Bulgarian Geography

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Industries

Other characteristics

History

Economic statistics

Manufacturing & Construction

Energy

Service & Tourism

Agriculture, Forest, & Fishing

Mining & Minerals

1888-1945

Socialism era

Post Socialism

2000-2008

2010-2020

Pandemic

Unemployment rate

Demographic crisis

Corruption

Trade partners

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

GDP per capita

Labor Force

Unemployment rate

Inflation

Focus during the socialist era

Development plummeted in the 90's

But started growing again since the 2000's

Production of biochemicals and computers

Big IT sector in Bulgaria

Local processing of foods and tobacco

Not fit for European markets and therefore suffered a big loss after the collapse of the Soviet Union

Uneven performance of individual manufacturing markets

Also decreasing since the collapse of the Soviet Union (market and buyers have shrincked)

Main crops that are produced

Wheat

Corn

Barley

Main industrial crops

Sugar beets

Sunflowers

Tobacco

Big exports of rose oil

Increasing production of wine

Growing fish industry

Trout

Sturgeon

Turbot

Bluefish

Bonito

Bream

Very little reserves of oil and natural gas

Bulgaria relies on imports (from Russia for example)

Coal and hydro-powered sources of electricity production

Nuclear energy production

Kozloduy

Increase of energy conservation practices

Increase in the energy production needs

Increase in renewable energy production

Wind energy

Solar energy

Declining industry (since the end of socialism)

Less than 5% of Bulgaria's GDP

Deposits of

Iron ore

Manganese ore

Copper ore

Chromium ore

Gold ore

Bulgaria - still one of the top mining countries in Europe

No one else is doing it

Black sea resorts developed during the socialist era

Tourists from Russia

Steady growth in the recent years

Tourists from Greece, Romania, Germany

Revenue nearly doubled since socialist rule

38th in the world in the tourism sector

Recovery from the Ottoman rule

Economy military bound to Germany

Strong industrialisation

Continued industrialisation

Decreasing private market

State owned economy

Development of tourism and transport (railroad and airline transport)

Economic and political stability in the beginning

Experimentation in the late 80's, which lead to economic contraction

Crisis

Going back to a free market economy

Introduction of the currency board

Shortage of necessities and hyperinflation in the winter of 1996/97

"The lost decade"

Steady growth (of about 6% per year)

Banking and foreign investments

Recession of 2008

Economy affected by the eurozone crisis

Stability and slow growth (up until the pandemic)

Increased household consumption

Decreased, yet positive growth at the beginning of the pandemic (0.4% in the first quarter of 2020)

Economic recession

Below the EU average in 2019

Bulgaria – 4.2% unemployment (2019)

EU average – 6.8% unemployment

Many people leaving the country

2 000 000 left by 2011

Affects the economic and social development of the country

Less professionals in many spheres

Healthcare (nurses and doctors)

Universities and schools (lecturers and teachers)

IT professioanls

Bribery, kickbacks, embezzlement, etc.

Highest levels of corruption in the EU

Many businesses see corruption as widespread (over 85%)

Over 50% of them see it as a big problem

Inadequate punishments for corruption

Trade with the Soviet Union (before), Russia, Turkey, China and other EU countries

Imports of petroleum oils, copper ores, medicaments, cars, petroleum gasses

Exports of refined and unrefined copper, medicaments, wheat, etc.

Free Market economy

Business and firms owned by the private sector

Incentive for growth - profit

Effects of supply and demand

Strive to be efficient and effective

Income differences and wealth inequality

Value of all the goods and services that have been produced within Bulgaria's territory in a year

≈ 133 billion leva

The GDP divided by the population

GDP per capita: 19,192.32 leva

Number of people that are able to work, work, or are looking for work

3 290 300 people

Number of people that are not working and are not looking for work

5.1% of the poppulation

The rate at which prices of goods and services rise within a year

3.3%