Bulgaria has undergone profound changes since World War II and the fall of the communist regime, with rapid industrialization and economic transition significantly impacting Bulgarian society.

By the beginning of the 21st century, with aggressive privatization of state-run industries and ascension to full membership in the EU in 2007, the restructured Bulgarian economy had marked improvement. Agriculture accounts for less than one-tenth of Bulgaria’s national income, with cereal crops and tobacco being the most important. Bulgaria has a variety of both metallic and nonmetallic minerals, with coal being the most abundant. Nevertheless, the country relies on imports for about half of its energy, with coal and nuclear power being the primary sources. Bulgarian industries were of minor importance before WWII, but have since grown and developed.