Bulgaria, a former Communist country that entered the EU on 1 January 2007, averaged more than 6% annual growth from 2004 to 2008, driven by significant amounts of bank lending, consumption, and foreign direct investment. Successive governments have demonstrated a commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but the global downturn sharply reduced domestic demand, exports, capital inflows, and industrial production. GDP contracted by 5.5% in 2009, and has been slow to recover in the years since. Despite having a favorable investment regime, including low, flat corporate income taxes, significant challenges remain. Corruption in public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime continue to hamper the country's investment climate and economic prospects.
$104.6 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$104.1 billion (2012 est.)
$103.3 billion (2011 est.)
0.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
0.8% (2012 est.)
1.8% (2011 est.)
$14,400 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$14,300 (2012 est.)
$14,100 (2011 est.)
agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 30.3%
services: 63% (2013 est.)
21.8% (2008)
1.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
3% (2012 est.)
2.551 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
agriculture: 7.1%
industry: 35.2%
services: 57.7% (2009)
11.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120 11.1% (2012 est.)
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel
1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
