Bulgaria

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 Ottoman Turks overran the country. 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. The country joined NATO in 2004, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024.

43 00 N, 25 00 E

earthquakes; landslides

almost identical in size to Virginia; slightly larger than Tennessee

air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes

Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

354 km

Total: 1,806 km

Border countries (5): Greece 472 km; Macedonia 162 km; Romania 605 km; Serbia 344 km; Turkey 223 km

Agricultural land: 46.1% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 32.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 1.3% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)

Forest: 36.2% (2023 est.)

Other: 17.7% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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

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

mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

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

Europe

929 sq km (2016)

21.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Lowest point: Black Sea 0 m

Mean elevation: 472 m

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)

Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km

Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Total : 110,879 sq km

Land: 108,489 sq km

Water: 2,390 sq km

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 479,586/female 453,423)

15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,250,962/female 2,171,279)

65 years and over: 21% (2024 est.) (male 572,943/female 854,466)

At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Bulgarian(s)

Adjective: Bulgarian

Total: 15 years (2023 est.)

Male: 15 years (2023 est.)

Female: 16 years (2023 est.)

Urban population: 76.7% of total population (2023)

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

Improved:

Urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

1.288 million SOFIA (capital) (2023)

4.33 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

7.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

26.4 years (2020 est.)

Total dependency ratio: 53.4 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 21.1 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Bulgarian 78.5%, Turkish 7.8%, Roma 4.1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 9.4% (2021 est.)

Note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 9–11% of Bulgaria's population

Christian 64.7%, Muslim 9.8%, other 0.1%, none 4.7%, unspecified 20.7% (2021 est.)

Bulgarian (official) 77.3%, Turkish 7.9%, Romani 3.5%, other 1%, unspecified 10.4% (2021 est.)

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

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

8.6% of GDP (2021)

11.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.73 (2024 est.)

56.6% (2023 est.)

Total: 12.1% (2024 est.)

Male: 12.4% (2024 est.)

Female: 11.8% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 45.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 43.3 years

Female: 47 years

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

1.51 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 6,782,659 (2024 est.)

Male: 3,303,491

Female: 3,479,168

Total: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 33.1% (2025 est.)

Male: 36.2% (2025 est.)

Female: 30.3% (2025 est.)

25% (2016)

14.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

7.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

1.6% (2014)

Total: 11.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 4.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 1.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 4.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 72.9 years

Female: 79.4 years

4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

12% national budget (2022 est.)

-0.66% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 838 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial: 3.879 billion cubic meters (2022)

Agricultural: 726.434 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.859 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 29.8% (2022 est.)

18.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

33.465 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 14.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 13.958 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas: 5.021 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

102.171 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires H. Martin McDOWELL (since May 2025)

Embassy: 16, Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408

Mailing address: 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC  20521-5740

Telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100

FAX: [359] (2) 937-5209

Email address and website:
Acs_sofia@state.gov

https://bg.usembassy.gov/

28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Sofia-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

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 Church of Saint Sofia in the city, parts of which may date to the 4th century

History: Several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991

Amendment process: Proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; passage requires three-fourths majority vote of National Assembly members in three ballots; signed by the National Assembly chairperson; note - under special circumstances, a "Grand National Assembly" is elected with the authority to write a new constitution and amend certain articles of the constitution, including those affecting basic civil rights and national sovereignty; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in each of several readings

Chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017)

Head of government: Prime Minister Rosen ZHELYAZKOV (since 16 January 2025)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly

Election/appointment process: President and vice president elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly

Most recent election date: 14 and 21 November 2021

Election results:
2021: Rumen RADEV reelected president in second round; percent of vote in the first round - Rumen RADEV (independent) 49.4%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV (independent) 22.8%, Mustafa KARADAYI (DPS) 11.6%, Kostadin KOSTADINOV (Revival) 3.9%, Lozan PANOV (independent) 3.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in the second round - Rumen RADEV 66.7%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV 31.8%, neither 1.5%

2016: Rumen RADEV elected president in second round; percent of vote - Rumen RADEV (independent, supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party) 59.4%, Tsetska TSACHEVA (GERB) 36.2%, neither 4.5%

Expected date of next election: Fall 2026

Description: Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red

Meaning: White stands for peace, love, and freedom; green for the country's agricultural wealth; red for the independence struggle and military courage

History: Originally adopted in 1879 as a modified version of the Russian tricolor flag, using green instead of blue; the communist coat of arms was added to the flag in various forms between 1948 and 1990, when it was removed after the communist government collapsed

3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

Highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation consists of a chairman and approximately 72 judges organized into penal, civil, and commercial colleges; Supreme Administrative Court is organized into 2 colleges with various panels of 5 judges each; Constitutional Court consists of 12 justices) and resides outside the judiciary

Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Cassation and Supreme Administrative judges elected by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC (consists of 25 members with extensive legal experience) and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly and appointed by the president and the SJC; justices appointed for 9-year terms with renewal of 4 justices every 3 years

Subordinate courts: Appeals courts; regional and district courts; administrative courts; courts martial

civil law

Legislature name: National Assembly (Narodno sabranie)

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 240 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Proportional representation

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 4 years

Most recent election date: 10/27/2024

Parties elected and seats per party: Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Party (GERB) - Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) (66); We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (36); Revival (Vuzrazhdane) (33); Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) - New Beginning (29); Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) - United Left (19); Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (APS) (19); There is Such a People (PP-ITN) (17); Other (21)

Percentage of women in chamber: 25%

Expected date of next election: October 2028

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOOSA,  UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

BSP for Bulgaria (electoral alliance of BSP, PKT, Ecoglasnost)
Bulgarian Rise or BV
Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP
Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB (alliance with SDS) 
Democratic Bulgaria or DB (electoral alliance of Yes! Bulgaria, DSB, and The Greens) 
Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB
Ecoglasnost
Green Movement or The Greens 
Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS
Political Club Thrace or PKT
Revival
Stand Up.BG or IS.BG
There is Such a People or ITN
Union of Democratic Forces or SDS (alliance with GERB) 
Yes! Bulgaria 
We Continue the Change or PP 
We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria or PP-DB (electoral alliance of PP, DB, Yes! Bulgaria)

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary republic

Conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria

Conventional short form: Bulgaria

Local long form: Republika Bulgaria

Local short form: Bulgaria

Former: Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Republic of Bulgaria

Etymology: Named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D.; the tribal name may come from the Turkic word bulga, or "mixed," referring to the blend of Turkic and Slavic ethnicities in the tribes

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Stefka YOVCHEVA (since 7 May 2025)

Chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: [1] (202) 387 5770

FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973

Email address and website:
Office@bulgaria-embassy.org

https://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/en/homepage/

Consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Title: “Mila Rodino” (Dear Homeland)

Lyrics/music: Tsvetan RADOSLAVOV

History: Adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

lion

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

Total World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Boyana Church (c); Madara Rider (c); Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (c); Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (c); Rila Monastery (c); Ancient City of Nessebar (c); Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (c); Srebarna Nature Reserve (n); Pirin National Park (n); Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n)

white, green, red

20.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 2.1% (2022 est.)

Highest 10%: 30.1% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

refined petroleum, garments, refined copper, wheat, natural gas (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 14%, Romania 11%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, barley, milk, rapeseed, grapes, potatoes, triticale, tomatoes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $35.615 billion (2023 est.)

Expenditures: $37.546 billion (2023 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

crude petroleum, copper ore, cars, packaged medicine, electricity (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

leva (BGN) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
1.808 (2024 est.)
1.809 (2023 est.)
1.86 (2022 est.)
1.654 (2021 est.)
1.716 (2020 est.)

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

$112.212 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 57.6% (2024 est.)

Government consumption: 19.7% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories: 2.5% (2024 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 55.8% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -53.5% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Germany 12%, Turkey 8%, Romania 8%, Russia 7%, Italy 6% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

On food: 20.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On alcohol and tobacco: 4.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

3.124 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$14.277 billion (2022 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$43.698 billion (2024 est.)
$46.334 billion (2023 est.)
$40.989 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

30.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

4.2% (2024 est.)
4.4% (2023 est.)
4.3% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

20.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$219.645 billion (2024 est.)
$213.64 billion (2023 est.)
$209.683 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

2.4% (2024 est.)
9.4% (2023 est.)
15.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$2.014 billion (2024 est.)
-$894.86 million (2023 est.)
-$2.43 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$34,100 (2024 est.)
$33,100 (2023 est.)
$32,400 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$60.029 billion (2024 est.)
$59.158 billion (2023 est.)
$62.261 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$62.661 billion (2024 est.)
$63.415 billion (2023 est.)
$63.246 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

2.8% (2024 est.)
1.9% (2023 est.)
4% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

1.9% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 2.1% (2024 est.)

Industry: 22.5% (2024 est.)

Services: 62.6% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 100%

Electrification - rural areas: 99.6%

Production: 20.97 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption: 20.557 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports: 1.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 753,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves: 2.174 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 35.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear: 40.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind: 4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Hydroelectricity: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Biomass and waste: 4.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Production: 10.444 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Consumption: 2.607 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports: 2.75 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Imports: 2.544 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 101,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 12.939 million kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 34.221 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Exports: 7.748 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports: 4.415 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 1.972 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)

.bg

4 national terrestrial TV stations with 1 state-owned and 3 privately owned; a vast array of TV stations are available from cable and satellite TV providers; state-owned national radio broadcasts over 3 networks; large number of private radio stations, especially in urban areas

Total subscriptions: 8.01 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2022 est.)

Total: 2.45 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 619,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.)

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

LZ

107 (2025)

Total: 78 (2023)

By type: Bulk carrier 2, general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 55

8 (2025)

2.1% of GDP (2025 est.)
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

the Bulgarian military is responsible for guaranteeing Bulgaria’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, providing support to international peace and security missions, and contributing to national security in peacetime, including such missions as responding to disasters or assisting with border security; the military trains regularly including in multinational exercises with regional partners and with NATO since Bulgaria joined the organization in 2004; it also participates in overseas peacekeeping and other security missions under the EU, NATO, and the UN; in 2022, Bulgaria established and began leading a NATO multinational battlegroup as part of an effort to boost NATO defenses in Eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; in 2021, Bulgaria approved a 10-year defense development program, which included calls for equipment upgrades and procurements, boosts in manpower, organizational reforms, and greater focus on such areas as cyber defense, communications, logistics support, and research and development

The Bulgarian military has participated in several significant conflicts since its establishment in 1878, including the Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885), the First Balkan War (1912-13), the Second Balkan War (1913), World War I (1915-1918), and World War II (1941-45); during the Cold War it was one of the Warsaw Pact’s largest militaries with over 150,000 personnel and more than 200 Soviet-made combat aircraft (2025)

160 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)

the military's inventory consists largely of Soviet-era armaments, although in recent years Bulgaria has procured some more modern Western weapons systems in an effort to modernize and achieve NATO interoperability (2025)

18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (2025)

Note: In 2020, Bulgaria announced a program to allow every citizen up to the age of 40 to join the armed forces for 6 months of military service in the voluntary reserve

Bulgarian Armed Forces (aka Bulgarian Army): Land Forces, Air Force, Navy

Ministry of Interior: General Directorate National Police (GDNP), General Directorate Border Police (GDBP), Special Unit for Combating Terrorism (SOBT) (2025)

Note: The GDNP includes the Gendarmerie, a special police force with military status deployed to secure important facilities, buildings and infrastructure, respond to riots, and counter militant threats

approximately 28,000 active duty Armed Forces  (2025)

Note: In 2021, Bulgaria released a 10-year defense plan which called for an active military strength of 43,000

Refugees: 114,728 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons: 862 (2024 est.)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force

Note: Details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.01GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 40.3% (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 4 (2025)

has a long history of space-related activities going back to the 1960s; develops, produces, and operates satellites; researches, develops, and produces other space technologies, including those related to astrophysics, remote sensing, data exploitation, optics, and electronics; has specialized in producing scientific instruments for space research; has more than 20 research institutes; Cooperating State of the ESA since 2015; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of the ESA, EU, individual ESA and EU member states, India, Japan, Russia, and the US (2025)

Space Research and Technology Institute - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (SRTI-BAS; formed in 1987 but originated from the Central Laboratory for Space Research and the Bulgarian Aerospace Agency, which was established in 1969) (2025)

Total ports: 2 (2024)

Large: 1

Medium: 0

Small: 1

Very small: 0

Ports with oil terminals: 2

Key ports: Burgas, Varna

Bulgaria’s coat of arms in the national colors of white, green, and red was adopted in 1997; the three lions are a national symbol for strength, courage, and leadership that was used during the country’s liberation movement in the 1870s and the kingdom period in the early 20th century; above the shield is the crown of Bulgaria (originally the crown of the medieval Bulgarian tsars) with a gold cross on top; a white scroll over the oak branches bears the Bulgarian national motto, “United we stand strong”

1960s-1990s - participated in the Soviet Interkosmos program, which included the first Bulgarian in space (1979), first domestically produced scientific satellite launched on a Soviet rocket (1981), and participation in the Soviet VEGA project (1985)

2017 - first communications satellite (BulgariaSat-1) built and launched by US 

2019 - first domestically built data/educational cube satellite (EnduroSat-1) launched by US

2023 - signed the US-led Artemis Accords outlining principles for cooperation in space exploration

2025 - domestically produced, multispectral remote sensing satellite (Balkan-1) launched by US as part of EU's Copernicus Earth observation program

38.2 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality