Bugarska je 1997. bila pogođena teškom ekonomskom i finansijskom krizom koja je dovela do oštrog pada BDP-a i ličnih prihoda, do sloma bankarskog sektora u zemlji i velikih problema s valutnim kursom.
In 1997, Bulgaria was hit by a severe economic and financial crisis that led to a sharp drop in GDP and personal incomes, a collapse of the country's banking sector and major foreign exchange problems.