About 85 per cent of the population is classified as ethnic Bulgarian and about 9 per cent is Turkish, a group that has suffered serious discrimination. Small groups of Armenians, Roma (Gypsies), Greeks, and Macedonian Slavs also inhabit the country. The population of Bulgaria became increasingly urbanized after 1945, and by 2003 about 70 per cent of the population was defined as urban.

A. Population Characteristics

Bulgaria has a population of 7,450,349 (2005 estimate). At the 1985 census the population was 8,950,000, and the subsequent decrease is partly attributed to the mass migration of Turks fleeing government persecution in the late 1980s. Population density is about 67 people per sq km (175 people per sq mi).

B. Political Divisions

Bulgaria is divided into 28 administrative regions, including the capital, Sofia.

C. Principal Cities

Sofia is the largest city, with a population of 1,194,164 (2002 estimate). Other major cities are Plovdiv, population 340,638 (2001), a centre for light industry; and Varna, 314,539 (2001), the principal seaport.

D. Religion

For more than 40 years under Communist rule the Bulgarian government discriminated against practising believers, and promoted atheism, to which an estimated 65 per cent of the population subscribed in the early 1980s. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church, a branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, was attended by about 27 per cent of the population. The government reforms of the late 1980s loosened religious restrictions, and by the early 1990s more than 80 per cent of the population claimed affiliation to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Other religious groups include Muslims, Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Jews.

E. Language

The official language is Bulgarian, a first language for about 85 per cent of the population. Turkish is also spoken, by about 9 per cent of the population as a mother tongue. Other languages spoken as mother tongues include: Balkan Romani (187,900 speakers; an Indo-Iranian language); Gagauz (12,000; a Turkic language, see Altaic Languages); Crimean Turkish (6,000); Macedo Romanian (2,000 to 3,000); and Gheg Albanian (1,000).

F. Education

All schools in Bulgaria are free and state controlled and were modelled after those in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). A major aim of the Bulgarian educational system is to supply technical and skilled workers to meet the demands of heavy, as opposed to service, industry. Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16. In the mid-1990s approximately 1,218,000 pupils attended elementary schools in Bulgaria, and about 213,300 students were enrolled in secondary, vocational, or teacher-training schools.

The country has over 30 institutions of higher learning, including the University of Sofia (1888) and various specialized professional institutes. Total yearly enrolment in 2001–2002 amounted to approximately 228,394 students. In 2001–2002 expenditure on education amounted to some 3.6 per cent of gross national product (GNP).

G. Culture

Popular Wedding Music of Bulgaria

Popular Wedding Music of Bulgaria
By far the most popular music heard in Bulgaria is wedding music. Although music is also played at baptisms, house-warmings, and send-off celebrations for soldiers, wedding music—performed primarily by Gypsies—is a distinct folk genre that has increased in popularity in the cities and villages due to the amplification of instruments. Most wedding bands are made up of clarinet, saxophone, accordion, guitar, bass, and drums. The music is a mix of Turkish and Bulgarian dance rhythms, largely uneven by Western standards, that are based on Turkish and Arabic melodies.
Encarta Encyclopedia
“Mladeshki Dance” (Ivo Papasov) Rykomusic, Inc. from Ivo Papasov and His Orchestra: Balkanology (Cat.# Hannibal HNCD 1363) (p)1991 Rykodisc, Inc. All rights reserved.

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In the Middle Ages (especially in the 10th and 11th centuries), Bulgaria was the centre of Slavic culture. Over the centuries Bulgarian culture has been influenced successively by Byzantine, Greek, Russian, and Western cultures. Bulgarian literature is an important cultural force.

Large libraries in Sofia include the Central Library of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the library of the University of Sofia, and the Cyril and Methodius National Library. The Ivan Vazov National Library is located in Plovdiv. In addition, there are many smaller public libraries.

The country has more than 200 museums. In Sofia are botanical and zoological museums and gardens; the National Archaeological Museum, with a collection of ancient coins and finds from many early burial mounds; and the National Ethnographical Museum. Other museums in the country are devoted to history, science, and the revolutionary movement.

Traditional Singing of Bulgaria

Traditional Singing of Bulgaria
Bulgaria is divided into six folkloric regions and within each region there is a rich vocal tradition, especially among women. Though each area is distinguished by its own style and technique, in the last 50 years the government has made an effort to bring singers from these regions together to form folkloric choirs and ensembles. This example is by a trio ensemble which performs music from each region. Today, Bulgarian folk music is a rich homogenous blending of polyphonic singing and folkloric nuances that represents all of Bulgaria.
Encarta Encyclopedia
“More, Zazheni Se Gyuro (Gyuro is Getting Married)” (arr. Philip Koutev) from Trio Bulgarka:The Forest is Crying (Lament for Indje Voivode) (Cat.# Hannibal HNCD 1342) (p)1988 Hannibal Records Ltd. All rights reserved.

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The 13th-century frescoes of the Boyana Church near Sofia are outstanding examples of the painting of that period. Bulgarian handicrafts include rich folk embroideries and ornaments. Some of the best sculpture, woodcarving, etchings, and painting are based on traditional culture and native subjects. Outstanding Bulgarian artists include the etcher Peter Morozov, the painter Vladimir Dimitrov, and the sculptors Ivan Lazarov and Christo. The last-named, an avant-garde artist noted for his technique of wrapping objects and landscape features, now lives in the United States.

The chief architectural monuments of Bulgaria are medieval churches and monasteries. The oldest is the circular Church of St George in Sofia, originally a pagan temple. The Rila Monastery, founded in the 10th century, is striking in its mountainous setting. An important monument of the 11th century is Bachkovo Monastery, south of Plovdiv. A major modern structure is the large, ornate Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia.

Traditional Bulgarian music includes folk songs and choral plain chants in the Greek mode for church services. The chief native musical instruments are the gaida (bagpipe) and the kaval (a wooden flute traditionally used by shepherds). The characteristic folk dances are variations of the hora, a round chain dance, and the ruchenitsa, a lively dance for two couples. Modern Bulgarian orchestral and operatic compositions have occasionally gained recognition in other countries. Among leading composers are Petko Stainov and Pancho Vladigerov.