Moving to Bulgaria: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

6,966,899

Population Growth Rate

-0.81%

Urban Population

73.100000

Population in Major Urban Areas

SOFIA (capital) 1.174 million

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Age Structure

14.540000

Median Age

42.300000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

9

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

14.31

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.43

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

69.2%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

69.2%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

26.2

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.2

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.060000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-2.86

Ethnic Groups

Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian)

Language Note

The official language is Bulgarian, and nearly all inhabitants speak it.

About half of the Turkish population speaks Turkish as its mother tongue.

Bulgarian is a Slavic language that uses an alphabet first developed in the ninth century by Cyril and Methodise.

English is now the most popular language for children to study, followed by German and French.

Nationality Noun

Bulgarian(s)

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Literacy - total population

98.2%

Literacy - male

99.1%

Literacy - female

98.2%

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

4.1%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

14.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

74.080000

Infant Mortality Rate

15.600000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

15.600000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

11

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

3.76

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

6.6

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

7.6%

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.7%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

99.600000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

100.000000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

1.6%

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Economic Overview

Bulgaria, a former communist country that entered the EU in 2007, has an open economy that historically has demonstrated strong growth, but its per-capita income remains the lowest among EU members and its reliance on energy imports and foreign demand for its exports makes its growth sensitive to external market conditions.

The government undertook significant structural economic reforms in the 1990s to move the economy from a centralized, planned economy to a more liberal, market-driven economy.

These reforms included privatization of state-owned enterprises, liberalization of trade, and strengthening of the tax system - changes that initially caused some economic hardships but later helped to attract investment, spur growth, and make gradual improvements to living conditions.

From 2000 through 2008, Bulgaria maintained robust, average annual real GDP growth in excess of 6%, which was followed by a deep recession in 2009 as the financial crisis caused domestic demand, exports, capital inflows, and industrial production to contract, prompting the government to rein in spending.

Real GDP growth remained slow - less than 2% annually - until 2015, when demand from EU countries for Bulgarian exports, plus an inflow of EU development funds, boosted growth to more than 3%.

In recent years, strong domestic demand combined with low international energy prices have contributed to Bulgaria’s economic growth approaching 4% and have also helped to ease inflation.

Bulgaria’s prudent public financial management contributed to budget surpluses both in 2016 and 2017.

Bulgaria is heavily reliant on energy imports from Russia, a potential vulnerability, and is a participant in EU-backed efforts to diversify regional natural gas supplies.

In late 2016, the Bulgarian Government provided funding to Bulgaria’s National Electric Company to cover the $695 million compensation owed to Russian nuclear equipment manufacturer Atomstroyexport for the cancellation of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, which the Bulgarian Government terminated in 2012.

As of early 2018, the government was floating the possibility of resurrecting the Belene project.

The natural gas market, dominated by state-owned Bulgargaz, is also almost entirely supplied by Russia.

Infrastructure projects such as the Inter-Connector Greece-Bulgaria and Inter-Connector Bulgaria-Serbia, which would enable Bulgaria to have access to non-Russian gas, have either stalled or made limited progress.

In 2016, the Bulgarian Government established the State eGovernment Agency.

This new agency is responsible for electronic governance, coordinating national policies with the EU, and strengthening cybersecurity.

Despite a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain.

Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, low productivity, lack of transparency in public procurements, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.

Industries

• Electricity, gas, water
• food, beverages, tobacco
• machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$20,100.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

3%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$155,060,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$20,100.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

3%

GDP - official exchange rate

$50,450,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 60.8% Government
• Consumption: 15.9% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 20.4% Investment in
• Inventories: 0.1% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 69.1% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -66.3%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

5.1%

GDP by Sector- Industry

27.5%

GDP by Sector- services

67.5%

Industrial Growth Rate

2.8%

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Inflation Rate

-0.7%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

1.802

Currency Name and Code

Bulgarian Lev (BGN)

Fiscal Year

Calendar Year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

6.6%

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Labor Force

2,525,000

Unemployment Rate

8.9%

Major Industries

• Electricity, gas, water
• food, beverages, tobacco
• machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel

Agriculture Products

Vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock

Population Below Poverty Line

21.8%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

7%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

30.1%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

62.9%

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Annual Budget

$18,440,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

26.7%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-1.5%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

36.6%

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Full Country Name

Republic of Bulgaria

Country Name

Bulgaria

Local - Long

Republika Bulgaria

Local - Short

Bulgaria

Former Name

Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Republic of Bulgaria

Etymology- history of name

named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D.

Independence

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

National Holiday

Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

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Government Type

parliamentary republic

Constitution

• history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991
• amendments: 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; amended several times, last in 2015

Legal System:

civil law

Executive Branch:

• 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

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open-list, proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 2 April 2023 (next election to be held in 2027)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party/coalition - GERB-SDS 25.4%, PP-DB 23.5%, Revival 13.6%, DPS 13.2%, BSP for Bulgaria 8.6%, ITN 3.9%, other 11.8%; seats by party/coalition GERB-SDS 69, PP-DB 64, Revival 37, DPS 36, BSP for Bulgaria 23, ITN 11; composition as of January 2024 - men 179, women 61, percent of women 25.4%

Judicial Branch:

• 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

Regions or States:

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

Political Parties and Leaders:

• BSP for Bulgaria [Korneliya NINOVA] (electoral alliance of BSP, PKT, Ecoglasnost)
• Bulgarian Rise or BV [Stefan YANEV]
• Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Korneliya NINOVA]
• Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko BORISOV] (alliance with SDS)
• Democratic Bulgaria or DB (electoral alliance of Yes! Bulgaria, DSB, and The Greens) [Atanas ATANASOV, Hristo IVANOV]
• Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Atanas ATANASOV]
• Ecoglasnost [Emil GEORGIEV]
• Green Movement or The Greens [Dobromira KOSTOVA, Vladislav PENEV]
• Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS [Mustafa KARADAYI]
• Political Club Thrace or PKT [Stefan NACHEZ]
• Revival [Kostadin KOSTADINOV]
• Stand Up.BG or IS.BG [Maya MANOLOVA]
• There is Such a People or ITN [Slavi TRIFONOV]
• Union of Democratic Forces or SDS [Rumen HRISTOV] (alliance with GERB)
• Yes! Bulgaria [Hristo IVANOV]
• We Continue the Change or PP [Kiril PETKOV and Asen VASILEV]
• We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria or PP-DB [Kiril PETKOV, Asen VASILEV, Hristo IVANOV, and Atanas ATANASOV] (electoral alliance of PP, DB, Yes! Bulgaria)

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• 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

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Capital Name

Sofia

Capital - geographic coordinate

42 41 N, 23 19 E

Capital Time Difference

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

Daylight Savings Time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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International Organization Participation:

• 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

International Law Organization Participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Kenneth MERTEN (since 7 April 2023)
• Embassy: 16, Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408
• Mailing Address: 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
• Telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
• FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320
• Email: acs_sofia@state.gov
• Website: https://bg.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Georgi Velikov PANAYOTOV (since 7 June 2022)
• Chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 387 5770; [1] (202) 387-0174; [1] (202) 299-0273, [1] (202) 483-1386
• FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
• Email: office@bulgaria-embassy.org
• Website: https://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/en/homepage/
• Consulate(s) General: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

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Geographic Location

Europe

Geographic Coordinates

43 00 N, 25 00 E

Total Area

42,810 Square Miles 110,879 Square Kilometers

Land Area

41,888 Square Miles 108,489 Square Kilometers

Water Area

923 Square Miles 2,390 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

1,123 Miles 1,808 Kilometers

Border Countries

Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Coastline

220 Miles 354 Kilometers

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Terrain

Mostly mountains with lowlands in the north and southeast

Highest Point

2,925 Meters

Highest Point Location

Musala 2,925 m

Lowest Point Location

Black Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

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

Irrigated Land

404 Square Miles 1,046 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

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

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Climate

The climate is usually designated as "continental, with many micro-climates." From May to November, the climate is pleasantly warm and sunny.

Sofia is on the same latitude as Rome, but is 1,500 feet higher in elevation and has a climate similar to the Intermountain West of the United States.

Plants, flowers, and fruits common to Britain and France grow well here, but the climate is too cold for citrus.

November through April are snowy and cold, with temperatures ranging between -5°F to 50°F in Sofia.

Summer temperatures may reach 105°F on occasion but tend to hover around 70°-75°F, and humidity is moderate to low.

During July, the mean temperature is 68.7°F (20.4°C); during January, 30.6°F (8°C).

Mildew and insects are not significant factors.

Sofia's main climatic problem is winter smog, which is caused by industrial air pollution, soft-coal smoke, vehicle exhaust emissions, fog, and surrounding mountains that keep winds from blowing the smog away.

Gray-brown dirt or coal dust and sand are scattered on Sofia's snow-covered streets in winter.

Winters may often be gray but are quite beautiful in the nearby mountains.

Mount Vitosha (altitude 2,290 m.), with its ski resorts and runs and walking paths, overlooks the city.

Trees and flowers make Sofia a more colorful city the rest of the year.

Rainfall is moderate, averaging 25 inches a year.

Terrain

Mostly mountains with lowlands in the north and southeast

Location

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

Total Area

42,810 Square Miles 110,879 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Greece 494 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Environment - Current Issues

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

Environment - International Agreements

Party To: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$26,100,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$28,470,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels

Major Imports

Machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials

Top Export Partners

Germany 12.5%, Italy 9.2%, Turkey 8.5%, Romania 8.2%, Greece 6.5%, France 4.2%

Top Import Partners

Germany 12.9%, Russia 12%, Italy 7.6%, Romania 6.8%, Turkey 5.7%, Greece 4.8%, Spain 4.8%

Export Partners

Germany 12.5%, Italy 9.2%, Turkey 8.5%, Romania 8.2%, Greece 6.5%, France 4.2%

Import Partners

Germany 12.9%, Russia 12%, Italy 7.6%, Romania 6.8%, Turkey 5.7%, Greece 4.8%, Spain 4.8%

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Country Description

Bulgaria is a member of the European Union.

Tourist facilities are widely available, but conditions vary and some facilities, infrastructure, and services may not be up to Western standards.

Safety & Security

Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union has enhanced the overall security environment for tourists and business travelers; however, violence related to criminal groups sporadically occurs in public locations.

Incidents include bombings and shootings, likely the result of turf wars between rival organized crime syndicates, which remain highly prevalent in Bulgaria’s largely cash economy.

In 2010, a journalist who had published a book containing details on Bulgarian organized crime was assassinated in Sofia during daylight hours.

Public protests, demonstrations, and strikes in response to world or local events can sporadically occur.

Traffic disruptions in Bulgaria, particularly in the central city, have occurred as a result of demonstrations.

While these demonstrations are normally peaceful, confrontational demonstrations have occurred, as even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.

Nationwide demonstrations in October 2011 resulted in some violence and destruction of property.

You are urged to avoid demonstration areas if possible and to exercise caution if traveling within the vicinity of any demonstrations.

You should monitor media coverage to stay abreast of local events and should be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Information regarding demonstrations in Bulgaria can be found on the Embassy Sofia website.

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Crime

Pick-pocketing and purse snatching are frequent occurrences, especially in crowded markets, on shopping streets, and aboard the busiest tram and bus lines.

Con artists operate on public transportation and in bus and train stations.

Credit cards and ATMs should be used with caution.

Be wary of people who approach you at an ATM and offer assistance.

Do not give your PIN to anyone under any circumstances.

(See the Special Circumstances section below.) Travelers should be suspicious of "instant friends" and should also ask persons claiming to be government officials to provide identification.

We recommend that you immediately report any crimes to the police, as they have helped recover money and valuables in the past.

To avoid becoming a victim of more serious crimes, use the same personal safety precautions that you would use in any large U.S. city.

You should pay special attention to the drink prices at high-end bars and nightclubs.

Travelers have been charged exorbitant prices, especially for champagne and hard alcohol.

Bills have been as high as several thousand dollars for drinks, and in some establishments, the management may use force to secure payment.

Taxi drivers occasionally overcharge unwary travelers, particularly at Sofia Airport and the Central Train Station.

We recommend that you use taxis with meters and clearly marked rates displayed on a sticker on the passenger side of the windshield.

The standard rates normally range between BGL 0.59 and 0.70 (approximately 40 U.S. cents) per kilometer.

Prior to a current law that established a maximum charge per kilometer, some taxi drivers charged as much as BGL 6.70 (approximately US$5) per kilometer.

However, there is only sporadic enforcement of the current law.

At the airport, there is a clearly marked booth within the arrival terminal that arranges for metered taxis at a fair rate.

Finding reputable taxis at the Central Train Station is more difficult.

We recommend that before you enter a taxi, you first inquire about the fare.

Always ensure that you account for all luggage, packages, and hand-carried items before you pay and release a taxi.

The likelihood of retrieving articles left behind in a taxi is remote.

Automobile theft is common, and very few vehicles are recovered; four-wheel-drive vehicles and late-model European sedans are the most popular targets.

Automobile break-ins are also common in residential areas or near parks, especially when valuables are left in plain sight.

Residential burglaries are also a frequent occurrence in any major city.

If you plan to reside in Bulgaria on a long-term basis, you should take measures to protect your home and consider installing window grilles, steel doors with well-functioning locks, and an alarm system.

Take some time before your trip to learn how to improve your personal security—things are not the same everywhere as they are in the United States.

Here are some useful tips for personal security.

Use caution when making credit card charges over the Internet to unfamiliar websites.

Recent experience has shown that offers for merchandise and services may be scam artists posing as legitimate businesses.

In many cases, the businesses do not actually exist.

Don’t buy counterfeit or pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal to bring back into the United States, but if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While in Bulgaria, you are subject to its laws and regulations, which sometimes significantly differ from those in the United States, and may not afford the protections available to an individual under U.S. law.

Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.

Engaging in sexual conduct with minors or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

Bulgarian law enforcement authorities may take you in for questioning if you don’t have your passport, U.S. passport card, or long-term residence card with you.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking illegal drugs in Bulgaria are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

If Arrested: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Languages The official language is Bulgarian, and nearly all inhabitants speak it.

About half of the Turkish population speaks Turkish as its mother tongue.

Bulgarian is a Slavic language that uses an alphabet first developed in the ninth century by Cyril and Methodise.

English is now the most popular language for children to study, followed by German and French.

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Medical Facilities

Bulgarian physicians are trained to a very high standard, but most hospitals and clinics, especially in village areas, are generally not equipped or maintained to U.S. or Western European standards.

Basic medical supplies and over-the-counter and prescription medications are widely available, but highly specialized treatment may be unavailable.

Pediatric facilities are underfunded and lack sufficient equipment.

Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States may cost thousands of dollars.

Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payments for health services.

Traffic Safety

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The Bulgarian road system is largely underdeveloped.

There are few sections of limited-access divided highway.

Some roads are in poor repair and full of potholes.

Rock slides and landslides may be encountered on roads in mountainous areas.

Livestock and animal-drawn carts present road hazards throughout the country, especially during the agricultural season.

Travel conditions deteriorate during the winter as roads become icy and potholes proliferate.

The U.S.

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Airports - total

68

Airports with Paved Runways

57

Heliports

1

Railways

2,580 Miles 4,152 Kilometers

Roadways- total

12,124 Miles 19,512 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

11,952 Miles 19,235 Kilometers

Waterways

292 Miles 470 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Burgas, Lom, Nesebur, Ruse, Varna, Vidin

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Pipelines: Gas

1,794 Miles 2,887 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

215 Miles 346 Kilometers

Pipelines: Refined Products

235 Miles 378 Kilometers

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Telephones

2,164,000

Cell Phones

9,897,000

Internet Users

1,899,000

Internet Country Code

.bg

Internet Hosts

785,546

Broadcast Media

• 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
• a large number of private radio stations broadcasting, especially in urban areas

Telephone System

• Assessment: inherited an extensive but antiquated telecommunications network from the Soviet era; quality has improved with a modern digital trunk line now connecting switching centers in most of the regions; remaining areas are connected by digital microwave radio relay
• Domestic: the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-line monopoly terminated in 2005 in an effort to upgrade fixed-line services; mobile-cellular teledensity, fostered by multiple service providers, has reached 150 telephones per 100 persons
• International: country code - 359; submarine cable provides connectivity to Ukraine and Russia; a combination submarine cable and land fiber-optic system provides connectivity to Italy, Albania, and Macedonia; satellite earth stations - 3 (1 Intersputnik in the Atlantic Ocean region, 2 Intelsat in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

28,300,000,000

Electricity Exports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

7,073,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

2,660,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

4,309,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

2,540,000,000

Natural Gas Imports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

2,640,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

410,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

5,663,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

112,700

Oil Imports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

124,700

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

2,908

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

15,000,000

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Anthem History

It was written and composed by a Bulgarian student in 1885, as he went off to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian war.

Before the fall of the communist government in 1991-92, a third verse was added to "Mila Rodino", referencing Moscow's allegiance to Bulgaria, but this was removed after the communists were removed from government.

Anthem Lyrics

Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland) Gorda Stara Planina, Do nej Dunava sinej, Sluntse Tkrakija ogr'ava, Nad Pirina plamenej CHORUS: Milo Rodino, Ti si zemen raj, Tvojta khubost, tvojta prelest, Akh te n'amat kraj Padnakha bojtsi bezchet, Za naroda nash l'ubim, Majko, daj mi muzhka sila, Put'a im da prodolzhim CHORUS

Anthem Lyrics English

Proudly rise the Balkan peaks, At their feet Blue Danube flows; Over Thrace the sun is shining, Pirin looms in purple glow.

CHORUS: Oh, dear native land, Earthly paradise!

For your loveliness, your beauty E'er will charm our eyes.

Uncounted fighter died for the beloved our people Mother, give me man's power Their path to continue.