Bulgaria map: What you need to know about Bulgaria

Located in Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria is a Balkan country. In regulatory terms, it is called the Republic of Bulgaria. Bulgaria’s neighbors are the Black Sea, Greece, Turkey, the Danube, Romania, Serbia, and North Macedonia.

Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic with a president elected by direct universal suffrage. The country’s borders extend for approximately 1,806 km, including 605 km with Romania, 472 km with Serbia, 494 km with Greece, 259 km with Turkey, and 148 km with North Macedonia. Its capital Sofia is also the largest city in the country. Its current population is estimated at 6,437,360 inhabitants spread over an area of 110,994 km².

Therefore, the population density is approximately 58 inhabitants per square kilometer. The official language of Bulgaria is Bulgarian, and its national currency is the Bulgarian lev (BGN). The international telephone code for Bulgaria is +359, also available in the form 00359.

The best cities in Bulgaria

The most important attractions in Bulgaria

Sofia

The capital of Bulgaria offers dream destinations and great places to visit. Among them are the national museum, the Borisova Gradina park, and the Saint Alexander basilica. Travelers can also go there to ski before enjoying some downtime in the cafes to recharge. You can also stay in one of the many hotels to explore the city for a few days.

Plovdiv

It is the second most popular Bulgarian city after the capital. This city is itself a museum as the alleys are located between ancient buildings dating back more than 10 centuries. Among these architectures, you will see the ethnographic museum and the Balabanov house. Tourists can also stroll through the streets to get acquainted with the country’s history.

Pleven

Pleven is a rural cultural city, its charm mainly lies in its unique history and natural landscapes. It also has nature reserves such as waterfalls and various lakes. You can also visit museums dedicated to wine production as well as the cascading fountain.

Veliko Tarnovo

It is a Bulgarian city famous especially for its fortress called Tsarevets. The city of Tarnovo was once a medieval night city adorned with lights. Thus, visitors from around the world came to admire its beauty. Today, we recommend going there to learn about ancient Bulgarian history and enjoy the three entrances to the fort: Asenova Gate, Baldwin, and the main gate.

Golden Sands

In general translation, it is a city of golden sands. Indeed, this city brings together seaside resorts and breathtaking beaches. The beaches are accessible by car in just a few minutes and the surrounding landscapes are unique. The climate is favorable: sunshine is frequent but the wind alleviates the stifling heat.

Where the cities are located on the map ?

Sofia

It is a city located inland in the Bulgarian territory in the eastern half of the country. Geographic coordinates: 42°41’50’’ North 23°19’00’’ East

Plovdiv

It is a city located in the southern quarter of the map of Bulgaria. It is an inland city, its geographic coordinates are: 42°08’48’’ north 24°45’03’’ east.

Pleven

Pleven is a city located in the northern quarter of the map of Bulgaria. It is an inland city with geographic coordinates: 43°25’00’’ north 24°37’00 east

Veliko Tarnovo

Located right in the center of the Bulgarian map, the city of Veliko Tarnovo is an inland city. Geographic coordinates: 43°05’00’’ north 25°39’00’’ east.

Golden sands

Golden Sands is a city located on the Bulgarian coast and close to Varna, only 17 km away. Geographic coordinates: 43°17’06 north 28°02’30’’ east.

Climate map of Bulgaria

The climate of Bulgaria is rather dry as rainfall is rare due to 500 mm of precipitation per year. The heaviest rains occur in summer and especially in the afternoon, they can form thunderstorms or snow in the mountains.

Winter in Bulgaria is mainly marked by a persistent cold breeze over the country’s surface. This results in snow cover and low sunshine. Sometimes, warm winds from the south disrupt this climate and temperatures suddenly rise up to 15°C. The winter period is from December to February.

Spring in Bulgaria is marked by inconsistent temperature variations. This is due to an alternation of breezes between cold northern winds and warm southern winds. Spring may therefore be marked by snow cover at the end of the season and heavy rains in the middle of the season. The spring period is between March and May.

Summer in Bulgaria is characterized by intense heat and low ambient humidity (dry climate). Temperatures during the season could reach 40°C but areas near the sea will benefit from coastal breezes that will moderate the heat.

Autumn is divided into two parts: the first marked by fairly low but not very cold temperatures. The second part is marked by persistent but increasing rainfall in terms of precipitation.

• Plovdiv

The city experiences consistent sunshine during the summer periods. However, thunderstorms occur in the mid-afternoon and clouds alternate with sunshine over the city. Precipitation in Plovdiv ranges from 450 to 550 mm per year. Winters are mild but there could be moderate snow cover or frost that will easily dissipate.

• Sofia

The capital is the city that experiences the most extreme temperature conditions in all of Bulgaria. Indeed, winter is marked by extreme low-altitude temperatures with an average of -1.5°C. Summer is also hot and temperatures can rise or fall abruptly. The average in summer is 27°C, yet it can reach 32°C in the shade.

Financial map of Bulgaria

Relying mainly on the services sector and industrial development, Bulgaria has built one of the most dynamic economies in Eastern Europe. The country operates under a market economy model that encourages trade, investment, and economic cooperation with other nations.

Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union since 2007 and retains the Bulgarian lev (BGN) as its official currency. Its main economic sectors include tourism, manufacturing, energy, agriculture, and mining activities. The country continues its industrial development through investments aimed at strengthening production and economic growth.

However, the minimum wage remains relatively low, at around €551 per month in 2025. This situation allows companies to benefit from competitive production costs while increasing their investment capacity. Bulgaria’s nominal GDP reaches approximately 107 billion dollars, with a GDP per capita estimated at 16,000 dollars. The unemployment rate remains moderate, at around 3.5% of the active population, while annual GDP growth stands at approximately 2.8%.

Some additional information:

• Exports : 51.6 billion dollars
• Public debt : 23.8% of gross domestic product
• Public revenues: 22.4 billion dollars

Administrative and demographic map of Bulgaria

Demographics in Bulgaria

The latest estimates indicate that Bulgaria’s population currently stands at around 6,437,360 inhabitants. This figure represents nearly 0.08% of the world’s population, placing Bulgaria around the 112th country worldwide by population size.

The country covers an area of approximately 110,994 km², or 42,855 square miles, resulting in an average population density of around 58 inhabitants per km². About 75% of the Bulgarian population lives in urban areas, with several million people distributed across major cities.

The population is mainly composed of Bulgarians, representing around 84.6% of the inhabitants. The country’s main ethnic minorities include Turks, Roma people, and other ethnic groups, accounting respectively for approximately 8.4%, 4.4%, and 2.6% of the population.

Bulgaria is experiencing demographic decline, with an annual population growth rate of around -0.6%, mainly due to a high mortality rate and a low birth rate. The male-to-female ratio is approximately 0.94 men per 1 woman, while life expectancy at birth reaches around 75.5 years.

Administration in Bulgaria

The latest changes to the country’s administrative zones were established in 1999. Currently, the country is divided into 28 administratively autonomous provinces. They are called Oblasts, which means regions. These regions are then divided into districts also called Okrags, which manage their municipalities within the regions.

There are a total of 265 municipalities that make up the 28 provinces, and they are distributed across several levels.

Here are the 28 provinces

Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia city, Sofia province, Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol.

Demolinguistic Data

The Bulgarian dialect splits into three groups: Eastern Bulgarian, Western Bulgarian, and the North Macedonian dialect:

The Eastern Bulgarian dialect:

It is divided into the Mesean dialect, the Balkan dialect, and the Rup dialects.

• The Mesean dialect includes the Shumen dialect,
• The Balkan dialects are: Central Balkan dialect, Kotel-Elena-Dryanovo dialect, Panagyurishte dialect, Pirdop dialect, Teteven dialect, Erkech dialect, Subbalkan dialect, Balkan transitional dialects.
• The Rup dialects include: Strandzha dialect, Thrace dialect, Hvoyna dialect, Chepino dialect, Paulician dialect, Zlatograd dialect, Smolyan dialect, Pomak dialect, Babyak dialect, Razlog dialect, Serres-Nevrokop dialect, Solun dialect.

The western bulgarian dialect

It consists of the Northwestern Bulgarian dialects, the Southwestern Bulgarian dialects, the Pirin-Malashevo dialects, and the Bulgarian transitional dialects.

• The Northwestern Bulgarian dialects are: the Byala Slatina-Pleven dialect and the Vidin-Lom dialect.
• The Southwestern Bulgarian dialects are: the Botevgrad dialect, the Vratsa dialect, the Ihtiman dialect, the Elin Pelin dialect, the Sofia dialect, the Samokov dialect, the Dupnitsa dialect, and the Kyustendil dialect.
• The Pirin-Malashevo dialects are: the Blagoevgrad dialect, the Petrich dialect, the Pianec-Kamenitsa-Kraishte dialect, and the Malashevo dialect.
• The Bulgarian transitional dialects are: the Tran dialect, the Breznik dialect, the Belogradchik dialect, the Bosilegrad dialect, and the Tsaribrod dialect.

The north macedonian dialects

• They consist of: Northern dialects, Tetovo dialect, Veles dialect, Prilep-Mariovo dialect, Bitola dialect, Debar dialect, Ohrid-Struga dialect, Prespa dialect, Korca dialect, Aegean Macedonian dialects, Kostur dialect, Doyran dialect, Lerin dialect, and the Kukush-Voden dialect.
• There are also diaspora dialects which are: Banat Bulgarian dialect, Vlach Bulgarian dialects, Transylvanian Bulgarian dialects, Bulgarian dialects in the former Soviet Union, and the Anatolian dialect.

FAQ-Bulgaria map: What you need to know about Bulgaria