Capital

Bulgarien

name: Sofia

geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: named after the Saint Sofia Church in the city, parts of which date back to the 4th century A.D.

Citizenship

Bulgarien

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bulgaria

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Legal system

Bulgarien

civil law

Suffrage

Bulgarien

18 years of age; universal

Area

Bulgarien

total: 110,879 sq km

land: 108,489 sq km

water: 2,390 sq km

Land use

Bulgarien

agricultural land: 46.9% (2018 est.)

arable land: 29.9% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 15.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 36.7% (2018 est.)

other: 16.4% (2018 est.)

Location

Bulgarien

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey

Age structure

Bulgarien

0-14 years: 14.03% (male 492,147/female 465,612)

15-64 years: 65.17% (male 2,263,479/female 2,185,969)

65 years and over: 20.81% (2023 est.) (male 570,425/female 850,104)

Birth rate

Bulgarien

8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Bulgarien

14.3 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Bulgarien

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

major-language sample(s):
Светoвен Алманах, незаменимият източник за основна информация. (Bulgarian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

Bulgarien

total population: 75.8 years (2023 est.)

male: 72.6 years

female: 79.2 years

Major urban areas - population

Bulgarien

1.288 million SOFIA (capital) (2023)

Median age

Bulgarien

total: 44.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 43 years

female: 46.6 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Bulgarien

26.4 years (2020 est.)

Net migration rate

Bulgarien

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Bulgarien

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations

Population growth rate

Bulgarien

-0.66% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Bulgarien

1.51 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Bulgarien

urban population: 76.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Bulgarien

4% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Bulgarien

total: 14 years

male: 13 years

female: 14 years (2020)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Bulgarien

1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Bulgarien

1.72% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Bulgarien

3.291 million (2021 est.)

note: number of employed persons

Population below poverty line

Bulgarien

23.8% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate

Bulgarien

5.42% (2021 est.)

5.12% (2020 est.)

4.23% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Bulgarien

32.24% of GDP (2020 est.)

26.92% of GDP (2019 est.)

28.69% of GDP (2018 est.)

note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Bulgarien

3.3% (2021 est.)

1.67% (2020 est.)

3.1% (2019 est.)

Exports

Bulgarien

$51.505 billion (2021 est.)

$39.541 billion (2020 est.)

$44.041 billion (2019 est.)

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - partners

Bulgarien

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

Imports

Bulgarien

$50.059 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$38.197 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$41.843 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - partners

Bulgarien

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

Airports

Bulgarien

68 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Bulgarien

total: 2,115,053 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Bulgarien

total: 5.175 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 75% (2021 est.)

Railways

Bulgarien

total: 4,029 km (2020) 2,871 km electrified

Roadways

Bulgarien

total: 19,512 km (2011)

paved: 19,235 km (2011) (includes 458 km of expressways)

unpaved: 277 km (2011)

note: does not include Category IV local roads

Telephones - fixed lines

Bulgarien

total subscriptions: 787,637 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Bulgarien

total subscriptions: 7,902,756 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Bulgarien

470 km (2009)

Disputes - international

Bulgarien

none