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{{Infobox Country
|native_name = {{lang|bg|Република България}}
|local_name = {{lang|bg-Latin|Bălgariya}}
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Bulgaria
|common_name = Bulgaria
|image_flag = Flag of Bulgaria.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Bulgaria.svg
| image_map = EU-Bulgaria.svg
|map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=green|region=[[Europe]]|region_color=grey|subregion=the [[European Union]]|subregion_color=light green|legend=EU-Bulgaria.svg}}
|national_motto = {{lang|bg|Съединението прави силата}}{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]])</small><br/>"{{transl|bg|''Saedinenieto pravi silata''}}"{{spaces|2}}<small>([[transliteration]])<br/>"Union makes strength"{{smallsup|1}}</small>
|national_anthem = {{lang|bg|[[Mila Rodino|Мила Родино]]}}{{spaces|2}}<small>(Bulgarian)</small><br/>{{lang|bg-Latn|''Mila Rodino''}}{{spaces|2}}<small>(transliteration)<br/>''Dear Motherland''</small>
|official_languages = [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]
|capital = [[Sofia]]
|latd=42 |latm=41 |latNS=N |longd=23 |longm=19 |longEW=E
|largest_city = [[Sofia]]
|government_type = [[Parliamentary democracy]]
|leader_title1 = [[President of Bulgaria|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Georgi Parvanov]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Boyko Borisov]]
|leader_title3 = [[Chairperson of the National Assembly of Bulgaria|Chairperson of the National Assembly]]
|leader_name3 = [[Tsetska Tsacheva]]
|sovereignty_type = [[Formation]]
|sovereignty_note
|established_event1 = [[Battle of Ongal|Medieval Balkan state]]
|established_date1 = 681<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3236.htm |title=Bulgaria (07/08) |publisher=State.gov |date= |accessdate=2009-01-02}}</ref>
|established_event2 = [[First Bulgarian Empire]]
|established_date2 = 681–1018
|established_event3 = [[Second Bulgarian Empire]]
|established_date3 = 1185–1396 (1422)
|established_event4 = [[Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars|Independence lost]]
|established_date4 = 1396 (1422)
|established_event5 = [[Treaty of San Stefano|Self-government re-established (under nominal Ottoman suzerainty)]]
|established_date5 = 3 March 1878
|established_event6 = [[Bulgarian unification]]
|established_date6 = 6 September 1885
|established_event7 = [[Bulgarian Declaration of Independence|Independence]]
|established_date7 = 22 September 1908 from [[Ottoman Empire]]
|accessionEUdate = 1 January 2007
|area_rank = 104th
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|area_km2 = 110910
|area_sq_mi = 42823 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|percent_water = 0.3
|population_estimate = 7,606,551<ref name="nsi"/>
|population_estimate_year = 2008
|population_estimate_rank = 99th
|population_census = 7,932,984
|population_census_year = 2001
|population_density_km2 = 68.9
|population_density_sq_mi = 185 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 124th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP = $93.728 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=918&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=51&pr.y=15 |title=Bulgaria|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2009-10-01}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 63rd
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $12,322<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 65th
|GDP_nominal = $49.904 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = 75th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $6,560<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 69th
|Gini = 29.2
|Gini_year = 2003
|Gini_category = <span style="color:#090;">low</span>
|HDI_year = 2009
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.840
|HDI_rank = 61st
|HDI_category = <span style="color:#090;">high</span>
|currency = [[Bulgarian lev|Lev]]<sup>3</sup>
|currency_code = BGN
|country_code = bg
|time_zone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +2
|time_zone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|demonym = [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]]
|ethnic_groups = 83.9% [[Bulgarians]], 9.4% [[Turkish people|Turkish]], 4.7% [[Romani people|Roma]], 2% other groups<ref name="cia">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bu.html|title=CIA – The World Factbook – Bulgaria |publisher=Cia.gov |date= |accessdate=2009-08-03}}, citing 2001 census and July 2009 estimates.</ref>
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.bg]]<sup>4</sup>
|calling_code = 359
|footnote1 = {{cite web |title=Bulgaria’s National Flag |publisher=[[Politics of Bulgaria|Bulgarian Government]] |date=3 October 2005 |url=http://www.government.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0159&n=000006&g= |accessdate=2007-01-01}}
|footnote2 = [[Vidin|Vidin Tsardom]].
|footnote3 = plural ''[[Bulgarian lev|Leva]]''.
|footnote4 = Bulgarians, in common with citizens of other [[European Union]] member-states, also use the [[.eu]] domain.
|footnote5 = Cell phone system GSM and NMT 450i
|footnote6 = Domestic power supply {{nowrap|220 V}}/{{nowrap|50 Hz}}, [[Schuko|Schuko (CEE 7/4) sockets]]
}}

'''Bulgaria''' ({{pron-en|bʌlˈɡɛəriə|en-us-Bulgaria.ogg}}; {{lang-bg|България}}, Bălgariya, {{IPA2|bəlˈɡarija|pron}}), officially the '''Republic of Bulgaria''' ({{lang|bg|Република България}}, {{lang|bg-Latn|''Republika Bălgariya''}}, {{IPA2|rɛˈpublika bəlˈɡarija|}}), is a country in the [[Balkans]] in [[Southeast Europe|south-eastern]] [[Europe]]. Bulgaria borders five other countries: [[Romania]] to the north (mostly along the [[Danube|River Danube]]), [[Serbia]] and the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the west, and [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]] to the south. The [[Black Sea]] defines the extent of the country to the east.

Bulgaria includes parts of the Roman provinces of [[Moesia]], [[Thrace]] and [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]]. [[Old European culture]] within the territory of {{As of|2008|alt= present-day}} Bulgaria started to produce [[Varna necropolis|golden artefacts]] by the fifth millennium BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digsys.bg/books/cultural_heritage/thracian/thracian-intro.html |title=The Thracian tomb in Kazanluk |publisher=Digsys.bg |date= |accessdate=2009-01-02}}</ref>

The emergence of a unified Bulgarian national identity and state date back to the [[7th century]] AD. All Bulgarian political entities that subsequently emerged preserved the traditions (in ethnic name, language and alphabet) of the [[First Bulgarian Empire]] (632/681{{ndash}}1018), which at times covered most of the [[Balkans]] and spread its alphabet, literature and culture among the [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] and other peoples of [[Eastern Europe]]. Centuries later, with the decline of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] (1185{{ndash}}1396/1422), Bulgarian kingdoms came under [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule for nearly five centuries. The [[Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878)|Russo-Turkish War]] of 1877–1878 led to the re-establishment of a Bulgarian state as a [[constitutional monarchy]] in 1878, with the [[Treaty of San Stefano]] marking the birth of the [[History of Bulgaria (1878–1946)|Third Bulgarian State]]. In 1908, with social strife brewing at the core of the Ottoman Empire, the Alexander Malinov government and Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria formally proclaimed the full sovereignty of the Bulgarian state at the ancient capital of Veliko Turnovo.<ref>Crampton, R.J., ''Bulgaria'', 2007, pp.174, Oxford University Press</ref> After [[World War II]], in 1945 Bulgaria became a [[communist state]] and part of the [[Eastern Bloc]]. [[Todor Zhivkov]] dominated Bulgaria politically for 33 years (from 1956 to 1989). In 1990, after the [[Revolutions of 1989]], the [[Bulgarian Communist Party|Communist Party]] gave up its monopoly on power and Bulgaria undertook a transition to [[democracy]] and [[free-market]] [[capitalism]].

Bulgaria functions as a [[parliament]]ary [[democracy]] within a [[unitary state|unitary]] [[constitutional republic]]. A member of the [[European Union]], [[NATO]], [[United Nations|UN]] and the [[World Trade Organization]], it has a high [[Human Development Index]] of 0.840, ranking 61st in the world in 2009.<ref>
[http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf Human development index trends], Human development indices by the United Nations. Retrieved on October 5, 2009
</ref>
[[Freedom House]] in 2008 listed Bulgaria as "free", giving it scores of 1 (highest) for political rights and 2 for civil liberties.<ref>
[http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&year=2008&country=7361 Bulgaria country report for 2008], freedomhouse.org
</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Bulgaria}}

Geographically and in terms of climate, Bulgaria features notable diversity with the landscape ranging from the [[Alpine climate|Alpine]] snow-capped peaks in [[Rila]], [[Pirin]] and the [[Balkan Mountains]] to the mild and sunny Black Sea coast; from the typically [[continental climate|continental]] [[Danubian Plain (Bulgaria)|Danubian Plain]] (ancient [[Moesia]]) in the north to the strong [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean climatic influence]] in the valleys of [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and in the lowlands in the southernmost parts of [[Thrace]].

Bulgaria overall has a [[temperate climate]], with cold winters and hot summers. The barrier effect of the [[Balkan Mountains]] has some influence on climate throughout the country: northern Bulgaria experiences lower temperatures and receives more rain than the southern lowlands.

[[File:Maliovitsa 54072.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Malyovitsa]] peak, [[Rila]] mountain]]
[[File:Mandrensko lake.jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Lake Mandrensko]]]]

Bulgaria comprises portions of the regions known in [[Ancient Rome|classical times]] as [[Moesia]], [[Thrace]], and [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]]. The mountainous southwest of the country has two alpine ranges&nbsp;— [[Rila]] and [[Pirin]]&nbsp;— and further east stand the lower but more extensive [[Rhodope Mountains]]. The [[Rila]] range includes the highest peak of the Balkan Peninsula, [[Musala]], at {{convert|2925|m|ft|0}}; the long range of the [[Balkan mountains]] runs west-east through the middle of the country, north of the famous [[Rose Valley, Bulgaria|Rose Valley]]. Hilly country and plains lie to the southeast, along the [[Bulgarian Black Sea Coast|Black Sea]] coast, and along Bulgaria's main river, the [[Danube]], to the north. [[Strandja|Strandzha]] is the tallest mountain in the southeast. Few mountains and hills exist in the northeast region of [[Dobrudja|Dobrudzha]]. The [[Balkans|Balkan Peninsula]] derives its name from the ''Balkan'' or ''[[Stara planina]]'' mountain range running through the centre of Bulgaria and extends into eastern [[Serbia]].

Bulgaria has large deposits of [[manganese]] ore in the north-east and of [[uranium]] in the south-west, as well as vast [[coal]] reserves and [[copper]], [[lead]], [[zinc]] and [[gold]] ore. Smaller deposits exist of [[iron]], [[silver]], [[chromite]], [[nickel]], [[bismuth]] and others. Bulgaria has abundant non-metalliferous minerals such as [[rock-salt]], [[gypsum]], [[kaolin]] and [[marble]].

The country has a dense network of about 540 rivers, most of them—with the notable exception of the [[Danube]]—short and with low water-levels.<ref>
{{cite book |last=Donchev |first=D. |title=Geography of Bulgaria |publisher=ciela |location=Sofia |page=68 |language=Bulgarian |isbn=954-649-717-7 |year=2004}}
</ref> Most rivers flow through mountainous areas. The longest river located solely in Bulgarian territory, the [[Iskar]], has a length of {{convert|368|km|0|abbr=on}}. Other major rivers include the [[Struma River|Struma]] and the [[Maritsa|Maritsa River]] in the south.

The Rila and Pirin mountain ranges feature around 260 [[glacial lake]]s; the country also has several large lakes on the Black Sea coast and more than 2,200 [[Reservoir|dam lakes]]. Many mineral springs exist, located mainly in the south-western and central parts of the country along the faults between the mountains.

[[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] in Bulgaria averages about {{convert|630|mm|in|1}} per year. In the lowlands rainfall varies between {{convert|500|and|800|mm|1|abbr=on}}, and in the mountain areas between {{convert|1000|and|1400|mm|1|abbr=on}} of rain falls per year. Drier areas include [[Dobrudja]] and the northern coastal strip, while the higher parts of the [[Rila]], [[Pirin]], [[Rhodope Mountains]], [[Stara Planina]], [[Osogovska]] Mountain and [[Vitosha]] receive the highest levels of precipitation.

==History==
{{Main|History of Bulgaria}}

===Prehistory and antiquity===
{{See|Neolithic Europe|Bronze Age Europe|Thrace|Odrysian kingdom|Slavs}}

[[File:Sveshtari Thracian tomb Bulgaria IFB.JPG|250|thumb|right|The [[Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari]], a 3rd century BC [[tomb]] listed as one of [[UNESCO]]'s [[World Heritage Site]]s]]

Prehistoric cultures in the Bulgarian lands include the [[Neolithic]] [[Hamangia culture]] and [[Vinča culture]] (6th to 3rd millennia BC), the [[eneolithic]] [[Varna culture]] (5th millennium BC; see also [[Varna Necropolis]]), and the [[Bronze Age]] [[Ezero culture]]. The [[Karanovo chronology]] serves as a gauge for the prehistory of the wider Balkans region.

The [[Thracians]], one of the three primary ancestors of modern Bulgarians, left lasting traces throughout the Balkan region despite the tumultuous subsequent millennia. The Thracians lived in separate tribes until King [[Teres]] united most of them around 500 BC in the [[Odrysian kingdom]], which later peaked under the leadership of King [[Sitalces]] (reigned 431-424 BC) and of King [[Cotys I]] (383–359 BC). Thereafter the Macedonian Empire incorporated the Odrysian kingdom and Thracians became an inalienable component in the extra-continental expeditions of both [[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]] and [[Alexander the Great|Alexander III (the Great)]]. In 188 BC the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] invaded [[Thrace]], and warfare continued until 45 AD when Rome finally conquered the region. Thracian and Roman cultures merged to an extent, although the core traditions of the former remained untouched. Thus by the 4th century the [[Thracians]] had a composite indigenous identity, as Christian "Romans" who preserved some of their ancient pagan rituals.

The [[Slavs]] emerged from their original homeland in the early 6th century and spread to most of Eastern Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, dividing in the process into three main branches: the West Slavs, the East Slavs and the South Slavs. A portion of the eastern [[South Slavs]] assimilated the Thracians before the Bulgar elite incorporated them into the First Bulgarian Empire.<ref name=EB1911>[[s:1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Bulgaria/History]]</ref>

=== The First Bulgarian Empire===
{{Main|First Bulgarian Empire}}

In 632 the [[Bulgars]], originally from [[Central Asia]],<ref>"[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/84067/Bulgar Bulgar (people)]". Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref> formed under the leadership of Khan [[Kubrat]] an independent state that became known as [[Great Bulgaria]]. Its territory extended from the lower course of the [[Danube]] to the west, the [[Black Sea]] and the [[Azov Sea]] to the south, the [[Kuban River]] to the east, and the [[Donets River]] to the north.<ref>
Zlatarski, pp. 146–153
</ref>
Pressure from the [[Khazars]] led to the subjugation of Great Bulgaria in the second half of the 7th century. [[Kubrat]]’s successor, Khan [[Asparukh of Bulgaria|Asparuh]], migrated with some of the Bulgar tribes to the lower courses of the rivers [[Danube]], [[Dniester]] and [[Dniepr]] (known as ''Ongal''), and conquered [[Moesia]] and [[Scythia Minor]] ([[Dobrudzha]]) from the [[Byzantine Empire]], expanding his new khanate further into the [[Balkan Peninsula]].<ref>Runciman, p. 26</ref> A peace treaty with Byzantium in 681 and the establishment of the Bulgar capital of [[Pliska]] south of the Danube mark the beginning of the [[First Bulgarian Empire]]. At the same time one of Asparuh's brothers, [[Kuber]], settled with another [[Bulgar]] group in {{As of|2007|alt= present-day}} [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]].<ref> Иван Микулчиќ, "Средновековни градови и тврдини во Македониjа", Скопjе, "Македонска цивилизациjа", 1996, стр. 29–33. </ref>

[[File:The Great Basilica Klearchos 2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Ruins of Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire from 680 to ca. 890]]

During the siege of Constantinople in 717–718 the Bulgarian ruler Khan [[Tervel of Bulgaria|Tervel]] honoured his treaty with the Byzantines by sending troops to help the populace of the imperial city. According to the Byzantine chronicler Theophanes, in the decisive battle the Bulgarians killed 22,000 [[Arabs]], thereby eliminating the threat of a full-scale Arab invasion into Eastern and Central Europe.<ref>C. de Boor (ed), ''Theophanis chronographia'', vol. 1. Leipzig: Teubner, 1883 (repr. Hildesheim: Olms, 1963), 397, 25–30 (AM 6209)''"φασί δε τινές ότι και ανθρώπους τεθνεώτας και την εαυτών κόπρον εις τα κλίβανα βάλλοντες και ζυμούντες ήσθιον. ενέσκηψε δε εις αυτούς και λοιμική νόσος και αναρίθμητα πλήθη εξ αυτών ώλεσεν. συνήψε δε προς αυτούς πόλεμον και τον των Βουλγάρων έθνος, και, ως φασίν οι ακριβώς επιστάμενοι, [ότι] '''κβ''' χιλάδας Αράβων κατέσφαξαν."''</ref>

The influence and territorial expansion of Bulgaria increased further during the rule of [[Krum of Bulgaria|Khan Krum]],<ref>Runciman, p. 52</ref> who in 811 won a decisive victory against the Byzantine army led by [[Nicephorus I]] in the [[Battle of Pliska]].<ref name = Theophanes>[[s:Chronographia/Chapter 61]]
</ref> The 8th and 9th centuries saw the gradual assimilation of the [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]]-speaking [[Bulgars]] (or Proto-Bulgarians) by the Slavic majority.<ref name="Bulgaria"/>

In 864, Bulgaria under [[Boris I of Bulgaria|Boris I The Baptist]] accepted [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Christianity]].<ref>
Georgius Monachus Continuatus, loc. cit. [work not previously referenced], Logomete
</ref>

Bulgaria became a major European power in the ninth and the tenth centuries, while fighting with the Byzantine Empire for the control of the Balkans. This happened under the rule (852–889) of [[Boris I of Bulgaria|Boris I]]. During his reign, the [[Cyrillic alphabet]] developed in [[Preslav]] and [[Ohrid]],<ref>
Vita S. démentis
</ref>
adapted from the [[Glagolitic alphabet]] invented by the monks [[Saints Cyril and Methodius]].<ref>
Barford, P. M. (2001). ''The Early Slavs''. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press
</ref>

[[File:Baba Vida Klearchos 1.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Baba Vida]] fortress in [[Vidin]], built in the 10th century]]

The Cyrillic alphabet became the basis for further cultural development. Centuries later, this alphabet, along with the [[Old Bulgarian]] language, fostered the intellectual written language (''lingua franca'') for Eastern Europe, known as [[Church Slavonic language|Church Slavonic]]. The greatest territorial extension of the Bulgarian Empire—covering most of the Balkans—occurred under [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Emperor Simeon I the Great]], the first Bulgarian [[Tsar]] ([[Emperor]]), who ruled from 893 to 927.<ref>Fine, ''The Early Medieval Balkans'', pp. 144–148.</ref> The [[Battle of Anchialos]] (917), one of the bloodiest battles in the [[Middle ages]].<ref name=Dimitrov1>
Bojidar Dimitrov: ''Bulgaria Illustrated History''. BORIANA Publishing House 2002, ISBN 9545000449
</ref>
marked one of Bulgaria's most decisive victories against the Byzantines.

However, Simeon's greatest achievement consisted of Bulgaria developing a rich, unique Christian Slavonic culture, which became an example for the other Slavonic peoples in Eastern Europe and also ensured the continued existence of the Bulgarian nation despite forces that threatened to tear it into pieces throughout its long and war-ridden history.

Bulgaria declined in the mid-tenth century, worn out by wars with [[Croatia]], by frequent Serbian rebellions sponsored by Byzantine gold, and by disastrous Magyar and [[Pecheneg]] invasions.<ref>[[Theophanes Continuatus]], pp. 462—3, 480</ref> Because of this, Bulgaria collapsed in the face of an assault of the ''[[Kievan Rus'|Rus']]'' in 969–971.<ref>Cedrenus: II, p. 383 </ref>

[[File:Bulgaria Simeon I (893-927).svg|left|thumb|220px|The Bulgarian Empire ca. 893 in dark green, with territorial gains up to 927 in light green]]

The Byzantines then began campaigns to conquer Bulgaria. In 971, they seized the capital [[Preslav]] and captured Emperor [[Boris II]].<ref>Leo Diaconus, pp. 158–9 </ref> Resistance continued under [[Tsar Samuil]] in the western Bulgarian lands for nearly half a century. The country managed to recover and defeated the Byzantines in several major battles, taking the control of the most of the Balkans and in 991 invaded the Serbian state.<ref>
Шишић [Šišić], p. 331 </ref> But the [[Byzantines]] led by [[Basil II]] ("the Bulgar-Slayer") destroyed the Bulgarian state in 1018 after their victory at [[battle of Kleidion|Kleidion]].<ref>Skylitzes, p. 457</ref> Having crushed the Bulgarians, Basil II blinded as many as 15,000 prisoners taken in the battle, before releasing them.<ref name="Bulgaria"/>

===Byzantine Bulgaria===

No evidence remains of major resistance or any uprising of the Bulgarian population or nobility in the first decade after the establishment of Byzantine rule. Given the existence of such irreconcilable opponents to Byzantium as [[Krakra of Pernik|Krakra]], [[Nikulitsa of Bulgaria|Nikulitsa]], Dragash and others, such apparent passivity seems difficult to explain. Some historians<ref name="Zlatarski">
Zlatarski, vol. II, pp. 1–41
</ref>
explain this as a consequence of the concessions that [[Basil II]] granted the Bulgarian nobility to gain their allegiance. In the first place, Basil II guaranteed the indivisibility of Bulgaria in its former geographic borders and did not officially abolish the local rule of the Bulgarian nobility, who became part of [[Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy|Byzantine aristocracy]] as [[archon]]s or [[strategos|strategoi]]. Secondly, special charters (royal decrees) of Basil II recognised the [[autocephaly]] of the [[Bulgarian Archbishopric of Ohrid]] and set up its boundaries, securing the continuation of the [[diocese]]s already existing under Samuel, their property and other privileges.<ref>Averil Cameron, ''The Byzantines'', Blackwell Publishing (2006), p. 170</ref>

The people of Bulgaria challenged Byzantine rule several times in the 11th century and again in the early 12th century. The biggest [[Bulgarian uprising against the Byzantine Empire (1040-1041)|uprising]] occurred under the leadership of [[Peter II Delyan]] (proclaimed Emperor of Bulgaria in [[Belgrade]] in 1040). From the mid 11th century to the 1150s, both [[Normans]] and [[Hungarians]] attempted to invade Byzantine Bulgaria, but without success. Bulgarian nobles ruled the province in the name of the Byzantine Empire until [[Ivan Asen I]] and [[Peter IV of Bulgaria]] started a rebellion in 1185 that led to the establishment of the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]].

=== The Second Bulgarian Empire===
{{Main|Second Bulgarian Empire}}
[[File:Campaigns of Ivan Assen II.png|thumb|right|The Bulgarian Empire under [[Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria|Tsar Ivan Asen II]]]]

From 1185, the [[Second Bulgarian Empire]] re-established Bulgaria as an important [[Power in international relations|power]] in [[the Balkans]] for two more centuries. The [[Asen dynasty]] set up its capital in [[Veliko Tarnovo]]. [[Kaloyan]], the third of the Asen monarchs, extended his dominions to [[Belgrade]], [[Nish]] and [[Skopie]] (Uskub); he acknowledged the spiritual supremacy of the pope, and received the royal crown from a papal legate.<ref name=EB1911 /> In the [[Battle of Adrianople (1205)|Battle of Adrianople]] in [[1205]], Kaloyan defeated the forces of the [[Latin Empire]] and thus limited its power from the very first year of its establishment.

[[Ivan Asen II]] (1218–1241) extended his rule over [[Albania]], [[Despotate of Epirus|Epirus]], Macedonia and Thrace.<ref>Jiriček, p.295</ref> During his reign, the state saw a period of cultural growth, with important artistic achievements of the [[Tarnovo artistic school]].<ref name=EB1911 /> The Asen dynasty ended in 1257, and due to [[Tatar invasions]] (beginning in the later 13th century), internal conflicts, and constant attacks from the Byzantines and the Hungarians, the power of the country declined. Emperor [[Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria|Theodore Svetoslav]] (reigned 1300–1322) restored Bulgarian prestige from 1300 onwards, but only temporarily. Political instability continued to grow, and Bulgaria gradually began to lose territory. This led to a peasant rebellion led by swineherd, [[Ivaylo of Bulgaria|Ivaylo]], who eventually managed to defeat the Emperor's forces and sit on the throne.

By the end of the 14th century, factional divisions between Bulgarian feudal landlords (''[[boyars]]'') had gravely weakened the cohesion of the Second Bulgarian Empire. It split into three small Tsardoms and several semi-independent principalities that fought among themselves, and also with Byzantines, Hungarians, Serbs, Venetians, and Genoese. In these battles, Bulgarians often allied themselves with Ottoman Turks. Similar situations of internecine quarrel and infighting existed also in Byzantium and Serbia. In the period 1365–1370, the Ottomans conquered most Bulgarian towns and fortresses south of the Balkan Mountains.<ref>Jiriček, p. 382</ref>

===Ottoman rule===
{{Main|History of early Ottoman Bulgaria|National awakening of Bulgaria}}
[[File:Siège de Nicopolis.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Battle of Nicopolis]], 1396]]

In 1393, the Ottomans captured Tarnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, after a three-month siege. In 1396, the Vidin Tsardom fell after the defeat of a Christian [[crusade]] at the [[Battle of Nicopolis]]. With this, the Ottomans finally subjugated and occupied Bulgaria.<ref>
[[Lord Kinross]], ''The Ottoman Centuries'', Morrow QuillPaperback Edition, 1979
</ref><ref name = "xixcnf">
R.J. Crampton, A Concise History of Bulgaria, 1997, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-567-19-X
</ref><ref name = "xouksi">
D. Hupchick, The Balkans, 2002
</ref>
A [[Poland|Polish]]–[[Hungary|Hungarian]] crusade commanded by [[Władysław III of Poland]] set out to free the Balkans in 1444, but the Turks defeated it in the [[battle of Varna]].

The Ottomans decimated the Bulgarian population, which lost most of its cultural relics. Turkish authorities destroyed most of the medieval Bulgarian fortresses to prevent rebellions. Large towns and the areas where Ottoman power predominated remained severely depopulated until the 19th century.<ref name = Dimitrov1 />{{Page needed}} The Bulgarian nobility was destroyed and the peasantry was [[Serfdom|enserfed]] to Turkish masters.<ref name="Bulgaria">"[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/84090/Bulgaria Bulgaria]". Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref> Bulgarians had to pay much higher taxes than the [[Muslim]] population, and completely lacked judicial equality with them.<ref>Crampton, R.J. ''Bulgaria 1878-1918'', p.2. East European Monographs, 1983. ISBN 0880330295.{{Request quotation|date=July 2009}}</ref> One response among the Bulgarians was a strengthening of the [[hajduk]] ('outlaw') tradition.<ref name="Bulgaria"/> Bulgarians who converted to Islam, the [[Pomaks]], retained Bulgarian language, dress and some customs compatible with Islam.<ref name = "xixcnf"/><ref name = "xouksi"/>{{Page needed}}. The origins of the [[Pomaks]] are a subject of disagreement.<ref>Hunter, Shireen: "Islam, Europe's second religion: the new social, cultural, and political landscape" 2002, pp.177</ref><ref>Poulton, Hugh: "Muslim identity and the Balkan State" 1997, pp.33</ref>

During the last two decades of the 18th and first decades of the 19th centuries the Balkan Peninsula dissolved into virtual anarchy. Bulgarians refer to this period as the ''kurdjaliistvo'': armed bands of Turks called ''kurdjalii'' plagued the area. In many regions, thousands of peasants fled from the countryside either to local towns or (more commonly) to the hills or forests; some even fled beyond the [[Danube]] to [[Moldova]], [[Wallachia]] or southern [[Russia]].<ref name = "xixcnf"/><ref>
Dennis P. Hupchick: ''The Balkans: from Constantinople to Communism'', 2002
</ref>

[[File:Shipka-monument-bg.jpg|thumb|Shipka memorial (located near [[Gabrovo]])&nbsp;— built in honor of the [[Battle of Shipka Pass]]; one of the important symbols of Bulgarian liberation.]]

Throughout the five centuries of Ottoman rule, the Bulgarian people organized many attempts to re-establish their own state. The [[National awakening of Bulgaria]] became one of the key factors in the struggle for [[Liberation of Bulgaria|liberation]]. The 19th century saw the creation of the [[Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee]] and the [[Internal Revolutionary Organisation]] led by liberal revolutionaries such as [[Vasil Levski]], [[Hristo Botev]], [[Lyuben Karavelov]] and many others.

In 1876 the [[April uprising]] broke out: the largest and best-organized Bulgarian rebellion against the Ottoman Empire. Though crushed by the Ottoman authorities — in reprisal, the Turks massacred some 15,000 Bulgarians<ref name="Bulgaria"/> — the uprising (together with the 1875 [[Herzegovinian rebellion|rebellion in Bosnia]]) prompted the Great Powers to convene the 1876 [[National awakening of Bulgaria#Conference of Constantinople|Conference of Constantinople]], which delimited the [[:File:Balkan boundaries1876map1914.png|ethnic Bulgarian territories]] as of the late 19th century, and elaborated the legal and political arrangements for establishing two autonomous Bulgarian provinces. The Ottoman Government declined to comply with the Great Powers’ decisions. This allowed [[Russia]] to seek a solution by force without risking military confrontation with other Great Powers as in the [[Crimean War]] of 1854 to 1856.

===Principality and Kingdom===

In the [[Russo-Turkish War, 1877-1878]], Russian soldiers together with a [[Romania]]n expeditionary force and volunteer Bulgarian troops defeated the Ottoman armies. The [[Treaty of San Stefano]] (3 March 1878), set up an autonomous Bulgarian principality. But the Western [[great power|Great Powers]] immediately rejected the treaty, fearing that a large Slavic country in the [[Balkans]] might serve Russian interests. This led to the [[Treaty of Berlin, 1878|Treaty of Berlin (1878)]], which provided for an autonomous Bulgarian principality comprising [[Moesia]] and the region of [[Sofia]]. [[Alexander von Battenberg|Alexander, Prince of Battenberg]], became Bulgaria's first Prince. Most of [[Thrace]] became part of the autonomous region of [[Eastern Rumelia]], whereas the rest of Thrace and all of [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] returned to the sovereignty of the [[Ottomans]]. After the [[Serbo-Bulgarian War]] and [[Unification of Bulgaria|unification]] with [[Eastern Rumelia]] in 1885, the Bulgarian principality proclaimed itself a fully independent kingdom on 5 October (22 September [[Old Style|O.S.]]), 1908, during the reign of [[Ferdinand I of Bulgaria]].

Ferdinand, of the ducal family of [[Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]], became the Bulgarian Prince after [[Alexander von Battenberg]] abdicated in 1886 following a ''coup d'état'' staged by pro-Russian army-officers. (Although the counter-''coup'' coordinated by [[Stefan Stambolov]] succeeded, Prince Alexander decided not to remain the Bulgarian ruler without the approval of [[Alexander III of Russia]].) The struggle for liberation of the Bulgarians in the [[Adrianople]] [[Vilayet]] and in Macedonia continued throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, culminating with the [[Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising]] organised by the [[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization]] in 1903.

[[File:Yaroslav Veshin - Na nozh.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Bulgarians overrun a Turkish position at bayonet-point during the First Balkan War of 1912–1913, Painting by [[Jaroslav Věšín]].]]

==== The Balkan Wars and World War I====
{{Main|First Balkan War|Second Balkan War|Bulgaria during World War I}}
In the years following the achievement of complete independence Bulgaria became increasingly militarised: Dillon in 1920 called Bulgaria "the [[Prussia]] of the Balkans"<ref>
{{cite book
|last= Dillon
|first= Emile Joseph
|authorlink=
|title= The Inside Story of the Peace Conference
|trans_title=
|url= http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/1/4/4/7/14477/14477-h/14477-h.htm
|accessdate= 2009-06-15
|edition=
|series=
|volume=
|date=
|origyear= 1920
|year= 1920
|month= February
|publisher= Harper
|location= New York
|isbn=
|oclc=
|doi=
|bibcode=
|id=
|page=
|pages=
|nopp=
|chapter= XV
|trans_chapter
|chapterurl=
|quote= The territorial changes the Prussia of the Balkans was condemned to undergo are neither very considerable nor unjust.
|ref=
|laysummary=
|laydate=
|separator=
|postscript=
|lastauthoramp=
}}
</ref>
In 1912 and 1913, Bulgaria became involved in the [[Balkan Wars]], first entering into conflict alongside Greece, Serbia and Montenegro against the Ottoman Empire. The [[First Balkan War]] (1912–1913) proved a success for the Bulgarian army, but a conflict over the division of Macedonia arose between the victorious allies. The [[Second Balkan War]] (1913) pitted Bulgaria against Greece and Serbia, joined by Romania and Turkey. After its defeat in the Second Balkan War Bulgaria lost considerable territory conquered in the first war, as well as [[Southern Dobrudzha]] and parts of the [[Macedonia (region)|region of Macedonia]].

During [[World War I]], Bulgaria found itself fighting again on the losing side as a result of its alliance with the [[Central Powers]]. The Bulgarian army suffered 300,000 casualties, including 100,000 killed.<ref name="Bulgaria"/> Defeat in 1918 led to new territorial losses (the [[Western Outlands]] to [[Serbia]], [[Western Thrace]] to [[Greece]] and the re-conquered [[Southern Dobrudzha]] to [[Romania]]). The Balkan Wars and World War I led to the influx of over 250,000 Bulgarian refugees from [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]], [[Eastern Thrace|Eastern]] and [[Western Thrace]] and [[Southern Dobrudzha]].

====World War II====
{{Main|Bulgaria during World War II}}
[[File:Bundesarchiv N 1603 Bild-152, Sofia, bulgarischer Soldat vor Wachhaus.jpg|thumb|150px|A Bulgarian sentry at his post, [[Sofia]], 1942]]

In the 1930s the country suffered political unrest, which led to the establishment of [[military rule]], eventually transforming into a royal [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian rule]] by King [[Boris III of Bulgaria|Boris III]] (reigned 1918–1943). After regaining control of [[Southern Dobrudzha]] in 1940, Bulgaria became allied with the [[Axis Powers]], although it declined to participate in [[Operation Barbarossa]] (1941) and never declared war on the [[Soviet Union|USSR]]. During World War II [[Nazi Germany]] allowed Bulgaria to occupy parts of [[Greece]] and of [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], although control over their population and territories remained in German hands. Bulgaria became one of only three countries (along with [[Finland]] and [[Denmark]]) that saved its entire Jewish population (around 50,000 people) from the [[Nazism|Nazi]] camps through different rationales and the continued postponement of compliance with German demands.<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bg0052) Bulgaria in World War II : The Passive Alliance], Library of Congress</ref> However, the Nazis deported almost the entire Jewish population of the Bulgarian-occupied Yugoslav and Greek territories to the [[Treblinka extermination camp|Treblinka death camp]] in [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|occupied Poland]].

In the summer of 1943, Boris III died suddenly, and the country fell into political turmoil as the war turned against Nazi Germany and the communist movement gained more power.<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bg0053) Bulgaria: Wartime Crisis], Library of Congress</ref> In early September 1944, the Soviet Union declared war on Bulgaria and invaded it, meeting no resistance. This enabled the Communists (the [[Bulgarian Communist Party|Bulgarian Workers' Party]]) to seize power and establish a [[communist state]]. The new régime turned Bulgaria's forces against Germany.

===The People's Republic of Bulgaria===
{{Main|People's Republic of Bulgaria}}

The [[Fatherland Front (Bulgaria)|Fatherland Front]], a Communist-dominated political coalition, took over the government in 1944 and the Communist party increased its membership from 15,000 to 250,000 during the following six months. It established its rule with the [[Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944|coup d'état of September 9]] that year. However, Bulgaria did not become a [[people's republic]] until [[1946]]. It fell under the Soviet sphere of influence, with [[Georgi Dimitrov]] (Prime Minister 1946 to 1949) as the foremost Bulgarian political [[leader]]. The country installed a Soviet-type [[planned economy]], although some market-oriented policies emerged on an experimental level<ref name=csecon>William Marsteller. "The Economy". [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/bgtoc.html Bulgaria country study] (Glenn E. Curtis, editor). [[Library of Congress]] [[Federal Research Division]] (June 1992)</ref> under [[Todor Zhivkov]] (First Secretary, 1954 to 1989). By the mid [[1950s]] standards of living rose significantly, and in 1957 collective farm workers benefited from the first agricultural pension and welfare system in [[Eastern Europe]].<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bg0062) Domestic policy and its results], Library of Congress</ref> Todor Zhivkov dominated the country from 1956 to 1989, thus becoming one of the most estalished Eastern Bloc leaders. Zhivkov asserted Bulgaria's position as the most reliable Soviet ally, and increased its overall importance in the [[Comecon]]. His daughter [[Lyudmila Zhivkova]] became very popular in the country by promoting national heritage, culture and arts on a global scale.<ref>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+bg0068) The Political Atmosphere in the 1970s], Library of Congress</ref> On the other hand, a forced assimilation campaign of the late 1980s directed against ethnic Turks resulted in the emigration of some 300,000 [[Turks in Bulgaria|Bulgarian Turks]] to Turkey.<ref>
{{cite web
|first = Celestine
|last = Bohlen
|author =
|authorlink =
|coauthors =
|title = Vote Gives Key Role to Ethnic Turks
|url = http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/17/world/bulgaria-vote-gives-key-role-to-ethnic-turks.html Bulgaria
|archiveurl =
|work = [[The New York Times]]
|publisher =
|location =
|page =
|pages =
|trans_title =
|format =
|doi =
|date = 1991-10-17
|month =
|year =
|archivedate =
|accessdate = 2009-07-15
|quote = ... in the 1980's [...] the Communist leader, Todor Zhivkov, began a campaign of cultural assimilation that forced ethnic Turks to adopt Slavic names, closed their mosques and prayer houses and suppressed any attempts at protest. One result was the mass exodus of more than 300,000 ethnic Turks to neighboring Turkey in 1989 ...
}}
</ref><ref>
[http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE55001C20090601 Cracks show in Bulgaria's Muslim ethnic model]. Reuters. May 31, 2009.
</ref>

The People's Republic ended in 1989 as many [[Communist regime]]s in [[Eastern Europe]], as well as the Soviet Union itself, began to collapse. Opposition forced Zhivkov and his right-hand man [[Milko Balev]] to give up their power on 10 November 1989.

===The Republic of Bulgaria===
[[File:Vladimir Putin in Bulgaria 17-18 January 2008-6.jpg|right|thumb|220px|President [[Georgi Parvanov]] (left) with former Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]], 2008]]

In February 1990 the Communist Party voluntarily gave up its monopoly on power, and in June 1990 free elections took place, won by the moderate wing of the Communist Party (renamed the [[Bulgarian Socialist Party]]&nbsp;— BSP). In July 1991, the country adopted a [[Constitution of Bulgaria|new constitution]] that provided for a relatively weak elected President and for a Prime Minister accountable to the legislature. The 1990s featured high unemployment, unstable (and often high) inflation rates and discontent.

Since 1989, Bulgaria has held multi-party [[elections]] and privatized its [[Economy of Bulgaria|economy]], but economic difficulties and a tide of corruption have led over 800,000 Bulgarians, most of them qualified [[profession]]als, to emigrate in a "[[brain drain]]". The reform package introduced in 1997 restored positive economic growth, but led to rising social inequality. Bulgaria became a member of [[NATO]] in 2004 and of the [[European Union]] in 2007, and the US Library of Congress Federal Research Division reported it in 2006 as having generally good [[freedom of speech]] and [[human rights]] records.<ref>
{{cite web
| author = Library of Congress – Federal Research Division
| authorlink = Federal Research Division
| title = Country Profile: Bulgaria
| url = http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Bulgaria.pdf
| archiveurl =
| work =
| publisher = Library of Congress
| location =
| page = 18, 23
| pages =
| format = PDF
| doi =
| date =
| month = October
| year = 2006
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2009-09-04
| quote = Mass Media: In 2006 Bulgaria’s print and broadcast media generally were considered unbiased, although the government dominated broadcasting through the state-owned Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and print news dissemination through the largest press agency, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency. [...]Human Rights: In the early 2000s, Bulgaria generally has been rated highly on the issue of human rights. However, some exceptions exist. Although the media have a record of unbiased reporting, Bulgaria’s lack of specific legislation protecting the media from state interference is a theoretical weakness.
}}
</ref>
In 2007 the A.T. Kearney/Foreign Policy Magazine [[Globalization Index|globalization index]] ranked Bulgaria 36th (between the [[People's Republic of China|PRC]] and [[Iceland]]) out of 122 countries.<ref>''See [[Globalization Index]]''</ref>

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of Bulgaria}}<!--Please add new information to relevant articles of the series-->
[[File:Bulgarian-presidency-guardians.jpg|thumb|left|Guardsmen in front of the Presidency]]

Since 1991 Bulgaria has a democratic, [[unitary state|unitary]] [[parliamentary republic]]an [[Constitution of Bulgaria|constitution]].
The country became a member of the [[United Nations]] in [[1955]], and a founding member of [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] in 1995. As a Consultative Party to the [[Antarctic Treaty]], Bulgaria takes part in the administration of the territories situated south of 60° south latitude.<ref>
[http://www.scar.org/treaty/ The Antarctic Treaty system: An introduction]. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
</ref><ref>
[http://www.scar.org/treaty/signatories.html Signatories to the Antarctic Treaty]. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
</ref> The National Assembly or ''[[Narodno Sabranie]]'' (Народно събрание) consists of 240 deputies, each elected for four-year terms by popular vote. A party or [[coalition]] must win a minimum of 4% of the vote to enter parliament. The National Assembly has the power to enact laws, approve the budget, schedule presidential elections, select and dismiss the [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria|Prime Minister]] and other ministers, declare war, deploy troops abroad, and ratify international treaties and agreements. A [[minority government]] formed by the [[Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria]] party took office following the [[Bulgarian parliamentary election, 2009|election of July 2009]].

The judicial system consists of regional, district and appeal courts, as well as a Supreme Court of Cassation. In addition, Bulgaria has a Supreme Administrative Court and a system of military courts.

The [[President of Bulgaria]] serves as the [[head of state]] and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. He also chairs the Consultative Council for National Security. While unable to initiate [[legislation]] other than Constitutional amendments, the President can return a bill for further debate, although the parliament can override the President's veto by vote of a majority of all MPs.

The country joined [[NATO]] on 29 March 2004 and signed the [[European Union]] [[Treaty of Accession 2005|Treaty of Accession]] on 25 April 2005.<ref name="nato">{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2004/03-march/e0329a.htm|title=NATO Update: Seven new members join NATO|date=2004-03-29|accessdate=2008-11-02}}</ref><ref name="ec">{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/enlargement_process/future_prospects/negotiations/eu10_bulgaria_romania/treaty_2005_en.htm|title=European Commission Enlargement Archives: Treaty of Accession of Bulgaria and Romania|date=2005-04-25|accessdate=2008-11-02}}</ref> It became a full member of the European Union on 1 January 2007,<ref>
{{cite news | first=Stefan | last=Bos | coauthors= |authorlink= | title=Bulgaria, Romania Join European Union | date=01 January 2007 | publisher=Voice of America | url =http://voanews.com/english/archive/2007-01/2007-01-01-voa16.cfm | work =VOA News | pages = | accessdate = 2 January 2009 | language = }}
</ref> and elects [[MEPs for Bulgaria 2009–2014|17 members]] to the [[European Parliament]].<ref name="ep">{{cite web|url=http://www.elections2009-results.eu/en/bulgaria_en.html|title=Results of the 2009 European elections > Bulgaria|accessdate=2009-06-21}}]</ref>

==Military==
{{Main|Military of Bulgaria}}
[[File:Bulgarian MiG-29 Rodopi Javelin 2007.jpg|thumb|250px|A [[Bulgarian Air Force|BAF]] [[Mikoyan MiG-29|MiG-29]] at [[Graf Ignatievo Air Base]]]]

The [[military of Bulgaria|military]] consists of three services – [[Bulgarian land forces|land forces]], [[Bulgarian Navy|navy]] and [[Bulgarian Air Force|air force]].

Following a series of reductions beginning in 1989, the active troops number fewer than 45,000 {{As of|2009|alt= today}}, down from nearly 200,000 in 1988. Reserve forces include 303,000 soldiers and officers. A number of [[paramilitary]] branches, such as border-guard and railroad-construction troops exist and number about 34,000 men. The armed forces have an inventory including highly capable Soviet equipment, such as [[MiG-29]] fighters, [[SA-6 Gainful]] and [[SA-10 Grumble]] SAMs and [[SS-21 Scarab]] short-range ballistic missiles.

[[File:Bulgarian M1114 HMMWV in Kabul.JPG|thumb|left|Bulgarian up-armored [[M1114]] patrol on the streets of [[Kabul]], July 2009]]

Bulgarian military personnel have participated in international missions in [[Cambodia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Kosovo]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq]]. {{As of | 2009}} Bulgaria had more than 700 military personnel deployed abroad, mostly in Afghanistan (610 men), in Bosnia and Herzegovina (about 100 men) and in Kosovo (about 50 men).

In 2008 Bulgaria abolished compulsory military service for its citizens. Bulgaria's naval and air forces became fully [[professional]] in 2006, and the land forces followed suit at the end of 2008. The Special Forces have conducted missions with the [[Special Air Service|SAS]], [[Delta Force]], [[Kommando Spezialkräfte|KSK]], and the [[Spetsnaz]] of Russia.

In April 2006 Bulgaria and the [[United States of America]] signed a defence cooperation agreement providing for the usage of the air bases at [[Bezmer Air Base|Bezmer]] (near [[Yambol]]) and [[Graf Ignatievo]] (near [[Plovdiv]]), the [[Novo Selo Range|Novo Selo]] training range (near [[Sliven]]), and a logistics centre in [[Aytos Logistics Center|Aytos]] as [[List of joint US-Bulgarian military bases|joint military facilities]]. ''[[Foreign Policy (magazine)|Foreign Policy]]'' magazine lists Bezmer Air Base as one of the six most important overseas facilities used by the [[United States Air Force|USAF]].<ref>[http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3460 The List: The Six Most Important U.S. Military Bases], FP, May 2006</ref>

{{As of | 2009}} military spending accounts for 1,98% of [[GDP]].

==Provinces and municipalities==
{{Main|Provinces of Bulgaria|Municipalities of Bulgaria}}
{{Bulgaria Provinces|float=right}}

Between 1987 and 1999 Bulgaria consisted of nine provinces (''oblasti'', singular ''[[oblast]]''); since 1999, it has consisted of twenty-eight. All take their names from their respective capital cities:
{| style="background:transparent;"
|
*[[Blagoevgrad Province|Blagoevgrad]]
*[[Burgas Province|Burgas]]
*[[Dobrich Province|Dobrich]]
*[[Gabrovo Province|Gabrovo]]
*[[Haskovo Province|Haskovo]]
*[[Kardzhali Province|Kardzhali]]
*[[Kyustendil Province|Kyustendil]]
*[[Lovech Province|Lovech]]
*[[Montana Province|Montana]]
*[[Pazardzhik Province|Pazardzhik]]
*[[Pernik Province|Pernik]]
*[[Pleven Province|Pleven]]
*[[Plovdiv Province|Plovdiv]]
*[[Razgrad Province|Razgrad]]
|
*[[Ruse Province|Rousse]]
*[[Shumen Province|Shumen]]
*[[Silistra Province|Silistra]]
*[[Sliven Province|Sliven]]
*[[Smolyan Province|Smolyan]]
*[[Sofia City]]
*[[Sofia Province]]
*[[Stara Zagora Province|Stara Zagora]]
*[[Targovishte Province|Targovishte]]
*[[Varna Province|Varna]]
*[[Veliko Tarnovo Province|Veliko Tarnovo]]
*[[Vidin Province|Vidin]]
*[[Vratsa Province|Vratsa]]
*[[Yambol Province|Yambol]]
|}

The provinces subdivide into 264 [[Municipalities of Bulgaria|municipalities]].<!--As of when? Compare the 263 municipalities mentioned above in the "Politics" section-->

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Bulgaria}}

[[File:Business Park Sofia E4.jpg|thumb|right|A view of [[Business Park Sofia]]. The capital generates a large portion of the nation's GDP.]]
[[File:Dobrudja.JPG|thumb|right|A [[sunflower]] field in [[Dobrudja]], one of the most fertile regions in Bulgaria]]
Bulgaria has an industrialised, open [[free market economy]], with a large, moderately advanced private sector and a number of strategic state-owned enterprises.
The [[World Bank]] classifies it as an "upper-middle-income economy".<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://go.worldbank.org/D7SN0B8YU0
|title= World Bank: Data and Statistics: Country Groups
|accessdate= 2008-07-27
|author=
|coauthors=
|date=
|year= 2008
|work=
|publisher= The World Bank Group
|pages=
|quote=
}}
</ref>
Bulgaria has experienced rapid economic growth {{As of|2008|alt= in recent years}}, even though it continues to rank as the lowest-income member state of the EU. According to [[Eurostat]] data, Bulgarian PPS GDP per capita stood at 40 per cent of the EU average in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-25062009-BP/EN/2-25062009-BP-EN.PDF|title=GDP per capita in PPS|publisher=Eurostat|accessdate=2009-06-25}}</ref> The United States Central Intelligence Agency estimated Bulgarians' GDP per capita at $12,900 in 2008,<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bu.html CIA], Bulgaria entry</ref> or about a third that of Belgium.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/be.html CIA], Belgium entry</ref> The economy relies primarily on industry and agriculture, although the services sector increasingly contributes to GDP growth. Bulgaria produces a significant amount of manufactures and raw materials such as [[iron]], [[copper]], [[gold]], [[bismuth]], [[coal]], [[electronics]], [[refined petroleum fuel]]s, [[vehicle]] components, [[weapons]] and [[construction materials]].

Due to high-profile allegations of corruption, and an apparent lack of willingness to tackle high-level corruption, the European Union has partly frozen EU funds of about €450 million and may freeze more if Bulgarian authorities do not show solid progress in fighting corruption.<ref>
{{cite news
| first =
| last =
| authorlink =
| author = AFP News Briefs
| coauthors =
| title = Barroso slams Bulgaria's rampant corruption
| url = http://www.france24.com/en/20080328-barroso-slams-bulgarias-rampant-corruption
| agency = AFP
| work = France 24
| publisher =
| location =
| id =
| date = 2008-03-28
| accessdate = 2008-10-15
| accessdaymonth =
| accessmonthday =
| accessyear =
| language =
| quote = "High-level corruption and organised crime have no place in the European Union and cannot be tolerated," Barroso said after talks with Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev... Barroso arrived on a one-day visit to Sofia on Friday amid a high-level corruption scandal that has shaken Stanishev's centre-left government... Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007 but continues to face strong criticism from Brussels for failing to root out high-level corruption and put well-known criminal bosses behind bars.

Corruption concerns also prompted Brussels recently to partly freeze pre-accession subsidy payments of at least 450 million euros still due to the EU newcomer.
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
}}
</ref>

Bulgaria has tamed its inflation since the deep economic crisis in 1996–1997, but {{As of|2008|alt= latest}} figures show an increase in the inflation-rate to 12.5% for 2007. Unemployment declined from more than 17% in the mid 1990s to nearly 7% in 2007, but the unemployment-rate in some rural areas continues in high double-digits. Bulgaria's inflation means that the country's adoption of the [[euro]] might not take place until the year 2013–2014.<ref>
{{cite news
| first = Elena
| last = Koinova
| authorlink =
| title = Bulgaria to adopt the euro in 2013-2014, UniCredit says
| url = http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/bulgaria-to-adopt-the-euro-in-2013-2014-unicredit-says/id_29264/catid_67
| work = Sofia Echo
| publisher = Sofia Echo Media Ltd
| location =
| id =
| pages =
| page =
| date = 2008-05-12
| accessdate = 2008-09-01
| quote = Bulgaria and Romania would likely join the euro zone in 2013-2014, the analytical unit of UniCredit Group said in its latest report titled The Euro goes Eastwards.
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
}}
</ref>

Economic forecasts for 2005 and 2006 predicted continued growth for the economy. Economists predicted annual year-on-year GDP growth for 2005 and 2006 of 5.3% and 6.0% respectively. Forecasters expected industrial output in 2005 to rise by 11.9% from the previous year, and by 15.2% in 2006. Projections of unemployment envisaged 11.5% for 2005, 9% for 2006 and 7.25% for 2007.<ref>{{cite web|last=Associated |first=The |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/19/business/EU-FIN-ECO-Bulgaria-Growth.php |title=Bulgaria's economy grew by 6.2 percent on year in 1Q - International Herald Tribune |publisher=Iht.com |date= |accessdate=2009-01-02}}</ref> Unemployment remained relatively low at 6.3% for 2008. GDP growth in 2008 remained relatively high (6%), but it has largely been negative in 2009.

[[File:Kaliakra wind turbines.jpg|thumb|left|[[Wind turbine]]s near [[cape Kaliakra]]]]

===Agriculture===

Agricultural output has decreased overall since 1989, but production has grown in {{As of|2007|alt= recent years}}, and together with related industries like [[food processing]] it still plays a key role in the economy. Arable farming predominates over stock breeding. Agricultural equipment amounts to over 150,000 [[tractor]]s and 10,000 [[combine harvester]]s, as well as a large fleet of light aircraft.

Bulgaria ranks as one of the top world producers of agricultural commodities such as [[anise]] (6th in the world), [[sunflower seed]] (11th), [[Raspberry|raspberries]] (13th), [[tobacco]] (15th), [[chili pepper]]s (18th) and [[flax]] fibre (19th).<ref>[http://www.fao.org/es/ess/top/topproduction.html?lang=en&country=27&year=2005 FAO - Bulgaria country rank]</ref>

=== Energy ===
{{Main|Energy in Bulgaria|List of power stations in Bulgaria}}

Although Bulgaria has relatively few reserves of natural fuels such as [[oil]] and [[gas]], its well-developed energy sector plays a crucial role throughout the [[Balkans]]. The country's strategic geographical location makes it a major hub for transit and distribution of [[petroleum|oil]] and [[natural gas]] from Russia to Western Europe and to other Balkan states. In terms of electricity production per capita, it ranks fourth in [[Eastern Europe]].

The [[Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant| only Bulgarian nuclear power plant]] operates in the vicinity of [[Kozloduy]], and has a total capacity of {{nowrap|3,760 MW}}. Construction of a [[Belene Nuclear Power Plant|second]] nuclear power plant has {{as of | 2009 | alt = started}} near [[Belene]] with a projected capacity of {{nowrap|2,000 MW}}. [[Thermal power plant]]s (TPPs) provide a significant amount of energy, with most of the capacity concentrated in the [[Maritsa Iztok Complex]].

{{As of | 2009 | alt = Recent years}} have seen a steady increase in electricity production from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, although it still relies mostly on coal and nuclear powerplants.<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/energy/energy_policy/doc/factsheets/mix/mix_bg_en.pdf EU Energy factsheet about Bulgaria]</ref> Due to the abundance of forests and agricultural land, [[biomass]] can provide a viable source of electricity. Wind energy has large-scale prospects, with up to 3,400 MW of installed capacity potential.<ref>[http://www.energy.eu/renewables/factsheets/2008_res_sheet_bulgaria_en.pdf Bulgaria Renewable Energy Fact Sheet (EU)]</ref> {{As of | 2009}} Bulgaria operates more than 70 [[wind turbine]]s with a total capacity of 112.6 MW, and plans to increase their number nearly threefold to reach a total capacity of 300 MW in 2010.<ref>[http://www.profit.bg/news.php?id=50060 2010 г.: 300 мегавата мощности от вятърни централи], profit.bg, June 28, 2009
</ref>

=== Industry and mining ===
{{Main|Industry of Bulgaria}}
[[File:Elatsite mine Bulgaria.jpg|thumb|right|"Elatsite" gold and copper mine extracts about 13 million tonnes of ore annually, and produces about 42,000 tonnes of [[copper]], 1.6 tonnes of [[gold]] and 5.5 tonnes of [[silver]].<ref>[http://www.geotechmin.com/bg/elacite-med/ Елаците-Мед АД], Geotechmin group</ref>]]

Industry plays a key role in the economy. Although Bulgaria lacks large reserves of oil and gas, it produces significant quantities of minerals, metals and electricity.

Bulgaria ranks as a minor [[oil]] producer (97th in the world) with a total production of 3,520 bbl/day.<ref>
[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2173rank.html Oil producing countries rank table], CIA
</ref>
Prospectors discovered Bulgaria's first oil field near [[Tyulenovo]] in [[1951]]. [[Proved reserves]] amount to 15,000,000 bbl.
[[Natural gas]] production halted in the late 1990s. Proved reserves of natural gas amount to 5.663 bln. cu m.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2179rank.html Natural gas producing countries rank table], CIA</ref>

[[Mining]] is an important source of export earnings, and has become pivotal to the Bulgarian economy. The country ranks as the 19th largest [[coal]] producer in the world,<ref>''See [[List of countries by coal production]].''</ref> 9th largest [[bismuth]] producer,<ref>''See [[List of countries by bismuth production]]''</ref> 19th largest [[copper]] producer,<ref>''See [[List of countries by copper mine production]]''</ref> and the 26th largest [[zinc]] producer.<ref>''See [[List of countries by zinc production]]''</ref> Ferrous [[metallurgy]] also has major importance. Much of the production of [[steel]] and [[pig iron]] takes place in [[Kremikovtsi]] and [[Pernik]], with a third metallurgical base in [[Debelt]]. In production of steel and steel products per capita the country heads the [[Balkans]]. The largest refineries for [[lead]] and [[zinc]] operate in [[Plovdiv]] (the biggest refinery between Italy and the Ural mountains), [[Kardzhali]] and [[Novi Iskar]]; for [[copper]] in [[Pirdop]] and [[Eliseina]] (defunct {{as of | 2009 | lc = on}}); for [[aluminium]] in [[Shumen]]. In production of many metals ''per capita'', such as zinc and iron, Bulgaria ranks first in [[Eastern Europe]].

About 14% of the total industrial production relates to machine building, and 20% of the people work in this field.<ref>[http://geografia.kabinata.com/23.htm Geography of machine building in Bulgaria Factsheet]</ref> Its importance has decreased since 1989.

=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Bulgaria}}
[[File:H Maliovica IMG 3256.jpg|thumb|right|A view of [[Rila]] mountain]]

In 2007 a total of 5,200,000 tourists visited Bulgaria, making it the 39th most popular destination in the world.<ref>''See [[World Tourism rankings]]''</ref> Tourists from Greece, Romania and Germany account for 40% of visitors.<ref>[http://www.tourism.government.bg/bg/stat.php?menuid=3&id=3 Statistics from the Bulgarian Tourism Agency]</ref> Significant numbers of [[British people|British]] (+300,000), [[Russians|Russian]] (+200,000), [[Serbs|Serbian]] (+150,000), [[Poles|Polish]] (+130,000) and [[Danes|Danish]] (+100,000) tourists also visit Bulgaria. Most of them are attracted by the varying and beautiful landscapes, well-preserved historical and cultural heritage, and the tranquility of rural and mountain areas.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

Main destinations include the capital [[Sofia]], coastal resorts like [[Albena]], [[Sozopol]], [[Golden Sands]] and [[Sunny Beach]]; and winter resorts such as [[Pamporovo]], [[Chepelare]], [[Borovetz]] and [[Bansko]]. The rural tourist destinations of [[Arbanasi]] and [[Bozhentsi]] offer well-preserved ethnographic traditions. Other popular attractions include the 10th century [[Rila Monastery]] and the 19th century [[Euxinograd]] [[château]].

==Science, technology and telecommunications==
{{Main|Science and technology in Bulgaria|Communications in Bulgaria}}

Bulgaria spends only 0.4% of its GDP on scientific research,<ref>[http://www.vesti.bg/?tid=40&oid=1118233 Кабинетът одобри бюджета за 2008 г.], Вести.бг</ref> or roughly $ 376 million on a 2008 basis. The country has a strong tradition in mathematics, astronomy, physics, nuclear technology and sciences-oriented education, and has significant experience in medical and pharmaceutical research. The [[Bulgarian Academy of Sciences]] (BAS), the leading scientific institution in the country, employs most of Bulgaria's researchers working in its numerous branches.

[[File:Rozhen dome.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Tower of the {{convert|200|cm|0|abbr=on}} telescope at the [[Rozhen Observatory]], the largest astronomical observatory in [[Southeastern Europe]].]]

Bulgarian scientists have made several important discoveries and inventions that have revolutionized global society: [[Atanasoff–Berry Computer|the world's first electronic digital computer]], designed by [[Bulgarian-American]] scientist [[John Vincent Atanasoff]]; the first electronic digital watch ([[Peter Petroff]]), the first purpose-built aircraft bombs (capt. [[Simeon Petrov]]); the molecular-kinetic theory of [[crystal formation]] and [[crystal growth]] (formulated by [[Ivan Stranski]]) and [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/photoelectret photoelectrets] ([[Georgi Nadjakov]]), the last forming an important step in the development of the first [[photocopier]] machine. Bulgaria was also the 6th country in the world to have an astronaut in space: [[major general|major-general]] [[Georgi Ivanov]] on [[Soyuz 33]] (1979), followed by [[lieutenant colonel|lieutenant-colonel]] [[Alexander Alexandrov]] on [[Soyuz TM-5]] (1988).<ref>''See [[Timeline of space travel by nationality]]''
</ref>

Among Bulgaria's most advanced scientific branches computer technology features highly{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}, and in the 1980s the country became known as the [[Silicon Valley]] of the [[Eastern Bloc]].<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CGN/is_3689/ai_54987368/ IT Services: Rila Establishes Bulgarian Beachhead in UK], findarticles.com, June 24, 1999</ref> According to the Brainbench Global IT IQ report, Bulgaria ranks first in Europe in terms of [[information technology|IT]]-certified specialists per capita<ref>
http://www.sharedxpertise.org/file/2251/forget-india-lets-go-to-bulgaria.html
</ref>
and 8th in the world in total [[Information and communication technologies|ICT]] specialists, out-performing countries with far larger populations.<ref name="outsourcingmonitor.eu">
http://www.outsourcingmonitor.eu/articles/outsourcing-to-bulgaria.html
</ref> In addition, Bulgaria operates the most powerful supercomputer in Eastern Europe (one of the top 100 in the world {{as of | 2009 | lc=on}}), an IBM [[Blue Gene]]/P, which entered service in September 2008 at the State Agency of Information Technology.<ref>
[http://dnes.dir.bg/2008/09/09/news3363693.html#sepultura Вече си имаме и суперкомпютър], Dir.bg, 9 September 2008
</ref> The years after 2000 have seen a rapid increase in the number of Internet users: in 2000, they numbered 430,000, in 2004 – 1,545,100, and in 2006 – 2.2 million.<ref>[http://www.internetworldstats.com/eu/bg.htm Bulgaria
Internet Usage Stats and Market Report]</ref>

== Education ==
{{main|Education in Bulgaria}}

[[File:Sofia University - Chem 3.jpg|thumb|170px|right|[[Sofia University]]'s Faculty of chemistry]]

Education in Bulgaria is overseen by the [[Ministry of Education and Science (Bulgaria)|Ministry of Education and Science]]. Full-time education is mandatory for all children aged between 7 and 16. Six-year olds can be enrolled at school at their parents' discretion. Education at state schools is free of charge, except for higher education establishments, colleges and universities. The curriculum focuses on eight main subjects: [[Bulgarian language]] and literature, foreign languages, [[mathematics]], information technologies, social sciences and civics, natural sciences and ecology, [[music]] and [[art]], physical education and [[sports]].

In 2003, the [[literacy rate]] was estimated to be 98.6 percent, being approximately the same for both sexes. Traditionally Bulgarian educational standards have been high.<ref>"Country Profile: Bulgaria." Library of Congress Country Studies Program. October 2006. p6. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Bulgaria.pdf</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Bulgaria}}

Bulgaria occupies a unique and strategically important geographic location. Since ancient times, the country has served as a major crossroads between [[Europe]], [[Asia]] and [[Africa]]. Five of the ten [[Pan-European corridors|Trans-European corridors]] run through its territory. Bulgaria's roads have a total length of {{convert|102016|km|abbr=on}}, {{convert|93855|km|abbr=on}} of them paved and {{convert|441|km|abbr=on}} of them motorways. The country has several motorways in planning, under construction, or partially built: [[Trakiya motorway]], [[Hemus motorway]], [[Cherno More motorway]], [[Struma motorway]], [[Maritza motorway]] and [[Lyulin motorway]].

[[File:Trakiya highway 03.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Trakiya motorway]]
[[File:Bulgariaair b737-300 lz-bou arp.jpg|thumb|left|170px|A [[Boeing 737-300]] of [[Bulgaria Air]]]]

Bulgaria also has {{convert|6500|km|abbr=on}} of railway track, more than 60% electrified. A €360,000,000 project exists for the modernisation and electrification of the [[Plovdiv]]–[[Kapitan Andreevo]] railway. The only [[high-speed rail]]way in the region, between Sofia and Vidin, will operate by 2017, at a cost of €3,000,000,000.<ref>[http://botevgrad.com/news/?itemId=9124 Влак-стрела ще минава през Ботевград до 2017 г.]
</ref>

Air travel has developed relatively comprehensively. Bulgaria has six official international airports &nbsp;— at [[Sofia]], [[Burgas]], [[Varna]], [[Plovdiv]], [[Rousse]] and [[Gorna Oryahovitsa]]. After the fall of communism in 1989, most of the smaller domestic airports stood unused as the importance of domestic flights declined. The country has many military airports and agricultural airfields. 128 of the 213 [[airports]] in Bulgaria are paved.

The most important ports by far, [[Varna]] and [[Burgas]], have the largest turnover. Like Burgas, [[Sozopol]], [[Nesebar]] and [[Pomorie]] support large fishing fleets. Large ports on the Danube River include [[Rousse]] and [[Lom, Bulgaria|Lom]] (which serves the capital).

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Bulgaria}}

According to the 2001 [[census]],<ref>
[http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos.htm National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria]. Retrieved 31 July 2006
</ref>
Bulgaria's population consists mainly of [[Bulgarians|ethnic Bulgarian]]s (83.9%), with two sizable minorities, [[Turkish people|Turks]] (9.4%) and [[Roma in Bulgaria|Roma]] (4.7%).<ref>
The Ministry of Interior estimates various numbers (between 600,000 and 750,000) of [[Roma in Bulgaria]]; nearly half of Roma traditionally self-identify ethnically as Turkish or Bulgarian.
</ref>
Of the remaining 2.0%, 0.9% comprises some 40 smaller minorities, most prominently in numbers the [[Russians]], [[Armenians in Bulgaria|Armenians]], [[Arabs in Bulgaria|Arabs]], [[Vlachs]], [[Bulgarian Jewry|Jews]], [[Crimean Tatars in Bulgaria|Crimean Tatars]] and [[Sarakatsani]] (historically known also as Karakachans). 1.1% of the population did not declare their ethnicity in the latest census in 2001.

The 2001 census defines an ethnic group as a "community of people, related to each other by origin and language, and close to each other by mode of life and culture"; and one's mother tongue as "the language a person speaks best and usually uses for communication in the family (household)".<ref name="culturalpolicies.net">{{cite web |author=Cultrual Policies and Trends in Europe |title=Population by ethnic group and mother tongue, 2001|url=http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/bulgaria.php?aid=421 |accessdate=2008-12-02}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Native Language !! By ethnic group !! Percentage !! By first language !! Percentage
|-
|[[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] || 6,655,000 || 83.93% ||6,697,000 || 84.46%
|-
|[[Turkish language|Turkish]] || 747,000 || 9.42% ||763,000 || 9.62%
|-
|[[Roma language|Gypsies]] (roma) || 371,000 || 4.67% || 328,000|| 4.13%
|-
|Others || 69,000|| 0.87% || 71,000 || 0.89%
|-
|Total|| 7,929,000|| 100% || 7,929,000 || 100% <ref name="culturalpolicies.net"/>
|}

In {{As of|2008|alt= recent}} years Bulgaria has had one of the lowest population growth rates in the world. Negative population growth has occurred since the early 1990s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2287183,00.html |title=Will EU Entry Shrink Bulgaria's Population Even More? &#124; Europe &#124; Deutsche Welle &#124; 26.12.2006 |publisher=Dw-world.de |date= |accessdate=2009-01-02}}
</ref>
due to economic collapse and high emigration. In 1989 the population comprised 9,009,018 people, gradually falling to 7,950,000 in 2001 and 7,606,000 in 2009.<ref name="nsi">[http://www.nsi.bg/ZActual_e/PopByAge08.htm information source - NSI population table as of 31.12.2008]</ref> {{As of|2009}} The population had a fertility-rate of 1.48 children per woman in 2008. The fertility rate will need to reach 2.2 to restore natural growth in population.

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Bulgaria}}
[[File:Bratsigovo-church-St-John-Precursor-dome-inside.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The interior of a church in [[Bratsigovo]]]]

Most Bulgarians (82.6%) belong, at least nominally, to the [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church]]. Founded in 870&nbsp;AD under the [[Patriarchate of Constantinople]] (from which it obtained its first [[Primate (religion)|primate]], its clergy and theological texts), the Orthodox Church had [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] status from 927 AD. Other religious denominations include [[Islam]] (12.2%), various [[Protestant]] denominations (0.8%) and [[Roman Catholicism]] (0.5%); with other denominations, atheists and undeclared totalling approximately 4.1%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bulgaria|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bu.html}}</ref> Bulgaria is officially a [[secular state]] and the Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion but appoints Orthodoxy as an official religion. In the 2001 census, 82.6% of the people declared themselves Orthodox Christians, 12,2% Muslim, 1.2% other Christian denominations, 4% other religions ([[Buddhism]], [[Taoism]], [[Hinduism]], [[Judaism]]).

[[Islam in Bulgaria|Islam]] came to the country at the end of the fourteenth century after the conquest of the country by the [[Ottomans]]. In the sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries, missionaries from Rome converted [[Paulicians]] from the districts of [[Plovdiv]] and [[Svishtov]] to [[Roman Catholicism]]. {{As of | 2009}} Bulgaria's [[Bulgarian Jews|Jewish community]], once one of the largest in Europe, numbers less than 2,000 people.

===Urban geography===
{{See also|List of cities and towns in Bulgaria|List of villages in Bulgaria|List of rivers of Bulgaria|List of islands of Bulgaria|List of reservoirs and dams in Bulgaria}}

This list details the twenty largest cities in Bulgaria.<ref>Head Direction of Residential Registration and Administrative Service. [http://grao.bg/tna/tab01.html Population table by permanent and present address as of 15 March 2008].</ref>

{{Largest cities of Bulgaria}}

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Bulgaria}}
{{See also|List of famous Bulgarians|Bulgarian customs|Music of Bulgaria|Bulgarian artists|Bulgarian dances|Bulgarian cuisine|UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria}}

[[File:Gallery for Foreign Art TodorBozhinov 041009.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[National Gallery of Foreign Art]], housing numerous examples of European, Asian and African art, including works by [[Rembrandt]], [[Albrecht Dürer]], [[Salvador Dali]] and many others.]]
[[File:Todorovden Bulgaria St Theodore's Day by Klearchos.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A decorated horse, prepared for a race. Horseraces take place each year to mark ''Todorovden'' (St. Theodore's day).]]

A number of ancient civilizations, most notably the [[Thracians]], [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]], [[Ancient Rome|Romans]], [[Slavs]], and [[Bulgars]], have left their mark on the culture, history and heritage of Bulgaria. Thracian artifacts include numerous tombs and golden treasures, while ancient Bulgars have left traces of their heritage in music and early architecture. Both the First and the Second Bulgarian empires functioned as the hub of [[Slavic Europe]] during much of the Middle Ages, exerting considerable literary and cultural influence over the Eastern Orthodox Slavic world by means of the [[Preslav Literary School|Preslav]] and [[Ohrid Literary School]]s. The [[Cyrillic alphabet]], used in many languages in Eastern Europe and Asia, originated in these two schools in the tenth century AD.

Today Bulgaria has nine [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]s – the early medieval rock relief [[Madara Rider]], two Thracian tombs (in [[Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari|Sveshtari]] and [[Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak|Kazanlak]]), the [[Boyana Church]], the [[Rila Monastery]] and the [[Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo]], [[Pirin National Park]] and [[Srebarna Nature Reserve|Sreburna Nature Reserve]], as well as the ancient city of [[Nesebar]]. Another important historical artifact is the oldest treasure of worked [[gold]] in the world, dating back to the 5th millennium BC, coming from the site of the [[Varna Necropolis]].<ref>[http://www.articlearchives.com/reports-reviews-sections/chronologies/545649-1.html New perspectives on the Varna cemetery (Bulgaria)], By: Higham, Tom; Chapman, John; Slavchev, Vladimir; Gaydarska, Bisserka; Honch, Noah; Yordanov, Yordan; Dimitrova, Branimira; September 1, 2007
</ref>

The country has a long-standing musical tradition, traceable back to the early [[Middle Ages]]. One of the earliest known composers of [[Medieval Europe]] was [[Yoan Kukuzel]] (ca. [[1280]]–[[1360]]). National folk music has a distinctive sound and uses a wide range of traditional instruments, such as [[gadulka|gudulka]] (гъдулка), [[gaida]] (гайда) – [[bagpipe]], [[kaval]] (кавал) and [[davul|tupan]] (тъпан). Bulgaria also has a rich visual arts heritage, especially in [[fresco]]es, [[mural]]s and [[icon]]s, many of them produced by the medieval [[Painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School|Tarnovo Artistic School]].<ref>Graba, A. ''La peinture religiouse en Bulgarie'', Paris, 1928, p. 95</ref>

Exports of [[Bulgarian wine]] go worldwide, and until 1990 the country exported the world's second-largest total of bottled wine. As of 2007, the country produced 200,000 tonnes of wine annually,<ref>[http://www.investor.bg/?cat=5&id=60913]</ref> ranking 20th in the world.<ref>See [[List of wine-producing countries]]</ref> Bulgaria also produces large amounts of [[beer]] and [[rakia]] (mostly home-brewed). [[Lukanka]], [[banitsa]], [[shopska salad]], [[lyutenitsa]], [[sirene]] and [[kozunak]] are distinctive for Bulgaria's cuisine.

==Sports==
{{Main|Sport in Bulgaria|Football in Bulgaria|Bulgaria at the Olympics|Bulgaria men's national volleyball team}}
[[File:Kotooshu winning Emperor's Cup 2008 May.jpg|thumb|left|170px|[[Sumo wrestling|Sumo wrestler]] [[Kotoōshū Katsunori|Kotoōshū]] (Kaloyan Mahlyanov), the first [[European]] to receive the Emperor's Cup (May 2008).]]

Bulgaria performs high in sports such as [[volleyball]], [[wrestling]], [[weight-lifting]], [[shooting sports]], [[gymnastics]], [[chess]], and recently, [[sumo wrestling]] and [[tennis]]. The country fields one of the leading men's [[volleyball]] teams in [[Europe]] and the world, ranked 4th in the world according to the 2009 [[FIVB]] rankings.<ref>[http://www.fivb.org/en/volleyball/Rankings/Rank_men_2009_01.asp FIVB official rankings as per January 15, 2009]</ref>

[[Association football|Football]] has become by far the most popular sport in the country. [[Dimitar Berbatov]] (Димитър Бербатов) is one of the most famous Bulgarian football players of the 21st century. The most prominent domestic football clubs include [[PFC CSKA Sofia]] (ranked as the best-performing Bulgarian football club)<ref>[http://bgclubs.eu/ranking/points Rankings of A Group]</ref><ref>[http://www.iffhs.de/?a413f0e03790c443e0f40390b41be8b01905fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aeedb883ccb05ff1d Best club of 20th century ranking at the official site of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics]</ref> and [[PFC Levski Sofia]], which became the first Bulgarian team to participate in the modern [[UEFA Champions League]] in 2006/2007.

Bulgaria participates both in the Summer and Winter Olympics, and its first appearance dates back to the [[1896 Summer Olympics|first modern Olympic games]] in [[1896]], when the Swiss gymnast [[Charles Champaud]] represented the country. Since then Bulgaria has appeared in most Summer Olympiads, and by 2008 had won a total of 212 medals: 51 gold, 84 silver, and 77 bronze.

==See also==
{{portalpar|European Union|Flag of Europe.svg|65}}
{{portalpar|Bulgaria|Flag of Bulgaria.svg|65}}
{{Main|Outline of Bulgaria}}
*[[List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria]]
*[[List of Bulgarian monarchs]]
*[[History of Communist Bulgaria]]
*[[Bulgarian resistance movement during World War II]]

==Notes==
<!-- Beware: long URLs get mangled in multi-column format -->
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
| last = Jiriček
| first = Constantin Josef
| authorlink = Konstantin Josef Jireček
| title = History of the Bulgarians (Geschichte der Bulgaren)
| publisher = Textor Verlag GmbH, digital facsimile of the book published in Prague, 1878
| year = 2008
| location = Frankfurt
| pages = 587 pages
| language = German
| isbn = 3-938402-11-3
| url = http://www.dibido.eu/bookdetails.aspx?bookID=6162dbf4-b275-4287-8c36-f6e29ce2b5cb }}
* Crampton, R. J. ''A Concise History of Bulgaria'' (2005) Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521616379
* Detrez, Raymond ''Historical Dictionary of Bulgaria'' (2006) Second Edition lxiv + 638 pp. Maps, bibliography, appendix, chronology ISBN 978-0-8108-4901-3
* Lampe, John R., and Marvin R. Jackson ''Balkan Economic History, 1550-1950: From Imperial Borderlands to Developing Nations'' (1982)
* Lampe, John R. ''The Bulgarian Economy in the Twentieth Century'' (1986) London: Croom Helm ISBN 0709916442

===Pre 1939===
*Monroe, W. S. "[http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator:%22Monroe,%20W.%20S.%20(Will%20Seymour),%201863-1939%22 Bulgaria and her people, with an account of the Balkan wars, Macedonia, and the Macedonian Bulgars (1914)]"
* Fox, Frank, Sir ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/22257 Bulgaria]'' (1915) London: A. and C. Black, Ltd., book scanned by [[Project Gutenberg]]
* Hall, Richard C. ''Bulgaria's Road to the First World War'' (1996) New York: Columbia University Press ISBN 088033357X
* {{cite book
| last = MacDermott
| first = Mercia
| authorlink =
| title = A History of Bulgaria, 1393-1885
| publisher = Allen & Unwin
| location = London
| year = 1962
| url = http://www.questia.com/library/book/a-history-of-bulgaria-1393-1885-by-mercia-macdermott.jsp }}
* Perry, Duncan M. ''Stefan Stambolov and the Emergence of Modern Bulgaria, 1870-1895'' (1993) Durham: Duke University Press ISBN 0822313138
* {{cite book
| last = Runciman
| first = Steven
| authorlink = Steven Runciman
| title = A History of the First Bulgarian Empire
| publisher = G. Bell & Sons, London
| year = 1930
| url = http://www.questia.com/library/book/a-history-of-the-first-bulgarian-empire-by-steven-runciman.jsp }}
*{{cite web
| last = Zlatarski
| first = Vasil N.
| title = Prof. Dr.
| work = Medieval History of the Bulgarian State
| publisher = Royal Printing House, Sofia
|year=1934
| language = Bulgarian
| url = http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/vz2/index.html
| accessdate = 2007-08-05}} (Васил Н. Златарски, История на българската държава през средните векове, Част II, II изд., Наука и изкуство, София 1970)

===World War II===
* [[Michael Bar-Zohar|Bar-Zohar, Michael]] ''Beyond Hitler's Grasp: The Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria's Jews''
* [[Stephane Groueff|Groueff, Stephane]] ''Crown of Thorns: The Reign of King Boris III of Bulgaria, 1918–1943''
* [[Tzvetan Todorov|Todorov, Tzvetan]] ''The fragility of goodness: why Bulgaria’s Jews survived the Holocaust: a collection of texts with commentary'' (2001) Princeton: Princeton University Press ISBN 0691088322

===Communist era===
* Todorov, Tzvetan ''Voices from the Gulag: Life and Death in Communist Bulgaria''
* Dimitrova, Alexenia ''The Iron Fist&nbsp;— Inside the Bulgarian secret archives''

==={{As of|2007|alt= Contemporary}}===
* Bell, John D., ed. (1998). ''Bulgaria in Transition: Politics, Economics, Society, and Culture after Communism''. Westview. ISBN 978-0813390109
* {{cite book| last = Ghodsee| first = Kristen| title = The Red Riviera: Gender, Tourism and Postsocialism on the Black Sea| origyear = 2005| publisher = Duke University Press| location = Durham| isbn = 978-0-8223-3662-4| url = http://www.dukeupress.edu/cgibin/forwardsql/search.cgi?template0=nomatch.htm&template2=books/book_detail_page.htm&user_id=18255&Bmain.Btitle_option=1&Bmain.Btitle=The+Red+Riviera&Bmain.Subtitle=%3A+Gender,+Tourism,+and+Postsocialism+on+the+Black+Sea}}
* {{cite book| last = Ghodsee| first = Kristen| title = Muslim Lives in Eastern Europe: Gender, Ethnicity and the Transformation of Islam in Postsocialist Bulgaria| origyear = 2009| publisher = Princeton University Press| location = Princeton| isbn = 978-0-691-13955-5| url = http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9068.html}}


===Guide-books===
* Annie Kay ''Bradt Guide: Bulgaria''
* Paul Greenway ''Lonely Planet World Guide: Bulgaria''
* Pettifer, James ''Blue Guide: Bulgaria''
* Timothy Rice ''Music of Bulgaria''
* Jonathan Bousfield ''The Rough Guide To Bulgaria''

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|Bulgaria}}

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;Government
* [http://www.government.bg/ Official governmental site]
* [http://www.president.bg/en/index.php President of The Republic of Bulgaria]
* [http://www.parliament.bg/?page=home&lng=en&r=n National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-b/bulgaria.html Chief of State and Cabinet Members]
;General information
* {{CIA World Factbook link|bu|Bulgaria}}
* [http://www.state.gov/p/eur/ci/bu/ Bulgaria] information from the [[United States Department of State]]
* [http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/european/bulgaria/bg.html Portals to the World] from the United States [[Library of Congress]]
* [http://www.bulgariasfinest.com/Eco-Friendly-Bulgaria.aspx Article Eco Friendly Bulgaria]
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/bulgaria.htm Bulgaria] at ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Bulgaria}}
{{wikiatlas|Bulgaria}}
* [http://www.bulgariagazette.com Bulgaria Gazette]
;Travel
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://www.motoroads.com/bulgaria-travel-video.aspx Bulgaria - video presentations from Bulgaria Tourism Authority]
* [http://www.guide-bulgaria.com/ All cities and villages]
* [http://www.slidespost.com/zoom.php?id=2306 The mountains of Bulgaria]
* [http://www.panoramio.com/user/1018024 Image Gallery of Bulgaria]
* [http://imagesfrombulgaria.com/ Image Gallery of Bulgaria under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License]
* [http://raskoll.com Large Image Gallery of Bulgaria]
;Art
* [http://www.bulgarianfinearts.com Bulgarian fine arts: online gallery]
* [http://www.modernbulgarianartists.com Catalog of modern Bulgarian artists]

{{Bulgaria topics}}
{{Template group
|title = Geographic locale
|list =
{{Provinces of Bulgaria}}
{{Danube}}
{{Countries bordering the Black Sea}}
{{Balkan countries}}
{{Countries of Europe}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{Members of the European Union (EU)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{Black Sea Naval Co-operation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR)}}
{{Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty}}
{{La Francophonie|state=collapsed}}
{{Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)}}
{{Slavic-speaking nations}}
}}

[[Category:Bulgaria| ]]
[[Category:European sovereign states]]
[[Category:European Union member states]]
[[Category:Black Sea countries]]
[[Category:Member states of La Francophonie]]
[[Category:Liberal democracies]]
[[Category:Former monarchies]]
[[Category:Former empires]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Slavic countries]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 681]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1878]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1908]]

{{link FA|af}}
<!--Other languages-->

[[ace:Bulgaria]]
[[af:Bulgarye]]
[[als:Bulgarien]]
[[am:ቡልጋሪያ]]
[[ang:Pulgaraland]]
[[ar:بلغاريا]]
[[an:Bulgaria]]
[[arc:ܒܠܓܪܝܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Vurgaria]]
[[frp:Bulgarie]]
[[ast:Bulgaria]]
[[gn:Vugaria]]
[[az:Bolqarıstan]]
[[bn:বুলগেরিয়া]]
[[zh-min-nan:Bulgariya]]
[[be:Балгарыя]]
[[be-x-old:Баўгарыя]]
[[bcl:Bulgarya]]
[[bar:Bulgarien]]
[[bo:པུ་ར་ག་རི་ཡ]]
[[bs:Bugarska]]
[[br:Bulgaria]]
[[bg:България]]
[[ca:Bulgària]]
[[cv:Болгари]]
[[ceb:Bulgaria]]
[[cs:Bulharsko]]
[[co:Bulgaria]]
[[cy:Bwlgaria]]
[[da:Bulgarien]]
[[pdc:Bulgarien]]
[[de:Bulgarien]]
[[dv:ބަލްގޭރިއާ]]
[[nv:Bálgaa Bikéyah]]
[[dsb:Bulgarska]]
[[et:Bulgaaria]]
[[el:Βουλγαρία]]
[[eml:Bulgarî]]
[[myv:Болгария Мастор]]
[[es:Bulgaria]]
[[eo:Bulgario]]
[[ext:Bulgária]]
[[eu:Bulgaria]]
[[ee:Bulgaria]]
[[fa:بلغارستان]]
[[hif:Bulgaria]]
[[fo:Bulgaria]]
[[fr:Bulgarie]]
[[fy:Bulgarije]]
[[fur:Bulgarie]]
[[ga:An Bhulgáir]]
[[gv:Yn Vulgeyr]]
[[gd:Bulgàiria]]
[[gl:Bulgaria - България]]
[[got:𐌱𐌿𐌻𐌲𐌰𐍂𐌹𐌰]]
[[hak:Pó-kâ-li-â]]
[[xal:Болгармудн Орн Нутг]]
[[ko:불가리아]]
[[haw:Pulukalia]]
[[hy:Բուլղարիա]]
[[hi:बुल्गारिया]]
[[hsb:Bołharska]]
[[hr:Bugarska]]
[[io:Bulgaria]]
[[ilo:Bulgaria]]
[[bpy:বুলগেরিয়া]]
[[id:Bulgaria]]
[[ia:Bulgaria]]
[[ie:Bulgaria]]
[[os:Болгари]]
[[is:Búlgaría]]
[[it:Bulgaria]]
[[he:בולגריה]]
[[jv:Bulgaria]]
[[kl:Bulgarien]]
[[kn:ಬಲ್ಗೇರಿಯ]]
[[pam:Bulgaria]]
[[ka:ბულგარეთი]]
[[ks:बुल्गारिया]]
[[csb:Bùlgarskô]]
[[kk:Бұлғарстан]]
[[kw:Bulgari]]
[[ky:Болгария]]
[[sw:Bulgaria]]
[[kv:Болгария]]
[[kg:Balgaria]]
[[ht:Bilgari]]
[[ku:Bulgaristan]]
[[lad:Bulgaria]]
[[la:Bulgaria]]
[[lv:Bulgārija]]
[[lb:Bulgarien]]
[[lt:Bulgarija]]
[[lij:Bulgâia]]
[[li:Bölgarieë]]
[[ln:Bulgaria]]
[[jbo:bulgarias]]
[[lmo:Bulgaria]]
[[hu:Bulgária]]
[[mk:Бугарија]]
[[ml:ബള്‍ഗേറിയ]]
[[mt:Bulgarija]]
[[mr:बल्गेरिया]]
[[arz:بولجاريا]]
[[ms:Bulgaria]]
[[mn:Болгар]]
[[nah:Bulgaria]]
[[na:Borgeriya]]
[[nl:Bulgarije]]
[[nds-nl:Bulgarije]]
[[ne:बुल्गेरिया]]
[[new:बुल्गेरिया]]
[[ja:ブルガリア]]
[[nap:Bulgaria]]
[[ce:Болгаре]]
[[pih:Bulgeriya]]
[[no:Bulgaria]]
[[nn:Bulgaria]]
[[nrm:Bulgarie]]
[[nov:Bulgaria]]
[[oc:Bulgaria]]
[[uz:Bolgariya]]
[[pnb:بلغاریہ]]
[[ps:بلغاريه/بلغارستان]]
[[pms:Bulgarìa]]
[[tpi:Balgeria]]
[[nds:Bulgarien]]
[[pl:Bułgaria]]
[[pnt:Βουλγαρία]]
[[pt:Bulgária]]
[[crh:Bulğaristan]]
[[ksh:Bulljaarije]]
[[ro:Bulgaria]]
[[rmy:Bulgariya]]
[[rm:Bulgaria]]
[[qu:Bulgarya]]
[[ru:Болгария]]
[[sah:Болгария]]
[[se:Bulgária]]
[[sm:Bultalia]]
[[sa:बुल्गारिया]]
[[sc:Bulgaria]]
[[sco:Bulgarie]]
[[stq:Bulgarien]]
[[sq:Bullgaria]]
[[scn:Bulgarìa]]
[[simple:Bulgaria]]
[[sk:Bulharsko]]
[[cu:Блъгарі́ꙗ]]
[[sl:Bolgarija]]
[[szl:Bułgaryjo]]
[[srn:Bulgarikondre]]
[[sr:Бугарска]]
[[sh:Bugarska]]
[[fi:Bulgaria]]
[[sv:Bulgarien]]
[[tl:Bulgaria]]
[[ta:பல்கேரியா]]
[[roa-tara:Bulgarie]]
[[te:బల్గేరియా]]
[[tet:Bulgária]]
[[th:ประเทศบัลแกเรีย]]
[[tg:Булғористон]]
[[tr:Bulgaristan]]
[[tk:Bolgariýa]]
[[udm:Болгария]]
[[uk:Болгарія]]
[[ur:بلغاریہ]]
[[ug:بۇلغارىيە]]
[[vec:Bulgaria]]
[[vi:Bungary]]
[[vo:Bulgarän]]
[[fiu-vro:Bulgaaria]]
[[wa:Bulgåreye]]
[[zh-classical:保加利亞]]
[[vls:Bulgareye]]
[[war:Bulgarya]]
[[wo:Bulgaari]]
[[wuu:保加利亚]]
[[yi:בולגאריע]]
[[yo:Bugaria]]
[[zh-yue:保加利亞]]
[[diq:Bulğarıstan]]
[[zea:Bulharije]]
[[bat-smg:Bulgarėjė]]
[[zh:保加利亚]]

Revision as of 01:40, 15 November 2009

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