World Factbook
Bulgaria
Republika Bulgaria
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red meaning: white stands for peace, love, and freedom; green for the country's agricultural wealth; red for the independence struggle and military courage history: originally adopted in 1879 as a modified version of the Russian tricolor flag, using green instead of blue; the communist coat of arms was added to the flag in various forms between 1948 and 1990, when it was removed after the communist government collapsed
Capital
name
Sofia
etymology
named after the Church of Saint Sofia in the city, parts of which may date to the 4th century
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
42 41 N, 23 19 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Bulgaria
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991
amendment process
proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; passage requires three-fourths majority vote of National Assembly members in three ballots; signed by the National Assembly chairperson; note - under special circumstances, a "Grand National Assembly" is elected with the authority to write a new constitution and amend certain articles of the constitution, including those affecting basic civil rights and national sovereignty; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in each of several readings
Country name
former
Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Republic of Bulgaria
etymology
named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D.; the tribal name may come from the Turkic word bulga , or "mixed," referring to the blend of Turkic and Slavic ethnicities in the tribes
local long form
Republika Bulgaria
local short form
Bulgaria
conventional long form
Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form
Bulgaria
Independence
3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)
Legal system
civil law
Government type
parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Cassation consists of a chairman and approximately 72 judges organized into penal, civil, and commercial colleges; Supreme Administrative Court is organized into 2 colleges with various panels of 5 judges each; Constitutional Court consists of 12 justices) and resides outside the judiciary
subordinate courts
appeals courts; regional and district courts; administrative courts; courts martial
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court of Cassation and Supreme Administrative judges elected by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC (consists of 25 members with extensive legal experience) and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly and appointed by the president and the SJC; justices appointed for 9-year terms with renewal of 4 justices every 3 years
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly
chief of state
President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017)
election results
2021 : Rumen RADEV reelected president in second round; percent of vote in the first round - Rumen RADEV (independent) 49.4%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV (independent) 22.8%, Mustafa KARADAYI (DPS) 11.6%, Kostadin KOSTADINOV (Revival) 3.9%, Lozan PANOV (independent) 3.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in the second round - Rumen RADEV 66.7%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV 31.8%, neither 1.5% 2016: Rumen RADEV elected president in second round; percent of vote - Rumen RADEV (independent, supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party) 59.4%, Tsetska TSACHEVA (GERB) 36.2%, neither 4.5%
head of government
Prime Minister Rosen ZHELYAZKOV (since 16 January 2025)
most recent election date
14 and 21 November 2021
election/appointment process
president and vice president elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly
expected date of next election
fall 2026
National holiday
Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
National color(s)
white, green, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
10 (7 cultural, 3 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Boyana Church (c); Madara Rider (c); Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (c); Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (c); Rila Monastery (c); Ancient City of Nessebar (c); Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (c); Srebarna Nature Reserve (n); Pirin National Park (n); Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n)
Political parties
BSP for Bulgaria (electoral alliance of BSP, PKT, Ecoglasnost) Bulgarian Rise or BV Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB (alliance with SDS) Democratic Bulgaria or DB (electoral alliance of Yes! Bulgaria, DSB, and The Greens) Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB Ecoglasnost Green Movement or The Greens Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS Political Club Thrace or PKT Revival Stand Up.BG or IS.BG There is Such a People or ITN Union of Democratic Forces or SDS (alliance with GERB) Yes! Bulgaria We Continue the Change or PP We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria or PP-DB (electoral alliance of PP, DB, Yes! Bulgaria)
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
240 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
National Assembly (Narodno sabranie)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/27/2024
expected date of next election
October 2028
percentage of women in chamber
25%
parties elected and seats per party
Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Party (GERB) - Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) (66); We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (36); Revival (Vuzrazhdane) (33); Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) - New Beginning (29); Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) - United Left (19); Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (APS) (19); There is Such a People (PP-ITN) (17); Other (21)
National anthem(s)
title
“Mila Rodino” (Dear Homeland)
history
adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War
lyrics/music
Tsvetan RADOSLAVOV
National symbol(s)
lion
National coat of arms
Bulgaria’s coat of arms in the national colors of white, green, and red was adopted in 1997; the three lions are a national symbol for strength, courage, and leadership that was used during the country’s liberation movement in the 1870s and the kingdom period in the early 20th century; above the shield is the crown of Bulgaria (originally the crown of the medieval Bulgarian tsars) with a gold cross on top; a white scroll over the oak branches bears the Bulgarian national motto, “United we stand strong”
Administrative divisions
28 provinces ( oblasti , singular - oblast ); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Sofia-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 234-7973
chancery
1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 387 5770
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Stefka YOVCHEVA (since 7 May 2025)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
email address and website
office@bulgaria-embassy.org https://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/en/homepage/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[359] (2) 937-5209
embassy
16, Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408
telephone
[359] (2) 937-5100
mailing address
5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires H. Martin McDOWELL (since May 2025)
email address and website
acs_sofia@state.gov https://bg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction