Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007
Capital city: Bulgaria
Population: 7,204,687 (July 2009 est.). ..
Currency: Lev
Language: Bulgarian
Bulgaria, a former communist country that entered the EU on 1 January 2007, has experienced strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996. Successive governments have demonstrated a commitment to economic reforms and responsible fiscal planning, but have failed so far to rein in rising inflation and large current account deficits. Bulgaria has averaged more than 6% growth since 2004, attracting significant amounts of foreign direct investment, but corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime remain significant challenges.
GDP: composition by sector
agriculture: 7.3%
Industry: 30.5%
Services: 62.2% (2008 est.). ..
Source: CIA
