3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)
Religions
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)
Languages
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Exports
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels
External Debt
$46,840,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
leva (BGN) per US dollar - 1.3171 (2008 est.), 1.4366 (2007), 1.5576 (2006), 1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
2.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
5
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
Area
36,125 km sq
110,879 km sq
Coastline
350 km
354 km
Climate
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
