in Europe (green & dark grey)

– in the European Union (green) – [Legend]

Capital

and largest city

Sofia

42°41′N 23°19′E

Official languages Bulgarian[1]

Official script Cyrillic

Ethnic groups (2021)[2]

84.6% Bulgarians

8.4% Turks

4.4% Roma

2.6% other[note 1]

Religion (2021)[2][3]

71.5% Christianity

10.8% Islam

5.2% no religion

0.1% other

12.4% unanswered

Demonym(s)
Bulgarian

Government Unitary parliamentary republic

• President

Rumen Radev

• Vice President

Iliana Iotova

• Prime Minister

Nikolai Denkov

• Chairperson of the National Assembly

Rosen Zhelyazkov

Legislature National Assembly

Establishment history

• 1st Bulgarian Empire

681–1018

• 2nd Bulgarian Empire

1185–1396

• Principality of Bulgaria

3 March 1878

• Independence from the Ottoman Empire

5 October 1908

• Monarchy abolished

15 September 1946

• Current state form

15 November 1990

• Joined NATO

29 March 2004
• Joined the European Union

1 January 2007

Area

• Total

110,993.6[4] km2 (42,854.9 sq mi) (103rd)

• Water (%)

2.16[5]

Population

• 2022 estimate

Neutral decrease 6,447,710 (109th)

• Density

63/km2 (163.2/sq mi) (154th)

GDP (PPP) 2023 estimate

• Total

Increase $216.499 billion[6] (73rd)

• Per capita

Increase $33,780[6] (55th)

GDP (nominal) 2023 estimate

• Total

Increase $103.099 billion[6] (69th)

• Per capita

Increase $16,086[6] (60th)

Gini (2022) Positive decrease 38.4[7]

medium

HDI (2021) Increase 0.796[8]

high · 68th
Currency Lev (BGN)

Time zone UTC+2 (EET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+3 (EEST)

Date format dd.mm.yyyy

Driving side right

Calling code +359

ISO 3166 code BG

Internet TLD

.bg.бг

Bulgaria (/bʌlˈɡɛəriə, bʊl-/ ⓘ; Bulgarian: България, romanized: Bŭlgariya), officially the Republic of
Bulgaria,[a] is a country in Southeast Europe. Located west of the Black Sea and south of the Danube
river, Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west,
and Romania to the north. It covers a territory of 110,994 square kilometres (42,855 sq mi) and is the
16th largest country in Europe. Sofia is the nation's capital and largest city; other major cities include
Burgas, Plovdiv, and Varna.

One of the earliest societies in the lands of modern-day Bulgaria was the Neolithic Karanovo culture,
which dates back to 6,500 BC. In the 6th to 3rd century BC the region was a battleground for ancient
Thracians, Persians, Celts and Macedonians; stability came when the Roman Empire conquered the
region in AD 45. After the Roman state splintered, tribal invasions in the region resumed. Around the 6th
century, these territories were settled by the early Slavs. The Bulgars, led by Asparuh, attacked from the
lands of Old Great Bulgaria and permanently invaded the Balkans in the late 7th century. They
established the First Bulgarian Empire, victoriously recognised by treaty in 681 AD by the Byzantine
Empire. It dominated most of the Balkans and significantly influenced Slavic cultures by developing the
Cyrillic script. The First Bulgarian Empire lasted until the early 11th century, when Byzantine emperor
Basil II conquered and dismantled it. A successful Bulgarian revolt in 1185 established a Second Bulgarian
Empire, which reached its apex under Ivan Asen II (1218–1241). After numerous exhausting wars and
feudal strife, the empire disintegrated and in 1396 fell under Ottoman rule for nearly five centuries.

The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 resulted in the formation of the third and current Bulgarian state.
Many ethnic Bulgarians were left outside the new nation's borders, which stoked irredentist sentiments
that led to several conflicts with its neighbours and alliances with Germany in both world wars. In 1946,
Bulgaria came under the Soviet-led Eastern Bloc and became a socialist state. The ruling Communist
Party gave up its monopoly on power after the revolutions of 1989 and allowed multiparty elections.
Bulgaria then transitioned into a democracy and a market-based economy. Since adopting a democratic
constitution in 1991, Bulgaria has been a unitary parliamentary republic composed of 28 provinces, with
a high degree of political, administrative, and economic centralisation.

Bulgaria has an upper-middle-income economy, ranking 68th in the Human Development Index. Its
market economy is part of the European Single Market and is largely based on services, followed by
industry—especially machine building and mining—and agriculture. The country faces a demographic
crisis; its population peaked at 9 million in 1989, and has since decreased to 6.4 million as of 2023.
Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe. It is also a founding
member of the OSCE and has taken a seat on the United Nations Security Council three times.

Etymology

The name Bulgaria is derived from the Bulgars, a tribe of Turkic origin that founded the First Bulgarian
Empire. Their name is not completely understood and is difficult to trace back earlier than the 4th
century AD,[9] but it is possibly derived from the Proto-Turkic word bulģha ("to mix", "shake", "stir") and
its derivative bulgak ("revolt", "disorder").[10] The meaning may be further extended to "rebel", "incite"
or "produce a state of disorder", and so, in the derivative, the "disturbers".[11][12][13] Tribal groups in
Inner Asia with phonologically close names were frequently described in similar terms, as the Buluoji, a
component of the "Five Barbarian" groups, which during the 4th century were portrayed as both: a
"mixed race" and "troublemakers".[14]

History

Main article: History of Bulgaria

Prehistory and Antiquity

Further information: Prehistoric Europe, Old Europe (archaeology), Neolithic Europe, Chalcolithic Europe,
Bronze Age Europe, Iron Age Europe, Odrysian kingdom, Thracians, Greek colonisation, and Slavs

Thracian golden wreath exhibited in the National Historical Museum

Odrysian golden wreath in the National History Museum

Neanderthal remains dating to around 150,000 years ago, or the Middle Paleolithic, are some of the
earliest traces of human activity in the lands of modern Bulgaria.[15] Remains from Homo sapiens found
there are dated c. 47,000 years BP. This result represents the earliest arrival of modern humans in
Europe.[16][17] The Karanovo culture arose c. 6,500 BC and was one of several Neolithic societies in the
region that thrived on agriculture.[18] The Copper Age Varna culture (fifth millennium BC) is credited
with inventing gold metallurgy.[19][20] The associated Varna Necropolis treasure contains the oldest
golden jewellery in the world with an approximate age of over 6,000 years.[21][22] The treasure has
been valuable for understanding social hierarchy and stratification in the earliest European societies.[23]
[24][25]

The Thracians, one of the three primary ancestral groups of modern Bulgarians, appeared on the Balkan
Peninsula some time before the 12th century BC.[26][27][28] The Thracians excelled in metallurgy and
gave the Greeks the Orphean and Dionysian cults, but remained tribal and stateless.[29] The Persian
Achaemenid Empire conquered parts of present-day Bulgaria (in particular eastern Bulgaria) in the 6th
century BC and retained control over the region until 479 BC.[30][31] The invasion became a catalyst for
Thracian unity, and the bulk of their tribes united under king Teres to form the Odrysian kingdom in the
470s BC.[29][31][32] It was weakened and vassalised by Philip II of Macedon in 341 BC,[33] attacked by
Celts in the 3rd century,[34] and finally became a province of the Roman Empire in AD 45.[35]

By the end of the 1st century AD, Roman governance was established over the entire Balkan Peninsula
and Christianity began spreading in the region around the 4th century.[29] The Gothic Bible—the first
Germanic language book—was created by Gothic bishop Ulfilas in what is today northern Bulgaria
around 381.[36] The region came under Byzantine control after the fall of Rome in 476. The Byzantines
were engaged in prolonged warfare against Persia and could not defend their Balkan territories from
barbarian incursions.[37] This enabled the Slavs to enter the Balkan Peninsula as marauders, primarily
through an area between the Danube River and the Balkan Mountains known as Moesia.[38] Gradually,
the interior of the peninsula became a country of the South Slavs, who lived under a democracy.[39][40]
The Slavs assimilated the partially Hellenised, Romanised, and Gothicised Thracians in the rural areas.
[41][42][43][44]

First Bulgarian Empire

Main article: First Bulgarian Empire

a painting depicting Bulgarian Emperor Simeon I

Emperor Simeon I: The Morning Star of Slavonic Literature, The Slav Epic cycle by Alfons Mucha

Not long after the Slavic incursion, Moesia was once again invaded, this time by the Bulgars under Khan
Asparukh.[45] Their horde was a remnant of Old Great Bulgaria, an extinct tribal confederacy situated
north of the Black Sea in what is now Ukraine and southern Russia. Asparukh attacked Byzantine
territories in Moesia and conquered the Slavic tribes there in 680.[27] A peace treaty with the Byzantine
Empire was signed in 681, marking the foundation of the First Bulgarian Empire. The minority Bulgars
formed a close-knit ruling caste.[46]

Succeeding rulers strengthened the Bulgarian state throughout the 8th and 9th centuries. Krum
introduced a written code of law[47] and checked a major Byzantine incursion at the Battle of Pliska, in
which Byzantine emperor Nicephorus I was killed.[48] Boris I abolished paganism in favour of Eastern
Orthodox Christianity in 864. The conversion was followed by a Byzantine recognition of the Bulgarian
church[49] and the adoption of the Cyrillic alphabet, developed in the capital, Preslav.[50] The common
language, religion and script strengthened central authority and gradually fused the Slavs and Bulgars
into a unified people speaking a single Slavic language.[51][50] A golden age began during the 34-year
rule of Simeon the Great, who oversaw the largest territorial expansion of the state.[52]

After Simeon's death, Bulgaria was weakened by wars with Magyars and Pechenegs and the spread of
the Bogomil heresy.[51][53] Preslav was seized by the Byzantine army in 971 after consecutive Rus' and
Byzantine invasions.[51] The empire briefly recovered from the attacks under Samuil,[54] but this ended
when Byzantine emperor Basil II defeated the Bulgarian army at Klyuch in 1014. Samuil died shortly after
the battle,[55] and by 1018 the Byzantines had conquered the First Bulgarian Empire.[56] After the
conquest, Basil II prevented revolts by retaining the rule of local nobility, integrating them in Byzantine
bureaucracy and aristocracy, and relieving their lands of the obligation to pay taxes in gold, allowing tax
in kind instead.[57][58] The Bulgarian Patriarchate was reduced to an archbishopric, but retained its
autocephalous status and its dioceses.[58][57]

Second Bulgarian Empire

Main article: Second Bulgarian Empire

A view of the walls of Tsarevets fortress in Tarnovo

The walls of Tsarevets fortress in Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of the second empire

Byzantine domestic policies changed after Basil's death and a series of unsuccessful rebellions broke out,
the largest being led by Peter Delyan. The empire's authority declined after a catastrophic military defeat
at Manzikert against Seljuk invaders, and was further disturbed by the Crusades. This prevented
Byzantine attempts at Hellenisation and created fertile ground for further revolt. In 1185, Asen dynasty
nobles Ivan Asen I and Peter IV organised a major uprising and succeeded in re-establishing the Bulgarian
state. Ivan Asen and Peter laid the foundations of the Second Bulgarian Empire with its capital at
Tarnovo.[59]
Kaloyan, the third of the Asen monarchs, extended his dominion to Belgrade and Ohrid. He
acknowledged the spiritual supremacy of the pope and received a royal crown from a papal legate.[60]
The empire reached its zenith under Ivan Asen II (1218–1241), when its borders expanded as far as the
coast of Albania, Serbia and Epirus, while commerce and culture flourished.[60][59] Ivan Asen's rule was
also marked by a shift away from Rome in religious matters.[61]

The Asen dynasty became extinct in 1257. Internal conflicts and incessant Byzantine and Hungarian
attacks followed, enabling the Mongols to establish suzerainty over the weakened Bulgarian state.[60]
[61] In 1277, swineherd Ivaylo led a great peasant revolt that expelled the Mongols from Bulgaria and
briefly made him emperor.[62][59] He was overthrown in 1280 by the feudal landlords,[62] whose
factional conflicts caused the Second Bulgarian Empire to disintegrate into small feudal dominions by the
14th century.[59] These fragmented rump states—two tsardoms at Vidin and Tarnovo and the Despotate
of Dobrudzha—became easy prey for a new threat arriving from the Southeast: the Ottoman Turks.[60]

Ottoman rule

Main article: Ottoman Bulgaria

The Battle of Nicopolis in 1396 marked the end of medieval Bulgarian statehood.

The Ottomans were employed as mercenaries by the Byzantines in the 1340s but later became invaders
in their own right.[63] Sultan Murad I took Adrianople from the Byzantines in 1362; Sofia fell in 1382,
followed by Shumen in 1388.[63] The Ottomans completed their conquest of Bulgarian lands in 1393
when Tarnovo was sacked after a three-month siege and the Battle of Nicopolis which brought about the
fall of the Vidin Tsardom in 1396. Sozopol was the last Bulgarian settlement to fall, in 1453.[64] The
Bulgarian nobility was subsequently eliminated and the peasantry was enserfed to Ottoman masters,[63]
while much of the educated clergy fled to other countries.[65]

Bulgarians were subjected to heavy taxes (including Devshirme, or blood tax), their culture was
suppressed,[65] and they experienced partial Islamisation.[66] Ottoman authorities established a
religious administrative community called the Rum Millet, which governed all Orthodox Christians
regardless of their ethnicity.[67] Most of the local population then gradually lost its distinct national
consciousness, identifying only by its faith.[68][69] The clergy remaining in some isolated monasteries
kept their ethnic identity alive, enabling its survival in remote rural areas,[70] and in the militant Catholic
community in the northwest of the country.[71]
As Ottoman power began to wane, Habsburg Austria and Russia saw Bulgarian Christians as potential
allies. The Austrians first backed an uprising in Tarnovo in 1598, then a second one in 1686, the
Chiprovtsi Uprising in 1688 and finally Karposh's Rebellion in 1689.[72] The Russian Empire also asserted
itself as a protector of Christians in Ottoman lands with the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in 1774.[72]

The Defence of the Eagle's Nest, painting by Alexey Popov from 1893, depicting the Defence of Shipka
Pass

The Russo-Bulgarian defence of Shipka Pass in 1877

The Western European Enlightenment in the 18th century influenced the initiation of a national
awakening of Bulgaria.[63] It restored national consciousness and provided an ideological basis for the
liberation struggle, resulting in the 1876 April Uprising. Up to 30,000 Bulgarians were killed as Ottoman
authorities put down the rebellion. The massacres prompted the Great Powers to take action.[73] They
convened the Constantinople Conference in 1876, but their decisions were rejected by the Ottomans.
This allowed the Russian Empire to seek a military solution without risking confrontation with other
Great Powers, as had happened in the Crimean War.[73] In 1877, Russia declared war on the Ottomans
and defeated them with the help of Bulgarian rebels, particularly during the crucial Battle of Shipka Pass
which secured Russian control over the main road to Constantinople.[74][75]

Third Bulgarian state

Main articles: History of Bulgaria (1878–1946), People's Republic of Bulgaria, and History of Bulgaria
since 1989

Map of Bulgaria according to the Treaty of San Stefano

Borders of Bulgaria according to the preliminary Treaty of San Stefano

The Treaty of San Stefano was signed on 3 March 1878 by Russia and the Ottoman Empire. It was to set
up an autonomous Bulgarian principality spanning Moesia, Macedonia and Thrace, roughly on the
territories of the Second Bulgarian Empire,[76][77] and this day is now a public holiday called National
Liberation Day.[78] The other Great Powers immediately rejected the treaty out of fear that such a large
country in the Balkans might threaten their interests. It was superseded by the Treaty of Berlin, signed
on 13 July. It provided for a much smaller state, the Principality of Bulgaria, only comprising Moesia and
the region of Sofia, and leaving large populations of ethnic Bulgarians outside the new country.[76][79]
This significantly contributed to Bulgaria's militaristic foreign affairs approach during the first half of the
20th century.[80]

The Bulgarian principality won a war against Serbia and incorporated the semi-autonomous Ottoman
territory of Eastern Rumelia in 1885, proclaiming itself an independent state on 5 October 1908.[81] In
the years following independence, Bulgaria increasingly militarised and was often referred to as "the
Balkan Prussia".[82] It became involved in three consecutive conflicts between 1912 and 1918—two
Balkan Wars and World War I. After a disastrous defeat in the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria again found
itself fighting on the losing side as a result of its alliance with the Central Powers in World War I. Despite
fielding more than a quarter of its population in a 1,200,000-strong army[83][84] and achieving several
decisive victories at Doiran and Monastir, the country capitulated in 1918. The war resulted in significant
territorial losses and a total of 87,500 soldiers killed.[85] More than 253,000 refugees from the lost
territories immigrated to Bulgaria from 1912 to 1929,[86] placing additional strain on the already ruined
national economy.[87]

A portrait of Tsar Boris III

Tsar Boris III

The resulting political unrest led to the establishment of a royal authoritarian dictatorship by Tsar Boris
III (1918–1943). Bulgaria entered World War II in 1941 as a member of the Axis but declined to
participate in Operation Barbarossa and saved its Jewish population from deportation to concentration
camps.[88] The sudden death of Boris III in mid-1943 pushed the country into political turmoil as the war
turned against Germany, and the communist guerrilla movement gained momentum. The government of
Bogdan Filov subsequently failed to achieve peace with the Allies. Bulgaria did not comply with Soviet
demands to expel German forces from its territory, resulting in a declaration of war and an invasion by
the USSR in September 1944.[89] The communist-dominated Fatherland Front took power, ended
participation in the Axis and joined the Allied side until the war ended.[90] Bulgaria suffered little war
damage and the Soviet Union demanded no reparations. But all wartime territorial gains, with the
notable exception of Southern Dobrudzha, were lost.[91]

Georgi Dimitrov, leader of the Bulgarian Communist Party from 1946 to 1949

The left-wing coup d'état of 9 September 1944 led to the abolition of the monarchy and the executions
of some 1,000–3,000 dissidents, war criminals, and members of the former royal elite.[92][93][94] But it
was not until 1946 that a one-party people's republic was instituted following a referendum.[95] It fell
into the Soviet sphere of influence under the leadership of Georgi Dimitrov (1946–1949), who
established a repressive, rapidly industrialising Stalinist state.[91] By the mid-1950s, standards of living
rose significantly and political repression eased.[96][97] The Soviet-style planned economy saw some
experimental market-oriented policies emerging under Todor Zhivkov (1954–1989).[98] Compared to
wartime levels, national GDP increased five-fold and per capita GDP quadrupled by the 1980s,[99]
although severe debt spikes took place in 1960, 1977 and 1980.[100] Zhivkov's daughter Lyudmila
bolstered national pride by promoting Bulgarian heritage, culture and arts worldwide.[101] Facing
declining birth rates among the ethnic Bulgarian majority, Zhivkov's government in 1984 forced the
minority ethnic Turks to adopt Slavic names in an attempt to erase their identity and assimilate them.
[102] These policies resulted in the emigration of some 300,000 ethnic Turks to Turkey.[103][104]

The Communist Party was forced to give up its political monopoly on 10 November 1989 under the
influence of the Revolutions of 1989. Zhivkov resigned and Bulgaria embarked on a transition to a
parliamentary democracy.[105] The first free elections in June 1990 were won by the Communist Party,
now rebranded as the Bulgarian Socialist Party.[106] A new constitution that provided for a relatively
weak elected president and for a prime minister accountable to the legislature was adopted in July 1991.
[107] The new system initially failed to improve living standards or create economic growth—the
average quality of life and economic performance remained lower than under communism well into the
early 2000s.[108] After 2001, economic, political and geopolitical conditions improved greatly,[109] and
Bulgaria achieved high Human Development status in 2003.[110] It became a member of NATO in
2004[111] and participated in the War in Afghanistan. After several years of reforms, it joined the
European Union and the single market in 2007, despite EU concerns over government corruption.[112]
Bulgaria hosted the 2018 Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the National Palace of
Culture in Sofia.[113]

Geography

Main article: Geography of Bulgaria

Topographic map of Bulgaria

Topography of Bulgaria

Rila, the highest mountain range in the Balkans and Southeast Europe

Bulgaria is a middle-sized country situated in Southeastern Europe, in the east of the Balkans. Its territory
covers an area of 110,994 square kilometres (42,855 sq mi), while land borders with its five neighbouring
countries run a total length of 1,808 kilometres (1,123 mi), and its coastline is 354 kilometres (220 mi)
long.[114] Bulgaria's geographic coordinates are 43° N 25° E.[115] The most notable topographical
features of the country are the Danubian Plain, the Balkan Mountains, the Thracian Plain, and the Rila-
Rhodope massif.[114] The southern edge of the Danubian Plain slopes upward into the foothills of the
Balkans, while the Danube defines the border with Romania. The Thracian Plain is roughly triangular,
beginning southeast of Sofia and broadening as it reaches the Black Sea coast.[114]

The Balkan mountains run laterally through the middle of the country from west to east. The
mountainous southwest has two distinct alpine type ranges—Rila and Pirin, which border the lower but
more extensive Rhodope Mountains to the east, and various medium altitude mountains to west,
northwest and south, like Vitosha, Osogovo and Belasitsa.[114] Musala, at 2,925 metres (9,596 ft), is the
highest point in both Bulgaria and the Balkans. The Black Sea coast is the country's lowest point.[115]
Plains occupy about one third of the territory, while plateaux and hills occupy 41%.[116] Most rivers are
short and with low water levels. The longest river located solely in Bulgarian territory, the Iskar, has a
length of 368 kilometres (229 mi). The Struma and the Maritsa are two major rivers in the south.[117]
[114]

Climate

Bulgaria has a varied and changeable climate, which results from being positioned at the meeting point
of the Mediterranean, Oceanic and Continental air masses combined with the barrier effect of its
mountains.[114] Northern Bulgaria averages 1 °C (1.8 °F) cooler, and registers 200 millimetres (7.9 in)
more precipitation, than the regions south of the Balkan mountains. Temperature amplitudes vary
significantly in different areas. The lowest recorded temperature is −38.3 °C (−36.9 °F), while the highest
is 45.2 °C (113.4 °F).[118] Precipitation averages about 630 millimetres (24.8 in) per year, and varies from
500 millimetres (19.7 in) in Dobrudja to more than 2,500 millimetres (98.4 in) in the mountains.
Continental air masses bring significant amounts of snowfall during winter.[119]

Köppen climate types of Bulgaria

Köppen climate types of Bulgaria

Considering its relatively small area, Bulgaria has variable and complex climate. The country occupies the
southernmost part of the continental climatic zone, with small areas in the south falling within the
Mediterranean climatic zone.[120] The continental zone is predominant, because continental air masses
flow easily into the unobstructed Danubian Plain. The continental influence, stronger during the winter,
produces abundant snowfall; the Mediterranean influence increases during the second half of summer
and produces hot and dry weather. Bulgaria is subdivided into five climatic zones: continental zone
(Danubian Plain, Pre-Balkan and the higher valleys of the Transitional geomorphological region);
transitional zone (Upper Thracian Plain, most of the Struma and Mesta valleys, the lower Sub-Balkan
valleys); continental-Mediterranean zone (the southernmost areas of the Struma and Mesta valleys, the
eastern Rhodope Mountains, Sakar and Strandzha); Black Sea zone along the coastline with an average
length of 30–40 km inland; and alpine zone in the mountains above 1000 m altitude (central Balkan
Mountains, Rila, Pirin, Vitosha, western Rhodope Mountains, etc.).[121]

Biodiversity and conservation

Belogradchik Rocks are among Bulgaria's numerous protected areas

The interaction of climatic, hydrological, geological and topographical conditions has produced a
relatively wide variety of plant and animal species.[122] Bulgaria's biodiversity, one of the richest in
Europe,[123] is conserved in three national parks, 11 nature parks, 10 biosphere reserves and 565
protected areas.[124][125][126] Ninety-three of the 233 mammal species of Europe are found in
Bulgaria, along with 49% of butterfly and 30% of vascular plant species.[127] Overall, 41,493 plant and
animal species are present.[127] Larger mammals with sizable populations include deer (106,323
individuals), wild boar (88,948), golden jackal (47,293) and red fox (32,326). Partridges number some
328,000 individuals, making them the most widespread gamebird.[128] A third of all nesting birds in
Bulgaria can be found in Rila National Park, which also hosts Arctic and alpine species at high altitudes.
[129] Flora includes more than 3,800 vascular plant species of which 170 are endemic and 150 are
considered endangered.[122] A checklist of larger fungi in Bulgaria by the Institute of Botany identifies
more than 1,500 species.[130] More than 35% of the land area is covered by forests.[131]

In 1998, the Bulgarian government adopted the National Biological Diversity Conservation Strategy, a
comprehensive programme seeking the preservation of local ecosystems, protection of endangered
species and conservation of genetic resources.[132] Bulgaria has some of the largest Natura 2000 areas
in Europe covering 33.8% of its territory.[133] It also achieved its Kyoto Protocol objective of reducing
carbon dioxide emissions by 30% from 1990 to 2009.[134]

Bulgaria ranks 30th in the 2018 Environmental Performance Index, but scores low on air quality.[135]
Particulate levels are the highest in Europe,[136] especially in urban areas affected by automobile traffic
and coal-based power stations.[137][138] One of these, the lignite-fired Maritsa Iztok-2 station, is
causing the highest damage to health and the environment in the European Union.[139] Pesticide use in
agriculture and antiquated industrial sewage systems produce extensive soil and water pollution.[140]
Water quality began to improve in 1998 and has maintained a trend of moderate improvement. Over
75% of surface rivers meet European standards for good quality.[141]

Politics

Main article: Politics of Bulgaria

The National Assembly building in Sofia

Independence Square in Sofia: The headquarters of the Presidency (right), the National Assembly
(centre) and the Council of Ministers (left).
Bulgaria is a parliamentary democracy where the prime minister is the head of government and the most
powerful executive position.[109] The political system has three branches—legislative, executive and
judicial, with universal suffrage for citizens at least 18 years old. The Constitution also provides
possibilities of direct democracy, namely petitions and national referendums.[142] Elections are
supervised by an independent Central Election Commission that includes members from all major
political parties. Parties must register with the commission prior to participating in a national election.
[143] Normally, the prime minister-elect is the leader of the party receiving the most votes in
parliamentary elections, although this is not always the case.[109]

Unlike the prime minister, presidential domestic power is more limited. The directly elected president
serves as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and has the authority to return a
bill for further debate, although the parliament can override the presidential veto by a simple majority
vote.[109] Political parties gather in the National Assembly, a body of 240 deputies elected to four-year
terms by direct popular vote. The National Assembly has the power to enact laws, approve the budget,
schedule presidential elections, select and dismiss the prime minister and other ministers, declare war,
deploy troops abroad, and ratify international treaties and agreements.[144]

Portrait of president Rumen Radev

Rumen Radev

President

Portrait of prime minister Nikolai Denkov

Nikolai Denkov

Prime Minister

Overall, Bulgaria displays a pattern of unstable governments.[145] Boyko Borisov, the leader of the
centre-right, pro-EU party GERB, served three terms as prime minister between 2009 and 2021. It won
the 2009 general election and formed a minority government,[146] which resigned in February 2013
after nationwide protests over the low living standards, corruption[147] and the perceived failure of the
democratic system.[148] The subsequent snap elections in May resulted in a narrow win for GERB,[149]
but the Bulgarian Socialist Party eventually formed a government led by Plamen Oresharski after Borisov
failed to secure parliamentary support.[150][151] The Oresharski government resigned in July 2014 amid
continuing large-scale protests.[152][153] The October 2014 elections resulted in a third GERB victory.
[154] Borisov formed a coalition[155] with several right-wing parties, but resigned again after the
candidate backed by his party failed to win the 2016 Presidential election. The March 2017 snap election
was again won by GERB, but with 95 seats in Parliament. They formed a coalition with the far-right
United Patriots, who held 27 seats.[156]
Borisov's last cabinet saw a dramatic decrease in freedom of the press, and a number of corruption
revelations that triggered yet another wave of mass protests in 2020.[157][158] GERB came out first in
the regular April 2021 election, but with its weakest result so far.[159] All other parties refused to form a
government,[160] and after a brief deadlock, another election was called for July 2021. It too failed to
break the stalemate, as no political party was able to form a coalition government.[161]

In April 2023, because of the political deadlock, Bulgaria held its fifth parliamentary election since April
2021. GERB was the biggest, winning 69 seats. The bloc led by We Continue the Change won 64 seats in
the 240-seat parliament. In June 2023, Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov formed a new coalition between
We Continue The Change and GERB. According to the coalition agreement, Denkov will lead the
government for the first nine months. He will be succeeded by former European Commissioner, Mariya
Gabriel, of the GERB party. She will take over as prime minister after nine months.[162]

Freedom House has reported a continuing deterioration of democratic governance after 2009, citing
reduced media independence, stalled reforms, abuse of authority at the highest level and increased
dependence of local administrations on the central government.[163] Bulgaria is still listed as "Free",
with a political system designated as a semi-consolidated democracy, albeit with deteriorating scores.
[163] The Democracy Index defines it as a "Flawed democracy".[164] A 2018 survey by the Institute for
Economics and Peace reported that less than 15% of respondents considered elections to be fair.[165]

Legal system

Bulgaria has a civil law legal system.[166] The judiciary is overseen by the Ministry of Justice. The
Supreme Administrative Court and the Supreme Court of Cassation are the highest courts of appeal and
oversee the application of laws in subordinate courts.[143] The Supreme Judicial Council manages the
system and appoints judges. The legal system is regarded by both domestic and international observers
as one of Europe's most inefficient due to a pervasive lack of transparency and corruption.[167][168]
[169][170][excessive citations] Law enforcement is carried out by organisations mainly subordinate to
the Ministry of the Interior.[171] The General Directorate of National Police (GDNP) combats general
crime and maintains public order.[172] GDNP fields 26,578 police officers in its local and national
sections.[173] The bulk of criminal cases are transport-related, followed by theft and drug-related crime;
homicide rates are low.[174] The Ministry of the Interior also heads the Border Police Service and the
National Gendarmerie—a specialised branch for anti-terrorist activity, crisis management and riot
control. Counterintelligence and national security are the responsibility of the State Agency for National
Security.[175]
Administrative divisions

Main articles: Provinces of Bulgaria and Municipalities of Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a unitary state.[176] Since the 1880s, the number of territorial management units has varied
from seven to 26.[177] Between 1987 and 1999, the administrative structure consisted of nine provinces
(oblasti, singular oblast). A new administrative structure was adopted in parallel with the
decentralisation of the economic system.[178] It includes 27 provinces and a metropolitan capital
province (Sofia-Grad). All areas take their names from their respective capital cities. The provinces are
subdivided into 265 municipalities. Municipalities are run by mayors, who are elected to four-year terms,
and by directly elected municipal councils. Bulgaria is a highly centralised state where the Council of
Ministers directly appoints regional governors and all provinces and municipalities are heavily dependent
on it for funding.[143]

Blagoevgrad

Burgas

Dobrich

Gabrovo

Haskovo

Kardzhali

Kyustendil

Lovech

Montana

Pazardzhik

Pernik

Pleven

Plovdiv

Razgrad

Ruse

Shumen
Silistra

Sliven

Smolyan

Sofia Province

Stara Zagora

Targovishte

Varna

Veliko Tarnovo

Vidin

Vratsa

Yambol

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Bulgaria

Bulgarian MiG-29 fighters in flight

Mikoyan MiG-29 jet fighters of the Bulgarian Air Force

Bulgaria became a member of the United Nations in 1955 and since 1966 has been a non-permanent
member of the Security Council three times, most recently from 2002 to 2003.[179] It was also among
the founding nations of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 1975. Euro-
Atlantic integration has been a priority since the fall of communism, although the communist leadership
also had aspirations of leaving the Warsaw Pact and joining the European Communities by 1987.[180]
[181] Bulgaria signed the European Union Treaty of Accession on 25 April 2005,[182] and became a full
member of the European Union on 1 January 2007.[112] In addition, it has a tripartite economic and
diplomatic collaboration with Romania and Greece,[183] good ties with China[184] and Vietnam[185]
and a historical relationship with Russia.[186]

Bulgaria deployed significant numbers of both civilian and military advisors in Soviet-allied countries like
Nicaragua[187] and Libya during the Cold War.[188] The first deployment of foreign troops on Bulgarian
soil since World War II occurred in 2001, when the country hosted six KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft and
200 support personnel for the war effort in Afghanistan.[24] International military relations were further
expanded with accession to NATO in March 2004[111] and the US-Bulgarian Defence Cooperation
Agreement signed in April 2006. Bezmer and Graf Ignatievo air bases, the Novo Selo training range, and a
logistics centre in Aytos subsequently became joint military training facilities cooperatively used by the
United States and Bulgarian militaries.[189][190] Despite its active international defence collaborations,
Bulgaria ranks as among the most peaceful countries globally, tying 6th alongside Iceland regarding
domestic and international conflicts, and 26th on average in the Global Peace Index.[165]

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Bulgaria took the decision to assist Ukraine [191] and in
2023, to put a stop to Russian oil and gas.[192]

Military

Main article: Bulgarian Armed Forces

The Bulgarian Armed Forces are the military of Bulgaria and they are composed of land forces, navy and
an air force. The Armed Forces have 36,950 active troops, supplemented by 3,000 reservists.[193] The
land forces consist of two mechanised brigades and eight independent regiments and battalions; the air
force operates 106 aircraft and air defence systems across six air bases, and the navy operates various
ships, helicopters and coastal defence weapons.[194] Military inventory mainly consists of Soviet
equipment like Mikoyan MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-25 jets,[195] S-300PT air defence systems[196] and SS-21
Scarab short-range ballistic missiles.[197] Bulgaria's Armed Forces are modernizing with F-16 Block 70
fighter jets, new Multi-Purpose corvettes and other modern NATO-standard equipment. Bulgaria is in the
process of buying new US built Stryker vehicles, new 155 mm Self-propelled howitzers,new 3D Early-
warning radars, new Surface-to-air missiles and more.[198]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Bulgaria

Graph showing GDP and unemployment

Economic growth (green) and unemployment (blue) statistics since 2001

Bulgaria has an open, upper middle income range market economy where the private sector accounts
for more than 70% of GDP.[199][200] From a largely agricultural country with a predominantly rural
population in 1948, by the 1980s Bulgaria had transformed into an industrial economy, with scientific
and technological research at the top of its budgetary expenditure priorities.[201] The loss of COMECON
markets in 1990 and the subsequent "shock therapy" of the planned system caused a steep decline in
industrial and agricultural production, ultimately followed by an economic collapse in 1997.[202][203]
The economy largely recovered during a period of rapid growth several years later,[202] but the average
salary of 1,036 leva ($615) per month remains the lowest in the EU.[204] More than a fifth of the labour
force work for a minimum wage of $1.16 per hour.[205]
A balanced budget was achieved in 2003 and the country began running a surplus the following year.
[206] Expenditures amounted to $21.15 billion and revenues were $21.67 billion in 2017.[207] Most
government spending on institutions is earmarked for security. The ministries of defence, the interior
and justice are allocated the largest share of the annual government budget, whereas those responsible
for the environment, tourism and energy receive the least funding.[208] Taxes form the bulk of
government revenue[208] at 30% of GDP.[209] Bulgaria has some of the lowest corporate income tax
rates in the EU at a flat 10% rate.[210] The tax system is two-tier. Value added tax, excise duties,
corporate and personal income tax are national, whereas real estate, inheritance, and vehicle taxes are
levied by local authorities.[211] Strong economic performance in the early 2000s reduced government
debt from 79.6% in 1998 to 14.1% in 2008.[206] It has since increased to 28.7% of GDP by 2016, but
remains the third lowest in the EU.[212]

A business park in Sofia, the nation's largest economic hub

An electronics factory in Trakia Economic Zone near Plovdiv

The Yugozapaden planning area is the most developed region with a per capita gross domestic product
(PPP) of $29,816 in 2018.[213] It includes the capital city and the surrounding Sofia Province, which
alone generate 42% of national gross domestic product despite hosting only 22% of the population.[214]
[215] GDP per capita (in PPS) and the cost of living in 2019 stood at 53 and 52.8% of the EU average
(100%), respectively.[216][217] National PPP GDP was estimated at $143.1 billion in 2016, with a per
capita value of $20,116.[218] Economic growth statistics take into account illegal transactions from the
informal economy, which is the largest in the EU as a percentage of economic output.[219][220] The
Bulgarian National Bank issues the national currency, lev, which is pegged to the euro at a rate of
1.95583 levа per euro.[221]

After several consecutive years of high growth, repercussions of the financial crisis of 2007–2008
resulted in a 3.6% contraction of GDP in 2009 and increased unemployment.[222][223] Positive growth
was restored in 2010 but intercompany debt exceeded $59 billion, meaning that 60% of all Bulgarian
companies were mutually indebted.[224] By 2012, it had increased to $97 billion, or 227% of GDP.[225]
The government implemented strict austerity measures with IMF and EU encouragement to some
positive fiscal results, but the social consequences of these measures, such as increased income
inequality and accelerated outward migration, have been "catastrophic" according to the International
Trade Union Confederation.[226]
Siphoning of public funds to the families and relatives of politicians from incumbent parties has resulted
in fiscal and welfare losses to society.[227][228] Bulgaria ranks 71st in the Corruption Perceptions
Index[229] and experiences the worst levels of corruption in the European Union, a phenomenon that
remains a source of profound public discontent.[230][231] Along with organised crime, corruption has
resulted in a rejection of the country's Schengen Area application and withdrawal of foreign investment.
[232][233][234] Government officials reportedly engage in embezzlement, influence trading,
government procurement violations and bribery with impunity.[235] Government procurement in
particular is a critical area in corruption risk. An estimated 10 billion leva ($5.99 billion) of state budget
and European cohesion funds are spent on public tenders each year;[236] nearly 14 billion ($8.38 billion)
were spent on public contracts in 2017 alone.[237] A large share of these contracts are awarded to a few
politically connected[238] companies amid widespread irregularities, procedure violations and tailor-
made award criteria.[239] Despite repeated criticism from the European Commission,[234] EU
institutions refrain from taking measures against Bulgaria because it supports Brussels on a number of
issues, unlike Poland or Hungary.[230]