HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian

Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 83.6%, Turk 9.5%, Roma 4.6%, other 2.3%
(including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (1998)

Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 83.8%, Muslim 12.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%,
Jewish 0.8%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 1.6% (1998)

Languages: Bulgarian, secondary languages closely correspond to ethnic
breakdown

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1999)

Government Bulgaria

Country name: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Government
type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Sofia

Administrative divisions: 28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast);
Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil,
Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse,
Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,
Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

Independence: 3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire)

National holiday: Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

Constitution: adopted 12 July 1991

Legal system: civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Georgi PARVANOV (since 22
January 2002); Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002) head of
government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) Simeon
SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA (since 24 July 2001); Deputy Prime Ministers Nikolay
VASILEV (since 24 July 2001), Kostadin PASKALEV (since 24 July 2001),
and Lidiya SHULEVA (since 24 July 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers
elected by the National Assembly elections: president and vice president
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election
last held 11 November and 18 November 2001 (next to be held NA 2006);
chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by
the president; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister
election results: 54.13%, Petar STOYANOV 45.87%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie
(240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NMS2 42.74%, UHdDF 18.18%,
CFB 17.15