a republic in SE Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula on the Black Sea: under Turkish rule from 1395 until 1878; became an independent kingdom in 1908 and a republic in 1946; joined the EU in 2007; consists chiefly of the Danube valley in the north and the Balkan Mountains in the central part, separated from the Rhodope Mountains of the south by the valley of the Maritsa River. Language: Bulgarian. Religion: Christian (Bulgarian Orthodox) majority. Currency: lev. Capital: Sofia. Pop: 7 084 571 (2017 est). Area: 110 911 sq km (42 823 sq miles)

country in SE Europe, on the Black Sea: founded in the 7th cent. & under Turkish rule from the late 14th cent. until 1878; gained full independence in 1908: 42,855 sq mi (110,994 sq km); pop. 8,473,000; cap. Sofia