NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Richard M. MILES embassy: 1 Suborna Street, Sofia mailing address:
American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5740
telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100 FAX: [359] (2) 981-89-77

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green,
and red; the national emblem formerly on the hoist side of the white
stripe has been removed - it contained a rampant lion within a wreath
of wheat ears below a red five-pointed star and above a ribbon bearing
the dates 681 (first Bulgarian state established) and 1944 (liberation
from Nazi control)

Economy Bulgaria

Economy - overview: Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to
enter the European Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and
positive growth rates since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the
fall of the then socialist government. The current government, elected in
2001, has pledged to maintain the fundamental economic policy objectives
of its predecessor, i.e., retaining the Currency Board, practicing sound
financial policies, accelerating privatization, and pursuing structural
reforms. A $300 million stand-by agreement negotiated with the IMF at
the end of 2001 will help the government maintain economic stability as
it seeks to overcome high rates of poverty and unemployment.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $48 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.5% industry: 27.8% services:
57.7% (2000)

Population below poverty line: 35% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.5%
highest 10%: 22.8% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index: 34.1 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.5% (2001 est.)

Labor force: 3.83 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 26%, industry 31%, services 43%
(1998 est.)

Unemployment rate: 17.5% (2001 est.)

Budget: revenues: $5.57 billion expenditures: $5.68 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (2001 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% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production: 38.84 billion kWh