Key Facts

GDP (ppp) per CAPITA

$12,900 (2008 est.)

Inflation Rate

12.3% (2008)

Population

7,204,687 (July 2009 est.)

Country Risk Ratings

B

Ease of Doing Business

45/181

Global Competitiveness

4.03/134

Country Map

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gE Network

There are 14 members in the
gE Network for this country.

Bulgaria : Introduction

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.

Bulgaria: Bulgarian National Bank

The Bulgarian National Bank contributes to the maintenance of the stability of the national currency through implementation of the monetary and credit policy and to assist in the establishment and functioning of efficient payment mechanisms. It has the exclusive right of issuing bank notes and coins in Bulgaria. Site is available in Bulgarian and English.

Bulgaria: Bulgarian Stock Exchange

Bulgaria: Invest Bulgaria

This subsection provides information on business etiquette in Bulgaria. It includes general business tips.

Sources:
CIA World Factbook (September 2009)
U.S. Dept. of State Country Background Notes (April 2009)