Bulgarians (Bulgarian: българи, romanized: Balgari, IPA: [ˈbɤɫɡɐri]) are a nation and South Slavic ethnic group native to Bulgaria and its neighbouring region.

Are Bulgarians Middle Eastern?

About 55% of the Bulgarian autosomal genetic legacy is Mediterranean, about the half of which resembles the Caucasian, Middle Eastern and to a lesser extent the North African genetics.

Are Bulgarians Bulgars?

Bulgar, also called Bulgarian, member of a people known in eastern European history during the Middle Ages. A branch of this people was one of the primary three ethnic ancestors of modern Bulgarians (the other two were Thracians and Slavs).

Where did the Bulgarians come from?

Bulgars. The Bulgars (also Bolgars or proto-Bulgarians) were a semi-nomadic people of Turkic descent, originally from Central Asia, who from the 2nd century onwards dwelled in the steppes north of the Caucasus and around the banks of river Volga (then Itil). A branch of them gave rise to the First Bulgarian Empire.

What is the religion of Bulgaria?

The constitution recognizes Eastern Orthodox Christianity as the countrys “traditional” religion, and the law exempts the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) from registration.

What religion are most Bulgarians?

By far the dominant religion in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, professed by the prevalent ethnic group, the Bulgarians, who are adherents of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Approximately 60% of the Bulgarians belonged to the church as of 2011.

Which religion is practiced by most Bulgarians?

By far the dominant religion in Bulgaria is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, professed by the prevalent ethnic group, the Bulgarians, who are adherents of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Approximately 60% of the Bulgarians belonged to the church as of 2011.

What do Bulgarians call Bulgaria?

the Republic of Bulgaria listen); Bulgarian: България, romanized: Bǎlgarija), officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe .Bulgaria.Republic of Bulgaria Република България (Bulgarian) Republika BǎlgariyaEthnic groups (2011)84.8% Bulgarians 8.8% Turks 4.9% Roma 0.7% Others46 more rows

How many Bulgarians live in USA?

250,000 Bulgarians The United States has one of the highest numbers of Bulgarians of any country in the world. As many as 250,000 Bulgarians live in the country.

Did Bulgaria used to be part of Russia?

Bulgaria remained part of the Soviet bloc until 1989, when the BCP began to drift away from the USSR. The first multi-party elections were held in 1990 and the BCP lost power in elections the following year. During this era, Bulgaria was governed by Todor Zhivkov, a close friend of Nikita Khrushchev.

Does Bulgaria have religious freedom?

Legal and policy framework. The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion. The government generally enforces these provisions, and citizens have the right to sue the government for violations of religious freedom.

Is Bulgaria a modern country?

Bulgaria is a developing country, with an upper-middle-income economy, ranking 56th in the Human Development Index. Its market economy is part of the European Single Market and is largely based on services, followed by industry—especially machine building and mining—and agriculture.

Where are Muslims in Bulgaria?

Bulgarian Muslims live mostly in the Rhodopes – Smolyan Province, the southern part of the Pazardzhik and Kardzhali Provinces and the eastern part of the Blagoevgrad Province in Southern Bulgaria. They also live in a group of villages in the Lovech Province in Northern Bulgaria.