| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | 2.17 | -4.5 | 6.01 | -0.85 | 1.53 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.5 |
| CPI % | 4.94 | 186.22 | 6.83 | 2.75 | 0.97 | 8.6 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.7 |
| Unemployment rate | 1.45 | 13.06 | 11.6 | 8.55 | 8.61 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Debt/GDP % | - | 73.1 | 35.89 | 14.3 | 21.08 | 22.9 | 23.8 | 27.1 | 28.2 | 29.7 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | -1.02 | -1.18 | -10.31 | -5.0 | 1.31 | -1.2 | -1.4 | -5.9 | -4.0 | -3.2 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
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.
Area: 110,879 sq km km2
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Groups: Bulgarian 78.5%, Turkish 7.8%, Roma 4.1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 9.4% (2021 est.)
Languages: Bulgarian (official) 77.3%, Turkish 7.9%, Romani 3.5%, other 1%, unspecified 10.4% (2021 est.)
Religions: Christian 64.7%, Muslim 9.8%, other 0.1%, none 4.7%, unspecified 20.7% (2021 est.)
Capital: Sofia
Government type: parliamentary republic
Chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017)
Head of government: Prime Minister Rosen ZHELYAZKOV (since 16 January 2025)
Description: National Assembly (Narodno sabranie) - unicameral
upper-middle-income EU economy; currency pegged to the euro, with eurozone accession pending; declining energy prices helping lower inflation rate; EU structural funds contributing to investment recovery; skilled labor shortage driven by emigration and aging population
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, automotive parts, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel; outsourcing centers
GDP by sector: Agriculture: 2.1% (2024 est.), Industry: 22.5% (2024 est.), Services: 62.6% (2024 est.)
Export partners: Germany 14%, Romania 11%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Export commodities: refined petroleum, garments, refined copper, wheat, natural gas (2023)
Import partners: Germany 12%, Turkey 8%, Romania 8%, Russia 7%, Italy 6% (2023)
Import commodities: crude petroleum, copper ore, cars, packaged medicine, electricity (2023)
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
Military expenditure: 2025: 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.)
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.