A Balkan country with spectacular mountains and a coastline on the Black Sea, Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman empire for around 500 years, although the Orthodox tradition remained strong. Bulgarian is a Slavic language.

After the second world war the country was a satellite of the Soviet Union for nearly half a century. It celebrated success in its bid for integration into western alliances when it became a Nato member in March 2004.

Population: 7.8 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Sofia
Area: 110,994 sq km (42,855 sq miles)
Major language: Bulgarian
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 76 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 lev = 100 stotinki
Main exports: Chemicals and plastics, food and drink, tobacco, machine-building equipment

GNI per capita

: US $3,450 (World Bank, 2006)
Internet domain: .bg
International dialling code: +359