Bulgaria

Total area:

110,994 km2

Population:

7,101,859 (2016 est)

Literacy:

98%

Official languages:

Bulgarian

GDP (PPP) per capita:

$20,327 (2017 est.)

Life expectancy:

74 years

Religions:

83% Bulgarian Orthodox, 11% Muslim, 4% Atheist or Agnostic, 1% Catholic, 1% Protestant

Prayer points

Bulgarian law changes affect Christians

Bulgarian law changes threaten the current freedoms of Christians to assemble, publicly share their faith & be identified as an evangelical church member. Pray for evangelical church leaders, for unity among the churches & that these proposed changes will be dropped. (Transform Europe Network (TEN) - February 2019)

Emerging and Developing

Bulgaria is still ranked as part of ‘Emerging and Developing Europe’ in IMF's recent World Economic Outlook report. Since the end of Communist rule, Bulgaria has been undergoing a slow and painful transition to a market economy. It has made significant progress since joining the EU in January 2007 but remains the poorest country in the EU. Gender inequalities are still prevalent. Despite economic improvement, there is high unemployment and many church leaders leave the country to find work. Please pray for Christian agencies working with vulnerable children and families, and for Christian media ministry to positively impact the nation with the gospel. (Transform Europe Network (TEN) - May 2018)

A brief overview

Bulgaria is a country struggling to re-establish itself after the fall of communism in 1989. 50% of its people now live below the poverty line. Ethnic tensions still smoulder in a land which was one of the final outposts of the Ottoman Empire and still occupies a strategic position as the gateway to Turkic Asia. A major breakthrough for the gospel occurred in the 1990s when approximately 10,000 Muslim Millet came to Christ, mainly as a result of powerful acts of the Holy Spirit shown in healings, deliverances and dreams. There are also many Rom fellowships that need discipling and training. The ethnic Turks, however, remain unreached with less than 100 known believers. (WEC International - July 2015)

Market reforms

In the past decade Bulgaria has pressed ahead with market reforms designed to meet EU economic targets. It has achieved some growth, seen unemployment fall a little from highs of nearly 20 percent and brought inflation under control. Nevertheless, incomes and living standards remain very low. Pray for the government of Bulgaria as it seeks to respond to calls from the EU to take urgent action to tackle crime and corruption. (BMS World Mission - March 2012)