Bulgaria is a Balkan nation with diverse terrain encompassing Black Sea coastline, a mountainous interior and rivers, including the Danube. A cultural melting pot with Greek, Slavic, Ottoman, and Persian influences, it has a rich heritage of traditional dance, music, costumes, and crafts. At the foot of domed Vitosha mountain is its capital city, Sofia, dating to the 5th century B.C.
Languages:The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian, which is a South Slavic language spoken by the majority of the population. Bulgarian is used in government, education, and the media, and it is the language of instruction in schools. In addition to Bulgarian, many people in Bulgaria also speak English, which is widely taught in schools and is often used as a second language in business and government. Finally, there are also a number of other languages spoken in Bulgaria, including Turkish, Romani, and Serbian, among others.
Ethnic Groups: Bulgarian 77.1%, Turk 14.2%, Roma 2.4%, Romanian 1.9%, Armenian 0.4%, Greek 1.8%, Jewish 0.9%, Tatar 0.5%
Belief Systems: Orthodox Christian 83%, Muslim 12%, Roman Catholic 0.6%, Protestant 0.6%, no religion/other religion 3.8%
Demographics:
Population: 7.3 million people (World Rank: 100th) (2014 estimate)
Population Density: 174 people/mi2 (People per Square Mile) (World Rank: 146th) (2014 estimate)
Population Growth: -0.654 %/yr (World Rank: 236th) (2013 estimate)
Life Expectancy: 73.5 years (World Rank: 124th) (2013 estimate)
Median Age: 42.4 years (World Rank: 4th) (2010 estimate)
Sites for More Information:
Map of Bulgaria
Worldatlas.com
Country Profile for Bulgaria
United Nations
Bulgaria
Wikipedia.org
Bulgaria - Country Profile
U.S. Library of Congressa
Bulgaria - General Information
Encyclopedia.com
Culture and Tourism:
Tourism Bulgaria
All about Bulgaria as a tourism destination
Bulgarian Cultural Festival Event Calender
Bulgarian Beaches
Beaches in Bulgaria
Bulgarian Language Resources:
Learn Bulgarian
Free online Bulgarian resource
Government Related:
Bulgarian Embassy
in Washingon D.C.
Bulgarian Government Websites
by Gunnar Anzinger
