The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1999 to 2025 Europe

Background Bulgaria, in 27 editions.

The entry for Bulgaria published Background in 27 editions of 36, from 1999 to 2025. The text changed in 9 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
9
the first edition with it
1999
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (1999 to 2025).

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2002 edition

Changed since 2001

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The same text in 2002 and 2003.

The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878, but having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946.

Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into NATO and the EU - with which it began accession negotiations in 2000.

The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria earned struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its independence from place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Empire Turks. Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878, but having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multi-party multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into NATO and the EU - with which it began accession negotiations in 2000.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Bulgaria: Background.” The World Factbook, 1999–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bulgaria/background.

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