BULGARIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

LOCATION: Located on the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria extends from the western shore of the Black Sea to Yugoslavia and Macedonia in the west. In the north, the Danube River forms the greater part of Bulgaria's common border with Romania. Greece and European Turkey lie to the south and southeast of Bulgaria.

The country is divided roughly into three parallel east-west zones: the Danubian tableland in the north, the Stara Planina (or Balkan) Mountains in the center, and the Thracian Plain and the Rhodope and Pirin Mountains in the south and southwest. About one- third of the country lies at an altitude of 500 meters (1,640 ft.) above sea level. The average elevation is 480 meters (1,575 ft.) above sea level.

AREA: 110,987 sq. km. (44,365 sq. mi.).

POPULATION: 8 190 876, population in towns 5 578 000, population growth -4,8 ⁰/₀₀

CAPITAL: Sofia (pop. 1,114,759).

MAIN TOWNS: Plovdiv (377,637), Varna (297,090), Bourgas (188,367), and Rousse (185,425).

CLIMATE: On the fringe of the humid continental climate zone. The weather varies considerably from year to year, as do the several climatic subzones within the country. Summer temperatures average about 24 C (75 F); winter temperatures average around 0 C (32 F). Annual precipitation averages 63 centimeters (25 in.).

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Bulgarian.

LEGAL SYSTEM: Parliamentary Republic

Unicameral National Assembly of 240 deputies (last election date 17 June 2001):

• 120 seats for the Simeon II National Movement
• 51 seats for the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF)
• 48 seats for the For Bulgaria
• 21 seats for the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS)

HEAD OF STATE: George Parvanov - President (since 22 January 2002).

PRIME MINISTER: Simeon Borisov Sakskoburggotski (NDSV) (since 24 July 2001).

ETHNIC GROUPS: Bulgarian 87.8%, Turk 8.5%, Gypsy 2.6%, other 1.1%

RELIGIONS: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Catholic 0.7%, and other 0.5%

NATIONAL HOLIDAY: 3 March - The Day of the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman Rule (1878).

OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS:

1 January New Year`s Day 1 May Labour Day 6 May Day of the Bulgarian Army 24 May Day of Cirillic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightment and Culture 6 September The Union of Eastern Rumelia and the Bulgarian Principality 22 September Independence Day 1 November Leaders of the Bulgarian National Revival Day 24 - 26 December Christmas, Easter

ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATION: 28 districts.

TRANSPORT: The railway transport is of great significance for the country. The total length of the railway network is 7,353 km, and of the road network is 31,404 km. The sea and river (along the Danube river) fleet take an active part in the trade of the country. The major sea ports are Varna and Bourgas, and the main Danube ports are Rousse, Lom, Svishtov, Vidin. There is a ferry-boat connection between Vidin and Kalafat (Romania). The main airports are: Sofia Airport, Bourgas Airport, Varna Airport, Plovdiv Airport.

CURRENCY: Lev (BGN). Currency board 1BGN = 1DEM

WEIGHT AND MEASURS: Metric system

Notes: Main Source of Information: National Statistical Institute, Council of Ministers