Bulgaria is a country located in Southeastern Europe, on the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, and has a coastline along the Black Sea to the east.

Bulgaria covers an area of approximately 111,000 km² (about 42,857 square miles), making it slightly larger than the U.S. state of Tennessee or roughly the size of Iceland. It ranks as one of the larger countries in Europe and is the 10th largest in the European Union by land area.

The population of Bulgaria is around 6.4 million people (as of recent estimates in 2024–2025), with a declining trend due to low birth rates and emigration. The capital and largest city is Sofia, home to about 1.3 million inhabitants. Other major cities include Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas.

The official language is Bulgarian, a South Slavic language written in the Cyrillic alphabet (which was actually developed in the First Bulgarian Empire in the 9th century). The majority of the population is Eastern Orthodox Christian, with significant Muslim and other minorities.

Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic and has been a member of the European Union since 2007. As of January 1, 2026, it also joined the eurozone and uses the euro (€) as its currency.

The economy is classified as high-income by the World Bank. It is part of the European Single Market and relies mainly on services, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and tourism (especially along the Black Sea coast). Bulgaria is known for its beautiful mountains (like the Rila and Pirin ranges), historic sites (including ancient Thracian treasures and UNESCO-listed sites), rose oil production (world-famous Valley of the Roses), and diverse nature ranging from beaches to ski resorts.

Despite challenges like population decline and slower economic growth compared to Western Europe, Bulgaria offers a rich history, stunning landscapes, and a strategic location between Europe and the Middle East.