Bulgaria is a country located in Southeast Europe, bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. The capital and largest city is Sofia, and the official language is Bulgarian.

Bulgaria's economy is a mix of industry, agriculture, and services, with significant sectors including manufacturing, mining, and tourism. The country is a member of the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations, among other international organizations.

Bulgaria has a rich cultural heritage, with a history spanning over 1,300 years. The country has many cultural landmarks, including ancient Thracian tombs, medieval fortresses, and monasteries, as well as modern art galleries and museums. Bulgaria is also known for its traditional folk music and dances, which have been recognized by UNESCO as part of the world's cultural heritage.

Bulgaria is a parliamentary democracy, with a president serving as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. The country is divided into 28 regions, each with its own governor and local government. Bulgaria has a free press and a diverse civil society, though it faces challenges related to corruption, organized crime, and judicial reform.

Bulgaria has made significant progress in recent years in areas such as economic growth and infrastructure development. However, the country still faces challenges related to demographic decline, high emigration rates, and income inequality. Bulgaria is committed to addressing these issues, with a focus on promoting economic growth and job creation, increasing access to education and healthcare, and combating corruption and organized crime.

National holiday
Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

Telephone Code
359

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 150; Fire: 160; Police: 166

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

Climate
Temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Currency (Code)
Leva (BGN)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F

Major Languages
Bulgarian, Turkish, Romani

Major Religions
Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim 7.8%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Rila Monastery; Pirin National Park; Plovdiv Roman Theater; Sunny Beach; Tsarevets Fortress; Baba Vida Fortress; Belogradchik Fortress; Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari, ancient city of Nessebar

Major Sports
Soccer, skiing, basketball

Cultural Practices
Unlike in most other countries, a vertical shaking of the head indicates "no" in Bulgaria while a sideways shaking indicates "yes."

Tipping Guidelines
At restaurants, typically leave 10% of the total bill for a tip. Tip porters 50 levas per bag and hotel housekeepers 1.50 levas per day. It is common to tip taxi drivers 10% of the fare. Tour guides should also be tipped 5-10% of the total bill.

Souvenirs
Rose oil and other rose products, pottery, traditional dolls, handicraft items including hand-tatted lace and wood-carved items

Traditional Cuisine
Shopska salad — tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, raw or roasted peppers, sirene (white brine cheese), and parsley; the vegetables are usually diced and salted and served with a light dressing of sunflower or olive oil and occasionally complemented by vinegar

Geography
Area
total: 110,879 sq km
land: 108,489 sq km
water: 2,390 sq km

Climate
temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Natural resources
bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land

People and Society
Population
6,827,736 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Bulgarian 76.9%, Turkish 8%, Romani 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Russian, Armenian, and Vlach), other (unknown) 10% (2011 est.)

Languages
Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Romani 3.8%, other 0.7%, unspecified 10.5% (2011 est.)

Religions
Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim 7.8%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Jewish) 1.7%, none 3.7%, unspecified 27.4% (2011 est.)

Population growth rate
-0.66% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
parliamentary republic

Capital
name: Sofia

Economy
Economic overview
upper-middle-income EU economy; improving living standards and very robust economic growth; coal-based infrastructure; legacy structural vulnerabilities and widespread corruption; increasing Russian economic relations, particularly through energy trade

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$167.804 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$24,400 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
wheat, maize, sunflower seed, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, grapes, tomatoes, watermelons

Industries
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, automotive parts, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel; outsourcing centers

Exports
$51.505 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Germany 16%, Romania 8%, Italy 7%, Turkey 7%, Greece 6% (2019)

Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, packaged medicines, copper, wheat, electricity (2019)

Imports
$50.059 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
Germany 11%, Russia 9%, Italy 7%, Romania 7%, Turkey 7% (2019)

Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, copper, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum (2019)