Study, Work or Volunteer in Bulgaria

Bulgaria, officially known as the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in the southeastern Europe and shares borders with 5 other European countries. The country’s landscapes include Alpine snow-capped summits, Balkan mountains, bright Black Sea coast, and lowlands in the southern region. It has moderate climates - cold winters, warm and summers.

The Communist Party voluntarily surrendered its domination in February 1990. After 4 months, a free election took place then Bulgaria adopted a new constitution selecting a President and a Prime Minister. The country joined the NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007. Bulgaria’s key trading partners include Germany, Italy, Russia, Greece, Turkey, France, Belgium, Romania, and the US. Its economy is approximately made up of services (66%), industry (27%), and agriculture (26.1%). Bulgaria was one of the first European nations to build up successive manufacture of personal computers during the early 1980s and had breakthroughs in aeronautical engineering, and pharmaceutical research and development.

Based on the 2001 census, the population of Bulgaria is composed of ethnical Bulgarians (84.4%), Turks (9.6%), Gypsies (4.1%), and others (.9%). Majority of the population belong to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the national Eastern Orthodox Church. Other religions are Islam, several Protestant groups, and Roman Catholicism. Folk music and traditions revolve around holidays such as Easter, Christmas, the Feast of St. Lazarus, and New Year’s Day. Almost every Bulgarian meal is accompanied by a salad. Barista is a national breakfast food and served either hot or cold. The most popular sport in the country is football. Bulgaria has also produced world champions in rhythmic gymnastics, volleyball, athletics, tennis, and shooting.