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Bulgaria Country Profile
The Republic of Bulgaria is a Balkan State adjoining Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Romania. The population is circa 8 million.
After being ruled by the Turkish Ottoman Empire (1396-1878) and Communism (1947-1989), multi-party democracy was instituted in 1990 since when there was a see-saw struggle for power between the Democrats and the Socialists (ex Communist Party) but only since 1997 have genuine democratic reforms begun to take place. Although the Government is adapting the economy to one where market forces apply.
The 1st January 2007 marks the next huge step in the life of Bulgaria, as together with its neighbour, Romania, the country formally enters the European Union. Corruption remains a significant issue for the authorities in Bulgaria, and dealing with this problem quickly is one of the main conditions for entry.
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GEOGRAPHY
Area 110,912 sq.km. Balkan state adjoining Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Romania.
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Population |
Ann.Gr. |
Density |
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2000 |
8,225,045 |
-0.65% |
74 per sq. km. |
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2010 |
7,752,691 |
-0.59% |
70 per sq. km. |
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2025 |
7,023,064 |
-0.72% |
63 per sq. km. |
Some official projections indicate decline to between 7.1 and 7.5 million by 2010.
Capital Sofia 1,188,000. Urbanites 53%.
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Slavic 86%. Bulgarian 6,830,000; Macedonian 218,000; Russian 16,000; Serbian 8,000; Czech 6,000.
Turkic 9.4%. Turks 900,000; Gagauz 12,000; Crimean Tatar 5,000.
Roma (Gypsy) 3.7%. 300,000 speaking Romani, Turkish or Bulgarian.
Other 0.9%. Armenian 13,000; Greek 10,000; Jews 3,400.
Literacy 98% (in practice nearer 90%). Official languages Bulgarian, Turkish. All languages 12. Languages with Scriptures 3Bi 1NT 3por 4w.i.p.
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RELIGION
Orthodoxy was the state religion until 1945. The Communists persecuted Christians and manipulated denominational leadership until 1989. The constitution proclaims religious freedom for all, but makes the status of the Orthodox Church one of ambiguous primacy, further reinforced between 1994-7. Since then the government has promised to end all existing religious discrimination.
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Religions |
Population % |
Adherents |
Ann.Gr. |
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Christian |
80.24 |
6,599,776 |
+0.2% |
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Muslim |
11.87 |
976,313 |
-0.4% |
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non-Religious |
7.83 |
644,021 |
-7.7% |
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Jewish |
0.05 |
4,113 |
-0.7% |
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Baha’i |
0.01 |
823 |
n.a. |
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Christians |
Denom. |
Affil.% |
,000 |
Ann.Gr. |
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Protestant |
26 |
1.09 |
90 |
+2.6% |
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Independent |
13 |
7.05 |
580 |
+5.2% |
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Catholic |
1 |
1.09 |
90 |
+5.0% |
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Orthodox |
3 |
70.93 |
5,834 |
-0.3% |
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Marginal |
4 |
0.08 |
6 |
+7.2% |
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POLITICS
A nation since the 5th Century, but rarely independent. Ruled by the Ottoman Empire 1396-1878; severe Communist rule 1947-1989; multi-party democracy instituted in 1990. A see-saw struggle for power since then between Democrats and Socialists (ex-Communist Party) but only since 1997 have genuine democratic reforms taken place.
ECONOMY
Poverty increased by 45 years of Communist rule which ended in 1989. Essential economic reforms were only begun in 1997 after a disastrous three-year government of former Communists in collusion with the ‘mafia.’ Wars in the former Yugoslavia have slowed the rate of progress since then. Unemployment 11.4%. HDI 0.758; 63rd/174. Public debt 79% of GNP. Income/person $1,170 (3.7% of USA).
Certain Extracts on this page are From Operation World CD-ROM, Copyright ©2001 Patrick Johnstone.
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