Chief
of State: President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January
2002)
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Sergei STANISHEV (since 16 August 2005)
Government Type: parliamentary
democracy |
Population:
7,385,367 (July 2006 est.)
Languages: Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish
9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Religion: Bulgarian Orthodox
82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001
census)
Life Expectancy: 72.3 |
Currency:
lev (BGL)
GDP(per capita): $9,600 (2005
est.)
Overview: Bulgaria, a former
communist country striving to enter the European Union,
has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth
since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall
of the then socialist government. As a result, the government
became committed to economic reform and responsible
fiscal planning. Minerals, including coal, copper, and
zinc, play an important role in industry. In 1997, macroeconomic
stability was reinforced by the imposition of a fixed
exchange rate of the lev against the German D-mark and
the negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation
and steady progress on structural reforms improved the
business environment; Bulgaria has averaged 4% growth
since 2000 and has begun to attract significant amounts
of foreign direct investment. Corruption in the public
administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of
organized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria.
Exports: clothing, footwear,
iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
Import: machinery and equipment;
metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals,
and raw materials |
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Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Romania and Turkey
Area: total: 110,910 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km
water: 360 sq km |
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 country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks.
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. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria
on a path toward eventual integration into the EU. The
country joined NATO in 2004.
Independence Day: 3 March 1878
(as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire);
22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman
Empire)
Capital City: Sofia
Administrative divisions: 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, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko
Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol |
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