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Information about Bulgaria
 Geography |
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Population:
Area:
Neighboring countries:
Capital:
Main cities: |
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7.973.671
110.912 sqm.
Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Turkey and Greece
Sofia (1,1 mio. inhabitants - around 14% of the population)
Plovdiv (339.744 inhabitants)
Varna (298.571 inhabitants)
Ruse (166.416 inhabitants)
Burgas (194.301 inhabitants)
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| Economy |
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| State: |
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Republic |
| Head of government: |
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Simeon Sakskoburgotski (ex-king Simeon 2.)
Simeon Sakskoburgotski became king of Bulgaria in 1943 at the age of 6, succeeding his father, Tsar Boris III. Three years later the royal family had to flee Bulgaria when the communists took over, and Simeon 2. lived in Egypt for some years before moving to Madrid. Here he married a Spanish woman and became a successful businessman. He did not return to Bulgaria before 1996, but remained popular even during the years in exile. |
| President: |
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Georgi Parvanov |
GDP (2000):
GDP (2000):
GDP growth:
Inflation:
Currency:
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1570 US$ per person
12,4 mia. US$ in total
2,5% p.a.
5,8% p.a. (2002)
1 lev = 100 stotinki (1 lev = 0,60 $)
Fixed against the Deutsch Mark |
| Unemployment: |
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18% (the official number, but it is probably higher) |
Min. wage:
Average wage: |
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110 leva per month
238 leva per month |
| In general the Bulgarian economy is improving, but during 1996 - 1997 the economy went through a period of depression with rapidly growing inflation, almost no growth and increasing unemployment. Today inflation has been brought down to 5,8%, and the average (official) unemployment rate is around 18% - however in some areas it can be 30%. Bulgaria has very favorably forhold for foreign investments, bl.a. tax exemption in a limited period if you create a certain amount of worksites or invest a minimum amount, and this is starting to attract foreign investors. |
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An influx of direct foreign investments in Bulgaria
(in million US dollars)
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| Index |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
| Joint capital |
504,6 |
500,3 |
754,8 |
566,7 |
335,2 |
| Other capital |
-17 |
350,9 |
188,5 |
240 |
90,4 |
| Reinvestment profit |
49,8 |
-32,5 |
58,3 |
6,3 |
32,4 |
| TOTAL |
537,3 |
818,7 |
1001,5 |
812,9 |
458 |
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| Index, 2003 |
Joint capital |
Other capital |
Reinvestment profit |
TOTAL |
| January |
15,6 |
19,7 |
7,2 |
42,6 |
| February |
18,7 |
24,7 |
7,2 |
50,6 |
| March |
63,7 |
57,3 |
7,2 |
128,2 |
| April |
32,4 |
63,7 |
0,0 |
96,1 |
| May |
28,1 |
82,3 |
0,0 |
110,3 |
| June |
29,4 |
69,6 |
0,0 |
99,0 |
| TOTAL |
187,9 |
317,3 |
21,7 |
526,9 |
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An influx of direct foreign
investments in Bulgaria by regions
(in million US dollars)
|
| Country |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
| Austria |
36,9 |
74,5 |
70,5 |
93,6 |
128,4 |
| Czech Republic |
1,2 |
0,0 |
0,7 |
2,6 |
63,9 |
| Greece |
20,9 |
2,3 |
99,1 |
240,2 |
61,5 |
| Germany |
21,3 |
40,4 |
39,0 |
67,4 |
58,5 |
| Switzerland |
38,6 |
8,7 |
24,7 |
33,5 |
23,5 |
| USA |
48,6 |
54,7 |
58,1 |
44,5 |
20,5 |
| Sweden |
0,0 |
0,4 |
2,2 |
5,7 |
18,6 |
| Italy |
2,0 |
6,9 |
338,2 |
146,5 |
16,3 |
| Japan |
2,8 |
1,8 |
1,6 |
3,1 |
15,3 |
| Turkey |
22,4 |
12,3 |
25,4 |
-9,7 |
13,8 |
| Cyprus |
131,2 |
161,8 |
74,8 |
17,8 |
10,8 |
| Belgium and Luxemburg |
21,9 |
0,2 |
100,2 |
60,8 |
9,0 |
| Hungary |
0,7 |
7,4 |
2,1 |
1,0 |
5,9 |
| France |
17,9 |
78,1 |
36,9 |
15,1 |
4,6 |
| Lichtenstein |
2,5 |
4,8 |
4,0 |
6,8 |
3,8 |
| Panama |
0,1 |
0,0 |
0,1 |
0,9 |
2,2 |
| Great Britain |
30,5 |
28,1 |
-3,3 |
20,1 |
1,0 |
| South Korea |
1,2 |
3,8 |
4,0 |
-9,2 |
1,0 |
| Russia |
15,1 |
99,5 |
21,5 |
-4,4 |
0,4 |
| Spain |
43,2 |
3,7 |
1,0 |
5,1 |
-0,5 |
| The Netherlands |
48,0 |
105,6 |
-10,2 |
80,3 |
-12,4 |
| Others |
- |
66,0 |
0,8 |
10,5 |
24,6 |
| TOTAL |
537,3 |
818,7 |
1001,5 |
812,9 |
458,0 |
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Source: Bulgarian National Bank
Last actualization:02.04.2003 |
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Inflation for the period 1998-2003 /in %/
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| Index |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
Monthly inflation
/on former month basis/ |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Inflation with accumulation
/basis-december the former year/ |
1,0 |
6,2 |
11,3 |
4,8 |
3,8 |
Inflation with accumulation
/basis-december the former year/ |
18,7 |
2,6 |
10,3 |
7,4 |
5,8 |
| Index, 2002/2003 |
Monthly inflation
/on former month basis/ |
Inflation with accumulation
/basis-december the former year/ |
| January |
2,7/ 0,6 |
2,7/ 0,6 |
| February |
1,6/ 0,1 |
4,4/ 0,8 |
| March |
0,8/ 0,4 |
5,2/ 1,2 |
| April |
-0,1/ 0,3 |
5,1/ 1,5 |
| May |
-2,1/ -0,6 |
2,9/ 0,9 |
| June |
-1,7/ -2,2 |
1,1/ -1,4 |
| July |
0,1/ 0,9 |
1,2/ -0,5 |
| August |
-0,8/ 0,8 |
0,6/ 0,3 |
| September |
1,0 |
2,4 |
| Octomber |
1,0 |
2,4 |
| November |
0,2 |
2,5 |
| December |
1,2 |
3,8 |
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Source: Bulgarian National Bank
Last actualization: 11.09.2003 |
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Before 1989 agriculture was the main source of income in Bulgaria, but today it has been surpassed by tourism, which is undoubtedly the most important industry today and employs a lot of people within transport, hotel- and restaurant and entertainment.
Industrial Bulgaria includes among other things petrochemical manufacturers who produce plastic products. Furthermore forklift trucks, concrete, sanitary installations, electrical products and bags, belts and other products made of leather. The big breweries produce good beer, and more and more wine is being exported. Fashion industry is represented by Italian and Danish fashion houses, among others. |
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| EU |
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| The European Union has announced that Bulgaria is among the countries eligible for membership in 2007. The biggest challenge facing Bulgaria is undoubtedly to overcome corruption and organized crime, which is still very dominant. A positive step in the right direction is the Ministry of Finance contract with the British Crown Agents to help Bulgaria controlling e.g. customs, which for many years have been used for trafficking. Another challenge is the standard of living, including salary level, which has to be improved considerably to reach EU-level. |
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| Demography |
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| Under the age of 14: |
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16% of the population |
| Above the age of 65: |
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16% of the population |
| Gender ratio: |
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48,8% men
51,2% women |
| Life expectancy: |
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67 years (men)
74 years (women) |
| Population growth: |
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-4,8% per year |
| Population density: |
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72 persons per sqm.
68% of the population lives in urban areas |
| Ethnical composition: |
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83,8% Bulgarians
9,5% Turks
7% Romas (gypsies), Armenians, Jews, Greeks, Macedonians and Romanians |
| Religion: |
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83,6% orthodox (Bulgarian)
12,1% Muslims
0,2% Catholics
3,9% non specified |
| Official language: |
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Bulgarian |
| Time zone: |
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GMT +2, April to September GMT +3 |
| Climate: |
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Predominantly continental climate with very hot summers and long cold winters.
Sofia's favorable climate is one of its main attractions with an average daytime temperature of 28 C in July and August and 3 C from December to February. The Black Sea moderates temperatures in the east of the country. Rainfall is highest in the mountains and in winter life throughout Bulgaria is sometimes disrupted by heavy snowfalls. |
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| History |
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| Bulgaria has a fascinating but often bloody history of invasion, occupation and subjugation, punctuated by four comparatively short periods of political and economic independence and stability. Below you will find a chronology of the most important events. |
| Before 6000 BC |
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area permanently settled by Neolithic peoples |
| 6000 - 2000 BC |
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settlement by the Thracians |
| 7th century BC |
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the Greeks inhabit parts of the Black Sea coast |
| 345 - 46 BC |
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the Macedonians conquer the Thracians |
| 72 BC |
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the Romans invade |
| late 5th century AD |
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the Slavs settle in the region |
| late 7th century |
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the Bulgars arrive |
| 681 |
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establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire |
| 863 |
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Sts Kiril and Metodii create Cyrillic alphabet |
| 865 |
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Christianity becomes the official religion |
| 1018 |
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end of the First Bulgarian Empire after Byzantines invade |
| 1185 |
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establishment of the Second Bulgarian Empire |
| 1396 |
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end of the Second Bulgarian Empire |
| 1762 |
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start of the Bulgarian national revival period |
| 1876 |
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April Uprising |
| 1877-78 |
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Russian - Turkish War |
| 3rd March 1878 |
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Treaty of San Stefano signed |
| 13th July 1878 |
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Treaty of Berlin signed |
| 16th April 1879 |
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first Bulgarian National Assembly convened |
| 26th June 1879 |
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Alexander Battenberg elected head of state |
| 6th September 1885 |
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Treaty of Berlin reversed, and Bulgaria is reunified |
| 22nd September 1908 |
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King Ferdinand declares independence from Turkey |
| 1912-13 |
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the Balkan Wars |
| 14th October 1915 |
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Bulgaria joins Central Powers in World War |
| 1941 |
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Bulgaria joins Axis powers in World War II |
| 15th September 1946 |
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The People's Republic of Bulgaria proclaimed by the communists |
| 1954 |
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Todor Zhivkov elected leader of the Bulgarian Communist Party |
| 1962 |
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Zhivkov elected prime minister |
| 10th November 1989 |
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Zhivkov resigns |
| June 1990 |
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first parliamentary elections won by the Bulgarian Socialist Party |
| January 1992 |
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first presidential elections |
| June 2001 |
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former king, Simeon II, elected prime minister |
| November 2001 |
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leader of Bulgarian Socialist Party elected president |
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| Useful information |
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Bulgarians use the Cyrillic alphabet, which was created by the two brothers Kiril (Cyril) and Metodii (Methodius) in 863 in what was then known as Macedonia. Besides Bulgaria, the Cyrillic alphabet is also used in Russia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Belarus, Yugoslavia and Mongolia. There have been calls from some Bulgarians to change to the Roman alphabet in this modern age of English-language computers; however, this is unlikely to happen: Bulgarians even celebrate Cyrillic Alphabet Day (also known as the Day of Bulgarian Culture) on May 24th.
Bulgarians shake their head in a curved, almost bouncy motion to indicate 'yes', and less often, nod their head to mean 'no'. To add to the confusion, some well-traveled Bulgarians may do the opposite to "help" confused foreigners. If there is any doubt, ask da illi ne (yes or no)?
Walking around Sofia and Bulgaria in general, you will often find little notes with pictures stuck/put/ hung up/ on the lamp posts; this is the Bulgarian obituary. You will also find them on the front door of the house, where the diseased lived, along with a black bow, which is normally removed after 40 days. Family and relatives get together to remember the diseased 3, 9 and 40 days after the funeral; this tradition is called panahida. |
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| Tourism: |
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Bulgaria is now on the top 10 of the most popular holiday destinations in Denmark. From 1990 to 2001 the Danes' desire to visit Bulgaria has practically exploded; between 2000 and 2001 alone the increase was 28%.
Beach holiday at the Black Sea is still by far the most popular way to spend the vacation, but "active vacation" is becoming more and more popular. Bulgaria contains good opportunities of e.g. mountaineering and climbing, mountain biking, paragliding and hang gliding, cycling holidays and not least skiing holidays. The most popular skiing areas are around Borovets, Pamporovo, Mt. Vitosha, Tjepelare and Bansko - of which the two first are the biggest and most internationally oriented. |
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