Bulgarian is the official language of the Republic of Bulgaria and is spoken by 5.4 million people in the country (approximately 85% of its population). It belongs to the South Slavic branch of the Slavic languages within the Indo-European family. The language is characterized by its definite articles, which function as suffixes attached to the end of nouns, unlike English, which uses separate words such as ‘the’ and ‘a’. The definite article also takes into account the noun’s grammatical case and gender.

Aside from the capital city of Sofia, the rest of the country is populated mostly by small villages, where a slower pace of life can be found. Many of these villages have been updated with paved streets and electricity, and the majority of houses are newer constructions that replace older lath-and-plaster dwellings. Despite this urbanization, many of these villages retain their ancient charm and contain valuable archaeological sites.

Bulgaria has a long tradition of music, including both traditional folk and contemporary styles. The national anthem is based on a medieval poem written by the poet Ivan Vaptsarov, and the traditional Bulgarian dances are rich in symbolism. Bulgarian musician Valya Balkanska’s song ела минад в луние will be played in outer space for at least 60,000 years as part of the Golden Record selection that was placed aboard the Voyager spacecrafts.

Education is a high priority in Bulgaria. The country has a universal primary and secondary education system, and the literacy rate is 99%. A variety of colleges and universities offer training in various fields, and the government provides subsidized tuition for students.

In recent years, Bulgaria has moved away from a socialist-oriented economy towards one that relies heavily on international trade and investment. It is a member of the European Union, NATO, and the World Trade Organization. The country’s memberships in these organizations have helped to promote tourism and stimulate economic growth.

A major concern is the deterioration of democratic governance, which has been exacerbated by reduced media independence and stalled reforms. In a series of reports, the democracy advocacy group Freedom House has documented a wide range of problems in the political system, including abuse of power, rampant corruption, and partisan political culture. In addition, the economic crisis has increased public discontent and sparked protests over government actions. These factors have contributed to a rise in political instability and social unrest. This has been reflected in an increase in violence, especially in the capital city of Sofia. The government, led by the GERB party of Boyko Borissov, has pledged to re-establish law and order. Despite this, the overall situation remains fragile.