Bulgaria is a country in Eastern Europe bordered by Romania in the north, the Black Sea on the east, Turkey and Greece in the south and Macedonia and Serbia on the west. It has a land area of about 111,000 square kilometers which is roughly about the size of Tennessee, and with a population of about 7 million.
Bulgaria had it’s first multi-party election in 1990, effectively dismantling its Communist form of government. It joined NATO in 2004, and the European Union in 2007. It is a parliamentary democracy and has a unicameral National Assembly. Bulgaria has a President and Vice President, and a Prime Minister acts as the head of government.
Principal exports are clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels. Total exports for 2009 was approximately $16.5 billion, while imports are estimated at $22 billion. The per capita GDP was an estimated $12,600.
With the majority of its workforce in the service industry, Bulgaria is expected to have a good chance at an improved economy in the coming years.