Country Information

Southeastern Europe.

110,994 sq km (42,855 sq miles).

6,981,642 (2013).

62.9 per sq km.

Sofia.

Democratic Republic since 1990.

Bulgaria is situated in Eastern Europe and bordered to the north by the River Danube and Romania, to the east by the Black Sea, to the south by Turkey and Greece and to the west by Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Balkan Mountains cross the country reaching to the edge of the Black Sea and its golden beaches. The land is heavily cultivated, covered with forests and crossed by rivers. Although Bulgaria lies in the very southeast corner of Europe, the climate is never extreme in summer, even on the red-earthed plains of Southern Thrace. The Black Sea resorts have some of the largest beaches in Europe and offer sunbathing from May until October, while in winter heavy falls of snow are virtually guaranteed in the mountain ski resorts.

Bulgarian is the official language and the Cyrillic alphabet is used - Bulgaria is the only EU nation to use it. Turkish and Macedonian are amongst the minority languages. English, German, French and Russian are spoken in major tourist resorts and hotels.

The majority of the population are Christian, the main denomination being Bulgarian Orthodox Church with a membership of 83% of the population. Eastern Orthodox Christianity is considered to be the traditional religion in Bulgaria. There is also a significant Muslim minority (13%) and a small Jewish community.

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Normal courtesies should be observed and handshaking is the normal form of greeting. Dress should be conservative but casual. If invited to the home, a small souvenir from one's homeland is an acceptable gift, and something for their children is always welcome. Do not give money. Remember that a nod of the head means 'No' and a shake means 'Yes'.

Smoking: Bulgarian restaurants, cafés and nightclubs have zones for smokers and non-smokers. There is no smoking in public places.

220-240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are two-pin.

Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski since 2013.

President Rosen Plevneliev since 2012.

The centre-right GERB party, led by Boiko Borisov, won the latest election in summer 2009. Voters punished the Socialist-led governing coalition of Sergei Stanishev for failing to crack down on corruption and organised crime. Mr Borisov has promised to jail corrupt officials and mafia bosses and pull the country out of its worst economic downturn in years. President Georgi Parvanov won a second term in the October 2006 presidential elections. His role is mainly ceremonial.