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Bulgaria |
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Capital city: Sofia
Ethnic groups that make up the population: Bulgarian 83.6%, Turk 9.5%, Roma 4.6%, other 2.3% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, Jewish 0.1%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 2.3% Languages: Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic breakdown Literacy rate (Definition: age 15 and over can read and write): total population: 98.6%, Male: 99.1%, Female: 98.2% (2003 est.) Legal system:civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Industries: electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel GDP: $49.23 billion GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2002 est.) Currency: lev (BGL) School system: Education, compulsory to age 15, was once free at all levels. Extreme financial pressures have even led primary schools to charge some fees. Science and technical training are stressed in school, but the lack of modern equipment hampers advanced training. Entrance to secondary schools is determined by competitive exam, and urban students often can choose from five types of schools, each offering a different focus (such as math and science or foreign languages). A number of universities and three-year training institutions offer higher education. Family Unit: The family unit is strong and supportive of its members. Women usually work and take care of household responsibilities. Adult children often care for the elderly. Misc. interesting facts: The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878, but having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into NATO and the EU - with which it began accession negotiations in 2000. Handicrafts: Pottery, woodworking, and leather working are prominent. References: CIA Fact book http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
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