| ECONOMY |
| Overview |
Bulgaria,
a former communist country striving to enter the European
Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong
growth since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the
fall of the then socialist government. As a result, the government
became committed to economic reform and responsible fiscal
planning. A $300 million stand-by agreement negotiated with
the IMF at the end of 2001 has supported government efforts
to overcome high rates of poverty and unemployment. |
| GDP |
purchasing
power parity - $49.23 billion (2002 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate |
4.8% (2002
est.) |
| GDP
- per capita |
purchasing
power parity - $6,500 (2002 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector |
agriculture:
13.7%
industry: 28.5%
services: 57.9% (2001) |
| Population
below poverty line |
12.6% (2001
est.) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices) |
5.9% (2002
est.) |
| Labor
force |
3.83 million
(2000 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation |
agriculture
26%, industry 31%, services 43% (1998 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate |
18% (2002
est.) |
| Industries |
electricity,
gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery and
equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum,
nuclear fuel |
| Industrial
production growth rate |
2% (2002
est.) |
