World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples

The 2001 census recorded 370,908 Roma (4.6 per cent of the total population). However, non-governmental sources estimate that there were some 700,000 Roma in Bulgaria. According to the authorities, this large discrepancy between this figure and the census results is due to many Roma identifying themselves as Bulgarians, Turks and to a lesser extent as Romanians. The Roma community is deeply segmented and divided by religion, clan affiliation, language and traditional occupation. About half the Roma are Muslim; others are Christian Orthodox, and some are Protestant.

Ahead of Bulgaria's accession to the European Union in January 2007 the government adopted a number of measures aimed at improving Roma rights. Whilst Roma in particular remain vastly under-represented at the national level, their representation at municipal level has increased markedly in recent years. Romani language teaching has been scarcely available, but this may soon change, as in 2003 two universities introduced training programmes for Romani-language teachers. A health initiative in 2005 recognized the special needs of marginalized minority groups, especially Roma and Turks, and outlined a strategy to address the situation. Nevertheless, Roma remain deeply marginalized in Bulgaria, and routinely confront police abuse and harassment; complaints of ill treatment by police or others are often not investigated. Nationally, unemployment among Roma is estimated at 65 per cent.