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Europe :: Bulgaria

- ## Introduction :: BULGARIA

- Background:
  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 country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. 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 and the EU in 2007.

- ## Geography :: BULGARIA

- Location:
  Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
  Geographic coordinates:
  43 00 N, 25 00 E
  Map references:
  Europe
  Area:
  total: 110,879 sq km
  land: 108,489 sq km
  water: 2,390 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Tennessee
  Land boundaries:
  total: 1,806 km
  border countries (5): Greece 472 km, Macedonia 162 km, Romania 605 km, Serbia 344 km, Turkey 223 km
  Coastline:
  354 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  Climate:
  temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
  Terrain:
  mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
  highest point: Musala 2,925 m
  Natural resources:
  bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 46.9%
  arable land 29.9%; permanent crops 1.5%; permanent pasture 15.5%
  forest: 36.7%
  other: 16.4% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1,046 sq km (2007)
  Total renewable water resources:
  21.3 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 6.12 cu km/yr (16%/68%/16%)
  per capita: 821.8 cu m/yr (2009)
  Natural hazards:
  earthquakes; landslides
  Environment - current issues:
  air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, 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
  Geography - note:
  strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

- ## People and Society :: BULGARIA

- Nationality:
  noun: Bulgarian(s)
  adjective: Bulgarian
  Ethnic groups:
  Bulgarian 76.9%, Turkish 8%, Roma 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Russian, Armenian, and Vlach), other (unknown) 10% (2011 est.)
  Languages:
  Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Turkish 8.2%, Roma 3.8%, other 0.7%, unspecified 10.5% (2011 est.)
  Religions:
  Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim 7.8%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Jewish) 1.7%, none 3.7%, unspecified 27.4% (2011 est.)
  Population:
  7,186,893 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 14.53% (male 538,266/female 505,927)
  15-24 years: 9.95% (male 373,340/female 341,507)
  25-54 years: 43.35% (male 1,598,130/female 1,517,744)
  55-64 years: 13.45% (male 451,841/female 514,696)
  65 years and over: 18.72% (male 547,887/female 797,555) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 51.9%
  youth dependency ratio: 21.5%
  elderly dependency ratio: 30.4%
  potential support ratio: 3.3% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 42.1 years
  male: 40.2 years
  female: 44.2 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  -0.58% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 225
  Birth rate:
  8.92 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Death rate:
  14.44 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Net migration rate:
  -0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 73.9% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: -0.31% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  SOFIA (capital) 1.226 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 8.66 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 9.73 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 7.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 74.39 years
  male: 71.05 years
  female: 77.93 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 120
  Total fertility rate:
  1.45 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  69.2%
  note: percent of women age 20-49 (2007)
  Health expenditures:
  7.6% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 71
  Physicians density:
  3.87 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
  Hospital bed density:
  6.4 beds/1,000 population (2011)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 99.6% of population
  rural: 99% of population
  total: 99.4% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 0.4% of population
  rural: 1% of population
  total: 0.6% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 86.8% of population
  rural: 83.7% of population
  total: 86% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 13.2% of population
  rural: 16.3% of population
  total: 14% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  25.6% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Education expenditures:
  3.8% of GDP (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 98.4%
  male: 98.7%
  female: 98.1% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 14 years
  male: 14 years
  female: 15 years (2012)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 28.1%
  male: 29.5%
  female: 26% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30

- ## Government :: BULGARIA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
  conventional short form: Bulgaria
  local long form: Republika Balgariya
  local short form: Balgariya
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy
  Capital:
  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
  Administrative divisions:
  28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya (Sofia), Sofiya-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
  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)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 12 July 1991; amended several times, last in 2007 (2007)
  Legal system:
  civil law
  International law organization participation:
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Rosen PLEVNELIEV (since 22 January 2012); Vice President Margarita POPOVA (since 22 January 2012)
  head of government: Prime Minister Boyko BORISOV (since 7 November 2014); Deputy Prime Ministers Tomislav DONCHEV (since 7 November 2014), Rumyana BACHVAROVA (since 7 November 2014), Meglena KUNEVA (since 7 November 2014), Ivaylo KALFIN (since 7 November 2014); note - this is BORISOV's second term as prime minister, he first served between 27 July 2009 and 13 March 2013
  cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly
  elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 23 and 30 October 2011 (next to be held in 2016); 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
  election results: Rosen PLEVNELIEV elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Rosen PLEVNELIEV (independent) 52.6%, Ivailo KALFIN (BSP) 47.4%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sabranie (240 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
  elections: last held on 5 October 2014 (next to be held in 2018)
  election results: percent of vote by party - GERB 32.7%, BSP 15.4%, DPS 14.8%, RB 8.9%, PF 7.3%, BBTs 5.7%, Ataka 4.5%, ABV 4.2%, other 6.5%; seats by party - GERB 84, BSP 39, DPS 38, RB 23, PF 19, BBTs 15, Ataka 11, ABV 11
  Judicial branch:
  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 (organized in 2 colleges with various panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 justices); note - Constitutional Court 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; judge tenure NA; 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
  Political parties and leaders:
  Alternative for Bulgarian Revival or ABV [Georgi PARVANOV]
  Attack (Ataka) [Volen Nikolov SIDEROV]
  Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Mihail MIKOV]
  Bulgaria of the Citizens or DBG [Meglena KUNEVA]
  Bulgaria Without Censorship or BBTs [Nikolay BAREKOV]
  Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB [Boyko BORISOV]
  Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB [Sergei STANISHEV] (coalition of parties dominated by BSP)
  Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Radan KANEV]
  IMRO - Bulgarian National Movement or IMRO-BNM [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]
  Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS [Lyutvi MESTAN]
  National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria or NFSB [Valeri SIMEONOV]
  National Movement for Stability and Progress or NDSV [Hristina HRISTOVA] (formerly National Movement Simeon II or NMS2)
  Order, Law, and Justice or RZS [Yane YANEV]
  Patriotic Front or PF (alliance of IMRO-BNM and NFSB)
  Union of Democratic Forces or SDS [Bozhidar LUKARSKI]
  Reformist Bloc or RB (a five-party alliance including the DSB, DBG, and SDS)
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB
  Podkrepa Labor Confederation
  other: numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas
  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, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Elena POPTODOROVA (since 4 August 2010)
  chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174
  FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES (since 5 September 2012)
  embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408
  mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
  telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
  FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320
  Flag description:
  three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; the pan-Slavic white-blue-red colors were modified by substituting a green band (representing freedom) for the blue
  note: the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed
  National symbol(s):
  lion; national colors: white, green, red
  National anthem:
  name: "Mila Rodino" (Dear Homeland)
  lyrics/music: Tsvetan Tsvetkov RADOSLAVOV
  note: adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War

- ## Economy :: BULGARIA

- Economy - overview:
  Bulgaria, a former Communist country that entered the EU on 1 January 2007, averaged more than 6% annual growth from 2004 to 2008, driven by significant amounts of bank lending, consumption, and foreign direct investment. Successive governments have demonstrated a commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but the global downturn sharply reduced domestic demand, exports, capital inflows, and industrial production. GDP contracted by 5.5% in 2009, and has been slow to recover in the years since. Despite having a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $128.6 billion (2014 est.)
  $126.5 billion (2013 est.)
  $125.1 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 78
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $55.84 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  1.7% (2014 est.)
  1.1% (2013 est.)
  0.5% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 169
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $17,900 (2014 est.)
  $17,600 (2013 est.)
  $17,400 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Gross national saving:
  21.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  23.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
  21.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 63.7%
  government consumption: 17.1%
  investment in fixed capital: 21.2%
  investment in inventories: -0.9%
  exports of goods and services: 71.4%
  imports of goods and services: -72.5%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 4.9%
  industry: 31.2%
  services: 63.9% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock
  Industries:
  electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel
  Industrial production growth rate:
  3.5% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Labor force:
  2.981 million
  note: number of employed persons (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 6.7%
  industry: 30.2%
  services: 63.1% (2013)
  Unemployment rate:
  11.5% (2014 est.)
  11.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Population below poverty line:
  21% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 2%
  highest 10%: 35.2% (2007)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  35.4 (2012)
  26 (2001)
  country comparison to the world: 38
  Budget:
  revenues: $19.62 billion
  expenditures: $21.25 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  35.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Public debt:
  25.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  25.9% of GDP (2013 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
  country comparison to the world: 135
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  -1.4% (2014 est.)
  0.9% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 3
  Central bank discount rate:
  0.03% (31 December 2014)
  0.02% (31 December 2013)
  note: Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has had no independent monetary policy since the introduction of the Currency Board regime in 1997; this is BNB's base interest rate
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  7.56% (31 December 2014 est.)
  8.11% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Stock of narrow money:
  $20.85 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $19.05 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Stock of broad money:
  $46.42 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $47.33 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 70
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $38.58 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $40.21 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $7.232 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $7.014 billion (31 December 2013)
  $6.666 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Current account balance:
  $25 million (2014 est.)
  $564.7 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Exports:
  $29.25 billion (2014 est.)
  $29.58 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Exports - commodities:
  clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
  Exports - partners:
  Germany 12.3%, Italy 9.1%, Turkey 8.9%, Romania 8.1%, Greece 6.8%, France 4.4%, Belgium 4.2% (2014)
  Imports:
  $33.56 billion (2014 est.)
  $32.81 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials
  Imports - partners:
  Russia 14.5%, Germany 12.4%, Italy 7.2%, Romania 6.9%, Turkey 5.6%, Greece 5.2%, Spain 5% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $20.27 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $19.78 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Debt - external:
  $54.04 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $52 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $52.75 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $50.75 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $2.599 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $2.199 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Exchange rates:
  leva (BGN) per US dollar -
  1.465 (2014 est.)
  1.4736 (2013 est.)
  1.52 (2012 est.)
  1.4053 (2011 est.)
  1.4774 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: BULGARIA

- Electricity - production:
  47.21 billion kWh (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Electricity - consumption:
  28.5 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 62
  Electricity - exports:
  6.2 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  Electricity - imports:
  3.351 billion kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  12.9 million kW (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 51
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  46% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 158
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  15.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  21% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  17.5% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Crude oil - production:
  1,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 98
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Crude oil - imports:
  124,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  15 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 86
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  128,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  94,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  73,740 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 53
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  50,130 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Natural gas - production:
  283 million cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Natural gas - consumption:
  2.813 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 74
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Natural gas - imports:
  2.569 billion cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 90
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  44.51 million Mt (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 66

- ## Communications :: BULGARIA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 1.8 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 9.9 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Telephone system:
  general 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) (2011)
  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; large number of private radio stations broadcasting, especially in urban areas (2010)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)
  Television broadcast stations:
  39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)
  Internet country code:
  .bg
  Internet users:
  total: 4.1 million
  percent of population: 57.0% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75

- ## Transportation :: BULGARIA

- Airports:
  68 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 73
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 57
  over 3,047 m: 2
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 17
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
  under 914 m: 26 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 11
  914 to 1,523 m: 2
  under 914 m:
  9 (2013)
  Heliports:
  1 (2013)
  Pipelines:
  gas 2,887 km; oil 346 km; refined products 378 km (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 5,114 km
  standard gauge: 4,989 km 1.435-m gauge (2,880 km electrified)
  narrow gauge: 125 km 0.760-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 41
  Roadways:
  total: 19,512 km
  paved: 19,235 km (includes 458 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 277 km
  note: does not include Category IV local roads (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Waterways:
  470 km (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 83
  Merchant marine:
  total: 22
  by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 8, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 2
  foreign-owned: 14 (Germany 12, Russia 2)
  registered in other countries: 30 (Belize 1, Comoros 4, Georgia 1, Malta 8, Moldova 1, Panama 6, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Burgas, Varna (Black Sea)

- ## Military :: BULGARIA

- Military branches:
  Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2011)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2008; service obligation 6-9 months (2012)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,637,470
  females age 16-49: 1,621,352 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 1,320,955
  females age 16-49: 1,337,616 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 33,444
  female: 32,075 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.6% of GDP (2013)
  1.46% of GDP (2012)
  1.55% of GDP (2011)
  1.46% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 66

- ## Transnational Issues :: BULGARIA

- Disputes - international:
  none
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 8,501 (Syria) (2014)
  stateless persons: 67 (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; vulnerable to money laundering because of corruption, organized crime; some money laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions (2008)

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