Capital of Bulgaria: Sofia — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia. Bulgaria sits in Europe, has a population of 6,781,953, and uses the BGN. Official languages include Bulgarian.
Quick facts
- Capital: Sofia
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~6,781,953
- Area: 110,879 km²
- Population density: 61.2 people per km²
- Official language: Bulgarian
- Currency: BGN
- ISO code: BG
How big is Bulgaria?
By population, Bulgaria ranks 107th in the world, holding roughly 0.09% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 103rd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Bulgaria has 61.2 people per square kilometre, which is close to the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Europe, Bulgaria is the 21th most populous country of 46.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Bulgaria in population are Paraguay (6,780,744) and Libya (6,812,341).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Liberia (111,369 km²) and Cuba (109,884 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Bulgarian is listed as an official language of Bulgaria alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
Bulgaria uses the BGN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Bulgaria
Sofia lies in the Sofia Valley at the foot of Vitosha mountain; in Roman times the city was called Serdica. For the flag, read it from top to bottom like a winter landscape: white snow, green fields, red earth.
The flag of Bulgaria: white, green and red
🇧🇬 The flag is three equal horizontal stripes of white, green and red. White stands for peace, love and freedom, green for the country's farming wealth, and red for the struggle for independence and military courage. The flag was first adopted in 1879.
Region and neighbours
Bulgaria is a country in Southeastern Europe, on the eastern side of the Balkans, south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. It shares land borders with 5 countries: Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece and Turkey.
- Romania 🇷🇴 — capital Bucharest
- Serbia 🇷🇸 — capital Belgrade
- North Macedonia 🇲🇰 — capital Skopje
- Greece 🇬🇷 — capital Athens
- Turkey 🇹🇷 — capital Ankara
Three facts about Bulgaria
- Musala, 2,925 m high, is the highest point in both Bulgaria and the Balkans.
- The Varna culture made the oldest gold jewellery in the world, more than 6,000 years old.
- The First Bulgarian Empire developed the Cyrillic script, which is still used to write Bulgarian today.
Sources: Wikipedia: Bulgaria, Wikipedia: Flag of Bulgaria, Wikipedia: Sofia, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Bulgaria
- European capitals quiz — match Bulgaria to Sofia
- European flags quiz — spot the Bulgaria flag among its neighbours
Bulgaria capital quiz
What is the capital of Bulgaria 🇧🇬?
- Athens
- Minsk
- Sofia
- Riga
Show answer
Sofia
What is the capital of Serbia 🇷🇸?
- Riga
- Belgrade
- Lisbon
- Podgorica
Show answer
Belgrade
What is the capital of Denmark 🇩🇰?
- Lisbon
- Oslo
- Copenhagen
- Vilnius
Show answer
Copenhagen
What is the capital of Slovakia 🇸🇰?
- Brussels
- San Marino
- Bratislava
- Lisbon
Show answer
Bratislava
What is the capital of Finland 🇫🇮?
- Copenhagen
- Stockholm
- Helsinki
- Rome
Show answer
Helsinki
Bulgaria in Europe
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Bulgaria belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Bulgaria.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Bulgaria?
The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia.
What is the population of Bulgaria?
About 6,781,953, making it the 107th most populous country in the world.
How big is Bulgaria?
110,879 square kilometres, ranking 103rd by land area, at a density of 61.2 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Bulgaria use?
The BGN, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Bulgaria flag?
The flag of Bulgaria is three equal horizontal stripes of white, green and red. White stands for peace, love and freedom, green for the country's farming wealth, and red for the struggle for independence and military courage. The flag was first adopted in 1879.
Which countries border Bulgaria?
Bulgaria shares land borders with Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece and Turkey.
How can I remember the capital of Bulgaria?
Sofia lies in the Sofia Valley at the foot of Vitosha mountain; in Roman times the city was called Serdica. For the flag, read it from top to bottom like a winter landscape: white snow, green fields, red earth.
More capitals to learn
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