Names: conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria local long form: Republika Balgariya local short form: Balgariya

Capital City: Sofia

Population: 7,385,367 (July 2006 est.)

GDP Per Capita: $10,400 (2006 est.)

Currency: lev (BGL)

Languages: Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Total Area: total: 110,910 sq km land: 110,550 sq km water: 360 sq km slightly larger than Tennessee

Region: Europe

Industries: electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel

Agriculture: vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock

Resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land

Labor Force: 3.45 million (2006 est.)
agriculture: 11% industry: 32.7% services: 56.3% (3rd qtr. 2004 est.)

Exports: $14.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels

Imports: $20.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials

Overview: Bulgaria, a former communist country that entered the European Union on 1 January 2007, 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. Minerals, including coal, copper, and zinc, play an important role in industry. In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by the imposition of a fixed exchange rate of the lev against the German D-mark - the currency is now fixed against the euro - and the negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steady progress on structural reforms improved the business environment; Bulgaria has averaged 5.1% growth since 2000 and has begun to attract significant amounts of foreign direct investment. Corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria.

_{CIA World Book}

In 2007 Missouri exported $1,715,496 in goods to Bulgaria. This ranks Bulgaria 108^th among the 223 international buyers of Missouri goods. Missouri exports to Bulgaria decreased from the previous year by $2,018,115 a change of -54.05%. State exports to Bulgaria have decreased over the last 5 years by $44,570 a change of -2.53%. Missouri exports account for .01%. of all 2007 US exports to Bulgaria.