Bulgaria is a country in Europe, in The Balkans, with about 6.43 million people (2025) and an area of 110,997 square kilometres. Its capital is Sofia, and it shares land borders with 5 countries.
By Team Geography·Last reviewed
Flag of BulgariaBulgaria in solid, land neighbours outlined, capital marked.
The app teaches each country through short hand written lenses: PLACE for physical geography, STORY for history and identity, NOW for the news, and THREAD for the ties between countries. Here is one of Bulgaria's 6, in full.
PLACELens 1 of 6
Where Bulgaria sits on the map
Bulgaria occupies the southeastern corner of Europe, bordered by Romania to the north along the Danube River, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkiye to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. The Balkan Mountains run east to west through the center of the country, dividing the Danubian Plain in the north from the Thracian Plain in the south. The Rhodope Mountains along the Greek border contain some of southeastern Europe's most remote wilderness.
More on Balkan Mountains
Known locally as Stara Planina (Old Mountain), this range gave the entire Balkan Peninsula its name. Stretching 560 kilometers across Bulgaria, it reaches 2,376 meters at Botev Peak and has served as a natural defensive barrier throughout Bulgarian history.
5 more lenses on Bulgaria in the app
STORY The deep roots of Bulgarian identity
NOW Schengen, the euro, and an emptying country
THREAD Bulgaria's ties to its neighbors and the wider world
STORY Bulgaria's rose valley and living traditions
NOW Soviet reactors now run on Western fuel
Titles only. The app brings each lens back on a spaced repetition schedule set by how well you knew it: New, Hazy or Clear.
Compare Bulgaria with another country
Opens the country comparison tool with population, area, income and more side by side, every figure dated.
Common questions
What is the capital of Bulgaria?
The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia. Sofia lies at about 42.7 degrees north and 23.3 degrees east. Bulgaria is in Europe, in the region often called The Balkans. It is home to about 6.43 million people. The world capitals quiz on this site tests every capital, and the printable capitals sheets cover each continent.
What is the population of Bulgaria?
About 6.43 million people live in Bulgaria, according to the World Bank figures for 2025. That makes it the 110th most populous of the 195 countries. With an area of 110,997 square kilometres, that is about 58 people per square kilometre.
What countries border Bulgaria?
Bulgaria shares land borders with 5 countries: Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Türkiye. The map on this page outlines each of them around Bulgaria. The count includes only borders on land, not neighbours across a sea or a lake.
How big is Bulgaria?
Bulgaria covers 110,997 square kilometres, or about 42,856 square miles. That makes it the 104th largest of the 195 countries. The figure is total surface area, which includes inland water such as lakes and rivers. Its population of about 6.43 million gives a density of 58 people per square kilometre.
Bulgaria is a country in Europe, in The Balkans, with about 6.43 million people (2025) and an area of 110,997 square kilometres. Its capital is Sofia, and it shares land borders with 5 countries.
Capital
Sofia
Continent
Europe
Region
The Balkans
Population
6,433,302 2025, World Bank. 110th of 195.
Area
110,997 km² (42,856 sq mi) World Bank, surface area. 104th largest of 195.
Population density
58 people per km²
Land neighbours
5: Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Türkiye
Official name
Republic of Bulgaria
UN status
Member state
PLACE · from the Geography app
Where Bulgaria sits on the map
Bulgaria occupies the southeastern corner of Europe, bordered by Romania to the north along the Danube River, Serbia and North Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkiye to the south, and the Black Sea to the east. The Balkan Mountains run east to west through the center of the country, dividing the Danubian Plain in the north from the Thracian Plain in the south. The Rhodope Mountains along the Greek border contain some of southeastern Europe's most remote wilderness.
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/bulgaria/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
Geography · Country report
Bulgaria
NameDate
Draw the flag
Colour Bulgaria on the map, then fill in what you find.
Capital
Continent
Population
Area
Languages
Currency
Neighbours
Landmarks
Rivers or mountains
Three things I learned
1
2
3
One question I still have
?
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/bulgaria/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
