Why is Bulgaria the poorest country in the EU?

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They founded the first Slavic state in Europe and once made even the mighty Byzantine Empire pay tribute! In Bulgaria, archaeologists discovered the oldest gold jewelry on the planet — 2,000 years older than the Egyptian pyramids! They gave the world the Cyrillic alphabet, which is still used today not only in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Serbia, but also in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Mongolia. And yes, they even invented yogurt — those little bottles you see on supermarket shelves worldwide started here!

But today, despite such an incredible and rich history, Bulgaria is the poorest country in the entire European Union. How did this happen? What went wrong for a nation that once shaped the entire Slavic world?

In this video, we explore Bulgaria’s epic story — from the rise of the First Bulgarian Empire in the 7th century and the Golden Age of Simeon the Great, to the cultural revolution that gave the Slavs their writing system and preserved their identity. We’ll cover battles against Byzantium, the creation of Cyrillic, and Bulgaria’s role in spreading Orthodox Christianity across Eastern Europe.

We’ll also dive into the Second Bulgarian Empire, its cultural flourishing, and eventual decline under the pressure of the Mongols, Byzantines, and Ottomans. For nearly five centuries, Bulgarians lived under Ottoman rule, secretly preserving their faith, language, and traditions. Then came liberation, wars, communism, and EU integration — and yet, Bulgaria still struggles today.

Why is that? Was it corruption, failed reforms, demographic collapse, or something deeper? And most importantly — is there hope for Bulgaria’s future?

0:00 The Greatness of Bulgaria
1:05 The First Bulgarian Empire
3:24 The Uprising against the Byzantine Empire
4:45 The Second Bulgarian Empire
6:33 Decline and Mongol invasion
7:13 The Ottoman Invasion
7:49 Bulgaria's life under Turkish rule
9:34 The Uprising and Liberation of Bulgaria
11:00 Bulgaria in the World Wars
12:10 Bulgaria's dependence on the USSR
12:34 Why is Bulgaria poor?
13:25 Corruption, politics and demographic crisis
14:13 Bulgaria's prospects