Demographics of Bulgaria explained

Place:Bulgaria
Size Of Population: 6,445,481 (31st of December, 2023) [1] [2]
Fertility: 1.81 (2023)
Age 0-14 Years: 14.4%
Age 15-64 Years: 63.8%
Age 65 Years: 21.8% (2020)
Sr Total Mf Ratio:0.84 male(s)/female (2009)
Sr At Birth:1.06 male(s)/female
Sr Under 15:1.05 male(s)/female
Sr 15-64 Years:0.97 male(s)/female
Sr 65 Years Over:0.68 male(s)/female
Nation:noun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian
Major Ethnic:Bulgarian (84.8%)
Minor Ethnic:Turkish/ Balkan Gagauz (8.8%)
Roma (4.9%)
Other and unknown (1.5%)
Official:Bulgarian (85.2%)

The demography of the Republic of Bulgaria is monitored by the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria. Demographic features of the population of Bulgaria include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and others.

Bulgaria has a Human Development Index of 0.799, ranking 70th in the world in 2022[3] and holds the 38th position in Newsweeks rankings of the world's best countries to live in, measuring health, education, political environment and economic dynamism.[4]

Demographic history

Various estimates have put Bulgaria's medieval population at 1.1 million in 700 AD and 2.6 million in 1365.[5] At the 2011 census, the population inhabiting Bulgaria was 7,364,570 in total, but the 2021 Census calculated that the population had declined to 6.5 million.[6] [7] The peak was in 1989, the year when the borders opened after a half of a century of communist regime, when the population numbered 9,009,018.

Note: Crude migration change (per 1000) is an extrapolation [8]

Vital statistics

Vital Statistics 1875 to 1915

The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is based on fairly good data for the entire period. Sources: Our World in Data and Gapminder Foundation.

Vital statistics 1900–1915

[9] [10] [11]

Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)
19003,710,000157,00084,00073,00042.322.619.7
19013,740,000141,00087,00054,00037.723.314.4
19023,800,000149,00091,00058,00039.223.915.3
19033,850,000159,00088,00071,00041.322.918.4
19043,910,000167,00084,00083,00042.721.521.2
19054,000,000174,00087,00087,00043.521.821.8
19064,100,000179,00091,00088,00043.722.221.5
19074,150,000180,00092,00088,00043.422.221.2
19084,200,000169,000102,00067,00040.224.316.0
19094,280,000173,000113,00060,00040.426.414.0
19104,350,000180,000100,00080,00041.423.018.4
19114,400,000176,00094,00082,00040.021.418.6
19124,430,000185,00091,00094,00041.820.521.2
19134,200,000108,000122,000-14,00025.729.0-3.3
19144,240,000191,00088,000103,00045.020.824.3
19154,280,000172,00085,00087,00040.219.920.3

Vital statistics 1916–1940

Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Total fertility rates
19164,660,00099,00097,0002,00021.220.80.45.38
19174,690,00081,00099,000-18,00017.321.1-3.85.37
19184,740,000100,000152,000-52,00021.132.1-11.05.36
19194,790,000157,00097,00060,00032.820.312.55.35
19204,850,000193,000104,00089,00039.821.418.45.35
19214,890,000197,000106,00091,00040.321.718.65.27
19225,010,000203,000106,00097,00040.521.219.45.19
19235,090,000192,000108,00084,00037.721.216.55.11
19245,210,000207,000108,00099,00039.720.719.05.03
19255,310,000196,000102,00094,00036.919.217.74.94
19265,420,000203,00093,000110,00037.517.220.34.80
19275,510,000183,000112,00071,00033.220.312.94.65
19285,590,000185,00099,00086,00033.117.715.44.50
19295,670,000173,000103,00070,00030.518.212.34.36
19305,740,000180,00093,00087,00031.416.215.24.05
19315,800,000171,00098,00073,00029.516.912.63.80
19325,884,000186,00096,00090,00031.616.315.34.07
19335,961,000174,00093,00081,00029.215.613.63.76
19346,039,000181,79585,04696,74930.114.116.03.88
19356,102,000160,95189,08671,86526.414.611.83.39
19366,154,000159,14687,72371,42325.914.311.63.33
19376,196,000150,77184,67466,09724.313.710.73.12
19386,244,000142,41585,37357,04222.813.79.12.92
19396,292,000138,88384,15054,73322.113.48.72.81
19406,341,000140,56485,04655,51822.213.48.82.84

Vital statistics 1941 to present

Source: National Statistical Institute[12] [13]

Average population (from 2002 population on December 31)Live birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Total fertility rates
19416,715,100147,29385,01162,28221.912.79.32.80
19426,771,100153,27288,08265,19022.613.09.62.91
19436,827,600148,84088,38660,45421.813.08.92.79
19446,884,600151,01394,08256,93122.013.78.32.83
19456,942,200166,960103,59163,36924.114.99.13.09
19467,000,200179,22695,79983,42725.613.711.93.29
19477,063,700169,50194,39575,10624.013.410.73.06
19487,130,100175,77189,92785,84424.712.612.03.16
19497,195,100177,73484,67593,05924.711.812.93.17
19507,251,000182,57174,134108,43725.210.215.02.94
19517,258,200152,80377,36475,43921.110.710.42.45
19527,274,900154,01484,25469,76021.211.69.62.44
19537,346,100153,22068,05585,16520.99.311.62.41
19547,423,300149,90268,38481,51820.29.211.02.36
19557,499,400150,97867,96083,01820.19.111.12.41
19567,575,800147,91071,15376,75719.59.410.12.36
19577,651,300141,03565,80775,22818.48.69.82.26
19587,727,600138,29460,73477,56017.97.910.02.23
19597,797,800136,89273,85063,04217.59.48.12.23
19607,867,374140,08263,66576,41717.78.19.72.31
19617,943,118137,86162,56275,29917.37.89.42.29
19628,012,946134,14869,64064,50816.78.78.02.24
19638,078,145132,14366,05766,08616.38.18.12.21
19648,144,340130,95864,47966,47916.07.98.22.19
19658,204,168125,79166,97058,82115.38.17.22.09
19668,258,057123,03968,36654,67314.98.36.62.03
19678,310,226124,58274,69649,88614.99.06.02.02
19688,369,603141,46072,17669,28416.88.68.22.27
19698,434,172143,06080,18362,87716.99.57.52.27
19708,489,574138,74577,09561,65016.39.17.22.17
19718,536,395135,42282,80552,61715.89.76.22.10
19728,576,200131,31684,17447,14215.39.85.52.03
19738,620,967139,71381,47058,24316.29.46.82.15
19748,678,745149,19685,23963,95717.19.87.32.29
19758,720,742144,66889,97454,69416.610.36.32.23
19768,758,599144,92988,34856,58116.510.16.52.24
19778,804,183141,70294,36247,34016.110.75.42.21
19788,814,032136,44292,44543,99715.510.55.02.15
19798,825,940135,35894,40340,95515.310.74.62.16
19808,861,535128,19097,95030,24014.411.03.42.05
19818,891,117124,37295,44128,93114.010.73.22.00
19828,917,457124,166100,29323,87313.911.22.72.01
19838,939,738122,993102,18220,81113.711.42.32.01
19848,960,679122,303101,41920,88413.611.32.32.01
19858,960,547118,955107,48511,47013.312.01.31.97
19868,958,171120,078104,03916,03913.411.61.82.02
19878,971,359116,672107,2139,45913.011.91.11.96
19888,981,446117,440107,38510,05513.111.91.11.97
19898,876,972112,289106,9025,38712.812.20.61.90
19908,718,289105,180108,608-3,42812.112.5-0.41.82
19918,632,36795,910110,423-14,51311.212.8-1.71.66
19928,540,16489,134107,998-18,86410.512.7-2.21.55
19938,472,31384,400109,540-25,14010.012.9-3.01.46
19948,443,59179,442111,827-32,3859.413.3-3.81.37
19958,406,06771,967114,670-42,7038.613.7-5.11.23
19968,362,82672,188117,056-44,8688.714.0-5.41.23
19978,312,06864,125121,861-57,7367.714.7-6.91.09
19988,256,78665,361118,190-52,8297.914.4-6.41.11
19998,210,62472,290111,786-39,4968.813.6-4.81.23
20008,170,17273,679115,087-41,4089.014.1-5.11.27
20017,913,30068,180112,368-44,1888.514.0-5.51.24
2002[14] 7,845,84166,499112,617-46,1188.514.4-5.91.21
20037,801,27367,359111,927-44,5688.714.4-5.71.23
20047,761,04969,886110,110-40,2249.114.3-5.21.29
20057,718,75071,075113,374-42,2999.314.8-5.51.31
20067,679,29073,978113,438-39,4609.714.9-5.21.38
20077,640,20075,349113,004-37,65510.015.0-5.01.42
20087,606,60077,712110,523-32,81110.414.8-4.41.48
20097,563,71080,956108,068-27,11210.914.5-3.61.57
20107,504,86875,513110,165-34,65210.014.6-4.61.49
20117,327,22470,846108,258-37,4129.614.7-5.11.51
20127,284,55269,121109,281-40,1609.515.0-5.51.50
20137,245,67766,578104,345-37,7679.214.4-5.21.48
20147,202,19867,585108,952-41,3679.415.1-5.71.52
2015[15] 7,153,78465,950110,117-44,1679.215.3-6.21.53
2016[16] 7,101,85964,984107,580-42,5969.115.1-6.01.54
2017[17] 7,050,03463,955109,791-45,8369.015.5-6.51.56
2018[18] 7,000,03962,197108,526-46,3298.915.4-6.61.56
2019[19] 6,951,48261,538108,083-46,5458.815.5-6.71.58
2020[20] 6,916,54859,086124,735-65,6498.518.0-9.51.56
2021[21] 6,838,93758,678148,995-90,3179.022.9-13.91.58
2022[22] 6,447,71056,596118,814-62,2188.818.4-9.61.78[23]
2023[24] 6,403,90157,197101,006-43,8098.915.7-6.81.81[25]

Current vital statistics

[26]

PeriodLive birthsDeathsNatural increase
January - June 202324,07141,949-17,878
January - June 202423,68646,278-22,592
Difference -385 (-1.6%) +4,329 (+9.35%) -4,714

Birth rates and fertility

Historical birth and fertility rates

The first reliable data about fertility and natural increase rates in the Bulgarian lands date back to the mid-1800s.

According to Turkish statistician Kemal Karpat, Non-Muslims, Bulgarians included, in the Ottoman Empire received a remarkable boost in fertility in the early 1830s. Their average growth rate climbed up to 2% per year, compared to zero among Muslims, who suffered from demographic stagnation.[27]

The same trend continued well after Bulgaria's Liberation from Ottoman rule in 1878.[28] Until the early 1890s, Muslim birth rates in Bulgaria hesitated in the low 20s, dwarfed by rates of + 40‰ among Orthodox Christians, while natural increase rates hovered around zero.[28] The ongoing Muslim demographic crisis and the heavy migration to Turkey were the two primary reasons for the rapid decrease in Bulgaria's Muslim and Turkish population between 1880 and 1910, from 28.7% in 1880 to 13.8% in 1910 for Muslims and from 26.2% to 10.7% for Turks.

Muslim birth and natural increase rates started climbing slowly from the late 1890s but only surpassed Orthodox ones in 1924. Nevertheless, it was not the Eastern Orthodox but rather Bulgaria's Roman Catholics that had the highest birth rate during the period, though usually offset by very high mortality rates.

Average Number of Births & Deaths, Average Birth Rate, Death Rate and Rate of Natural Increase in the Principality of Bulgaria by Period and Confession[28] [29] [30]

1891–1894 Averages by Confession
Confession Live births per year Birth rate Deaths per year Death rate Rate of natural increase
Number Number
104,749 40.1 78,165 30.0 10.1
Muslims14,972 23.313,924 21.8 1.5
1,038 36.6 684 24.1
911 901
210 31.6 173 26.2 5.4
49 35 5.8
TOTAL 121,929 36.7 93,883 28.4 8.3
1899–1902 Averages by Confession
Live births per year Birth rate Deaths per year Death rate Rate of natural increase
Number Number
125,151 70,608 23.4 18.0
20,071 31.2 15,786 24.5 6.7
1,295 38.5 551 16.4
1,163 40.7 818 12.1
383 27.7 298 21.6
119 70 10.8
148,182 39.6 88,081 23.5 16.1
1904–1907 Averages by Confession
Live births per year Birth rate Deaths per year Death rate Rate of natural increase
Number Number
148,076 44.2 72,816 21.8
23,122 38.3 14,041 23.3 15.0
1,288 34.2 518 13.7 20.5
1,321 785 18.1
358 279 22.1
182 32.2 85 17.1
174,347 43.2 88,524 21.9 21.3
1909–1912 Averages by Confession
Confession Live births per year Birth rate Deaths per year Death rate Rate of natural increase
Number Number
151,155 41.5 82,006 23.0
Muslims23,896 39.7 15,892 26.4 13.3
1,234 30.8 532 17.5
1,361 857 15.7
298 24.1 241 19.6
194 108 17.3 12.8
TOTAL 178,138 41.1 99,636 23.0 18.1
1919–1922 Averages by Confession
Live births per year Birth rate Deaths per year Death rate Rate of natural increase
Number Number
159,843 39.3 85,295 21.0 18.3
24,346 35.2 16,079 23.3 11.9
1,158 536 14.3
1,372 830 15.8
298 27.5 251 23.1
198 35.3 92 16.4
187,233 38.8 103,083 21.3 17.5
1925–1928 Averages by Confession
Live births per year Birth rate Deaths per year Death rate Rate of natural increase
Number Number
156,839 34.3 82,220 18.0 16.3
31,575 17,458
1,032 515 11.1
1,566 38.8 878 21.7 17.1
646 25.5 434 17.1
221 32.8 108 16.0 16.8
191,890 35.0 101,613 18.5 16.5

In the 1930s and 1940s, ethnic Bulgarians completed stage 2 of their demographic transition, and crude birth rate among them fell to a mere 23.3‰ by 1946, or twice as low as the birth rate of Bulgaria's two largest minorities, Turks (40.9‰) and Roma (47.2‰).[31] At the same time, due to higher mortality, the rate of natural increase among Bulgarian Turks was almost identical to that among ethnic Bulgarians (12.1‰ vs. 11.1‰), while the rate among the Romani was twice as high (23.1‰).[31]

Present-day

A total of 64,984 live births were recorded in Bulgaria in 2016, giving the country a crude birth rate of 9.1‰.[32]

Bulgaria has a low total fertility rate of 1.58 children per woman (according to the 2021 Census). This is up significantly from the late 1990s, but still below replacement and not enough to prevent further population decline, especially with emigration. Provinces with large Roma populations (for example Sliven, Montana and Yambol) tend to have higher fertility rates (and higher death rates) compared to other areas, whereas Turkish fertility is similar to the Bulgarian majority.[33] The average number of (live births) children in 2021 was 1.47 for all women (aged 12 or more), ranging from 0.04 children for women between the ages of 12-19 to 1.92 children per women between the ages of 70-79. The distribution by ethnicity shows that only among women who identify themselves as belonging to the Roma ethnic group, the average number of children is sufficient for simple reproduction - 2.25 children, mainly because of the significantly younger age structure and low educational level of this group, followed by the Turkish ethnic group with 1.79 children and 1.41 children for women who self-identified as belonging to the Bulgarian ethnic.[34] The distribution of the average number of live births by religion changes from 1.83 children for Muslim women and 1.82 children for Protestant women, followed by 'other Christian' (1.63), Eastern Orthodox (1.43), Catholic (1.36), Jewish (1.27) and Armenian Apostolic (1.26). Women without religion had an average number of 1.40 children.


Total fertility rate and crude birth rate by province in 2010 and from 2016 to 2023 (NSI)[35] [36]
ProvinceTFR (2010) TFR (2016) TFR (2017) TFR (2018) TFR (2019) TFR (2020) TFR (2021) TFR (2022) TFR (2023)
Northwest Region1.53 1.72 1.72 1.75 1.77 1.75 1.73 1.92 1.94
Vidin1.50 1.45 1.58 1.68 1.65 1.45 1.64 1.83 1.92
Vratsa1.46 1.77 1.68 1.81 1.83 1.85 1.76 1.84 1.92
Lovech1.58 1.66 1.79 1.89 1.84 1.91 1.88 2.11 2.06
Montana1.52 1.74 1.65 1.67 1.62 1.63 1.73 1.87 1.91
Pleven1.56 1.80 1.79 1.71 1.81 1.76 1.66 1.93 1.92
North Central Region1.32 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.43 1.37 1.43 1.73 1.79
Veliko Tarnovo1.19 1.40 1.43 1.34 1.27 1.25 1.35 1.69 1.74
Gabrovo1.43 1.41 1.49 1.58 1.69 1.46 1.43 1.86 1.79
Razgrad1.37 1.49 1.48 1.65 1.60 1.50 1.53 1.70 1.77
Ruse1.34 1.40 1.37 1.41 1.30 1.34 1.40 1.60 1.71
Silistra1.49 1.77 1.71 1.55 1.76 1.58 1.60 2.01 2.08
Northeast Region1.53 1.50 1.48 1.49 1.52 1.45 1.46 1.75 1.76
Varna1.57 1.45 1.44 1.44 1.47 1.49 1.49 1.68 1.64
Dobrich1.44 1.53 1.51 1.44 1.56 1.44 1.37 1.78 1.94
Targovishte1.67 1.59 1.57 1.63 1.61 1.41 1.46 1.91 1.93
Shumen1.42 1.54 1.45 1.53 1.51 1.35 1.39 1.92 1.87
Southeast Region1.67 1.82 1.88 1.84 1.87 1.82 1.82 2.01 2.14
Burgas1.54 1.63 1.65 1.61 1.69 1.59 1.57 1.76 1.88
Sliven1.95 2.24 2.34 2.27 2.35 2.24 2.29 2.57 2.60
Stara Zagora1.64 1.73 1.80 1.76 1.72 1.73 1.73 1.84 2.05
Yambol1.70 1.98 2,00 2.13 2.06 2.08 2.07 2.35 2.43
Southwest Region1.42 1.36 1.38 1.38 1.42 1.44 1.47 1.59 1.62
Blagoevgrad1.46 1.46 1.45 1.50 1.62 1.61 1.62 1.63 1.77
Kyustendil1.33 1.63 1.75 1.76 1.95 1.77 1.76 1.82 1.81
Pernik1.35 1.62 1.66 1.73 1.68 1.54 1.67 1.53 1.47
Sofia1.45 1.74 1.73 1.80 1.91 1.90 1.92 1.90 1.98
Sofia (city)1.39 1.27 1.29 1.26 1.28 1.33 1.36 1.51 1.53
South Central Region1.50 1.61 1.65 1.65 1.66 1.59 1.59 1.82 1.88
Kardzhali1.49 1.64 1.66 1.70 1.74 1.49 1.31 1.78 1.89
Pazardzhik1.58 1.72 1.75 1.85 1.81 1.70 1.57 2.02 2.22
Plovdiv1.49 1.56 1.60 1.61 1.60 1.58 1.63 1.82 1.84
Smolyan1.33 1.45 1.47 1.40 1.49 1.49 1.48 1.33 1.45
Haskovo1.53 1.70 1.75 1.62 1.71 1.59 1.63 1.82 1.83
1.49 1.54 1.56 1.56 1.58 1.56 1.58 1.78 1.81

Regional differences

As of 2022, the municipality of Tvarditsa has the highest crude birth rate in the country, at 18.4‰, followed by the municipalities of Yablanitsa (17.9‰) and Nikolaevo Municipality (17.2‰). All these municipalities have relatively large Romani populations.

Top 20 municipalities with the highest birth rate (2021)[37] [38]
Municipality Birth rate (‰)
18.4
17.9
17.2
16.1
15.1
14.6
14.6
13.6
13.0
12.5
12.5
12.4
12.4
12.3
12.2
12.2
12.1
12.1
12.0
12.0
Top 20 municipalities with the lowest birth rate (2017)[39]
5.7
5.6
5.6
5.5
5.5
5.5
5.4
5.3
5.0
4.9
4.9
4.8
4.7
4.5
4.4
4.2
4.0
3.8
3.2
3.1
On the other hand, the municipalities of Georgi Damyanovo, Banite and Nevestino have incredibly low birth rates. These municipalities are almost exclusively inhabited by ethnic Bulgarians.

Teenage pregnancy

Bulgaria has one of the highest share of teenage pregnancy in Europe. Nevertheless, this number declined rapidly between 1995 and 2010, until it stabilized at around 10%.

Number of teenage mothers in Bulgaria in the period 1990-2022[40]
Year 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2017 2020 2021 2022
All live births in Bulgaria 105,180 71,967 73,679 69,886 75,513 65,950 63,955 59,086 58,678 56,596
Mothers aged under twenty 22,518 16,278 12,787 10,625 8,411 6,274 6,038 5,970 5,861 5,769
Share of teenage mothers 21.4% 22.6% 17.4% 15.2% 11.1% 9.5% 9.4% 10.1% 10.0% 10.2%

The ten municipalities with the largest absolute number of teenage mothers for 2022 are: Sliven (371), Sofia (345), Plovdiv (196), Pazardzhik (130), Yambol (123), Nova Zagora (121), Burgas (108), Pleven (110), Tvarditsa (98), Stara Zagora, Varna (83) and Haskovo (81).[40]

Top ten municipalities with the highest share of mothers aged under twenty (2022)
Municipality All live births Births to mothers aged under twenty % of all live births
542546.3%
78 33 43.3%
7532 42.7%
99 40 40.4%
243 9840.4%
63 25 39.7%
127 47 37.0%
101 36 35.6%
118 41 34.7%
371 121 32.6%

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 74.83 years

Male: 71.37 years

Female: 78.39 years (2016-2018 est.)[41]
Average life expectancy at age 0 of the total population.[42]

PeriodLife expectancy in
Years
1950–195562.33
1955–1960 66.78
1960–1965 70.28
1965–1970 70.91
1970–1975 71.07
1975–1980 71.10
1980–1985 71.24
1985–1990 71.39
1990–1995 71.11
1995–2000 70.97
2000–2005 72.19
2005–2010 73.13
2010–2015 74.25
2016–2018 74.83

Kardzhali Province and Sofia City have the highest life expectancy with 76.6 years for both sexes. The lowest life expectancy is recorded in the Northwestern provinces like Montana (72.7 years), Vratsa (72.8 years) and Vidin (72.9 years).[43]

Infant mortality rate

Total: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018)

Male: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018)

Female: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018)

Projections

The following forecast for the future population is an official estimate of the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria.[44]

YearPopulation
20256,263,384
20306,007,657
20355,801,261
20405,637,361
20455,505,143
20505,391,291
20555,287,150
20605,189,165
20655,099,550
20705,025,580
20754,971,948
20804,937,302

Demographic statistics

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review.

Demographic statistics according to the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population:
  • 6,519,789 (Sept 2021 cens)
  • 6,919,180 (July 2021 est.)
  • 7,057,504 (July 2018 est.)
    Ethnic groups:
  • Bulgarian 76.9%, Turkish/Balkan Gagauz 8%, Romani 4.4%, other 0.7% (including Russian, Armenian, and Vlach), other (unknown) 10% (2011 est.)
  • note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 9–11% of Bulgaria's population
    Languages:
  • Bulgarian (official) 76.8%, Balkan Gagauz 8.2%, Romani 3.8%, other 0.7%, unspecified 10.5% (2011 est.)
    Religions:
  • Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim 7.8%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Jewish) 1.7%, none 3.7%, unspecified 27.4% (2011 est.)
    Age structure:
  • 0-14 years: 14.52% (male 520,190 /female 491,506)
  • 15-24 years: 9,4% (male 340,306 /female 312,241
  • 25-54 years:42.87% (male 1,538,593 /female 1,448,080)
  • 55-64: 13.15% (male 433,943 /female 482,784)
  • 65 years and over: 20.06% (male 562,513 /female 835,065) (2020 est.)

    0-14 years: 14.6% (male 530,219 /female 500,398)

    15-24 years: 9.43% (male 346,588 /female 318,645)

    25-54 years: 43.12% (male 1,565,770 /female 1,477,719)

    55-64 years: 13.3% (male 442,083 /female 496,888)

    65 years and over: 19.54% (male 557,237 /female 821,957) (2018 est.)

    Median age:
  • total: 43.7 years. Country comparison to the world: 20
  • male: 41.9 years
  • female: 45.6 years (2020 est.)
  • total: 43 years. Country comparison to the world: 22nd
  • male: 41.2 years
  • female: 44.9 years (2018 est.)
    Birth rate:
  • 8.15 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 218th
  • 8.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 215th
    Death rate:
  • 14.52 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 3rd
  • 14.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 4th
    Total fertility rate:
  • 1.49 children born/woman (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world:204th
  • 1.47 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 201st
    Net migration rate:
  • -0.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country compy to the world:115
    Population growth rate:
  • -0.67% (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 229th
    Mother's mean age at first birth:
  • 27.1 years (2017 est.)
    Dependency ratios:
  • total dependency ratio: 56.6 (2020 est.)
  • youth dependency ratio: 23 (2020 est.)
  • elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 (2020 est.)
  • potential support ratio
  • 3 (2020 est.)
    Urbanization:
  • urban population: 75.7% of total population (2020).rate of urbanization: -0.22% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  • potential support ratio: 3.3 (2015 est.)
    Life expectancy at birth:
  • total population: 75.3 years. Country comparison to the world: 122th
  • male: 72.08 years
  • female: 78.73 years (2021 est.)
    Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  • total population: 98.4%
  • male: 98.7%
  • female: 98.1% (2015 est.)
    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  • total: 14 years
  • male: 14 years
  • female: 14 years (2016)
    Unemployment, youth ages 15–24:
  • total: 12.7%. Country comparison to the world: 108th
  • male: 13.2%
  • female: 13.9% (2018 est.)

    Sex ratio

    Of the total 7,364,570 as of 2011, 3,586,571 are males and 3,777,999 are females, or there are 1,053 women for every 1,000 men.

    Demographic policies

    The progressive decrease of the Bulgarian population is hindering economic growth and welfare improvement, and the management measures taken to mitigate the negative consequences do not address the essence of the problem. The Government Program for the period 2017 - 2021 is the first one that aims at overturning the trend. The program also identifies the priority means for achieving this goal: measures to increase the birth rate, reduce youth emigration, and build up regulatory and institutional capacity to implement a modern immigration policy tailored to the needs of the Bulgarian business.[45] [46]

    Ethnic groups

    Population of Bulgaria according to ethnic group 1900–1956
    Ethnic groupcensus 1900census 1905census 1910census 1920census 1926census 1934census 1946census 1956
    Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
    Bulgarians[47] 2,888,21977.13,203,81079.43,518,75681.14,036,05683.34,557,70683.25,204,21785.65,903,58084.06,506,54185.5
    Turks531,24014.2488,01012.1465,64110.7520,33910.7577,55210.5591,1939.7675,5009.6656,0258.6
    Roma89,5492.499,0042.5122,2962.898,4512.0134,8442.5149,3852.5170,0112.4197,86512.6
    Romanians71,0631.975,7731.979,4291.857,3121.269,0801.216,5040.32,4590.03,7490.0
    Greeks66,6351.863,4871.643,2751.042,0740.910,5640.29,6010.23,6230.07,4370.1
    Jews33,6610.937,6630.940,1330.943,2090.946,5580.848,5650.844,2090.66,0270.1
    Tatars18,8840.517,9420.418,2280.44,9050.16,1910.18,1330.15,9930.1
    Armenians14,5810.414,1780.412,9320.311,5090.227,3320.525,9630.421,6370.321,9540.3
    Gagauzes10,1750.39,3290.23,6690.14,3620.1
    Sarakatsani36,1280.27,2510.23,0750.12,8660.02,0850.0
    Russians1,6850.03,2750.22,5050.29,0800.219,7060.411,9280.213,2000.210,5510.1
    Macedonians[48] ------169,54422.4187,78922.5
    Others15,6020.213,1990.2
    Undeclared0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
    Total3,744,2834,035,5754,337,5134,846,9715,528,7416,077,9397,029,3497,613,709
    Population of Bulgaria according to ethnic group 1965-2001
    Ethnic groupcensus 1965census 1975census 19851census 1992[49] census 2001[50]
    Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
    Bulgarians7,231,24387.97,930,02490.97,271,18585.76,655,21083.9
    Turks780,9289.5730,7288.4800,0529.4746,6649.4
    Roma148,87421.818,32320.2313,3963.7370,9084.7
    Armenians20,2820.214,5260.213,6770.210,8320.1
    Russians10,8150.117,1390.215,5950.2
    "Vlachs"5,1590.110,5660.1
    Sarakatsani35,1440.14,1070.1
    Ukrainians1,8640.02,4890.0
    Macedonians9,6320.110,8030.15,0710.1
    Greeks8,2410.14,9300.13,4080.0
    Jews5,1080.13,0763,4610.01,3630.0
    Romanians2,4910.01,0880.0
    Tatars6,4300.15,9630.14,5150.11,8030.0
    Gagauzes1,4780.05400.0
    Others25,1310.323,5420.312,3420.2
    Undeclared008,4810.162,1080.8
    Unshown00024,8070.3
    Total8,227,9668,727,7718,948,6498,487,3177,932,984
    Ethnic group! colspan="3"
    census 2011census 2021[51] [52]
    Number%Number%
    Bulgarians5,664,62476.925,118,49478.51
    Turks588,3187.99508,3787.80
    Roma325,3434.42266,7204.09
    Russians9,9780.1414,2180.22
    Armenians6,5520.095,3060.08
    "Vlachs"3,6840.051,6430.03
    Sarakatsani2,5560.032,0710.03
    Ukrainians1,7890.023,2390.05
    Macedonians1,6540.021,1430.02
    Greeks1,3790.021,6250.02
    Jews1,1620.021,1530.02
    Romanians8910.016830.01
    Tatars1,1290.2
    Gagauzes400.0
    Others19,6590.2746,79620.62
    Undeclared736,98110.00style="text-align:right;"-79,5131.22-
    No return/Data borrowed
    from administrative sources
    --style="text-align:center; background:#DCDCDC;"-467,6787.1-
    Total7,364,5706,519,789
    1 Percentages in parentheses are calculated only based on the number of people who answered the ethnicity question (6,680,980 for 2011 and 6,052,111 for 2021) and do not cover people whose data has been collected from administrative databases.
    2Includes, among other things, 2,894 Englishmen, 865 Italians, 824 Poles, etc. etc.

    The following table shows the ethnic composition of all Provinces of Bulgaria according to the 2021 census:
    Ethnic Affiliation in Bulgaria by Province in 2021[53]
    ProvinceBulgarianTurkishRomaniOtherUndeclaredUnknown1, 2Total
    Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
    236,951 81.9 14,028 4.8 12,138 4.2 11,197 3.8 3,768 1.3 13,965 4.8 292,227 100.0
    280,38873.7 47,286 12.414,893 3.95,9921.6 5,8051.5 25,922 6.8 380,286 100.0
    109,041 72.618,83512.510,118 6.82,035 1.4 1,3041.3 8,813 5.9 150,146 100.0
    89,394 90.94,723 4.8 792 0.8735 0.71,0681.11,675 1.9 98,387 100.0
    154,08872.825,55512.1 12,5725.9 1,764 0.8 2,254 1.1 15,3327.2 211,565 100.0
    37,38326.583,28059.0 1,3541.0 2,1301.54,9093.5 12,121 8.6 141,177 100.0
    101,73591.0 560.0 6,5555.9 3290.3 509 0.5 2,552 2.3 111,736 100.0
    103,48488.9 2,7892.4 4,9994.3 407 0.3 2,2021.9 2,5132.2 116,394 100.0
    99,53983.0 1360.1 13,130 10.93810.39840.8 5,7804.8 119,950 100.0
    184,67780.4 6,7823.0 14,320 6.24,6862.02,1891.0 17,1607.5 229,814 100.0
    107,45994.1 1280.13,5543.13880.3 718 0.6 1,925 1.7 114,162 100.0
    200,197 88.55,367 2.4 6,9993.1 937 0.4 1,8290.8 10,791 4.8 226,120 100.0
    513,249 80.9 39,585 6.226,296 4.1 5,004 0.8 8,1341.3 42,2296.7 634,497 100.0
    38,87337.7 49,31847.8 5,8065.6 1,9571.9 1,9151.9 5,3635.2 103,223 100.0
    148,84576.9 23,95812.47,0413.62,0601.1 2,3151.2 9,2644.8 193,483 100.0
    81,90754.1 44,26329.2 11,2687.4 2,1181.4 1,8721.2 10,0376.6 151,465 100.0
    51,579 52.8 34,39235.7 5,244 5.4 6940.7 793 0.8 5,068 5.2 97,770 100.0
    115,60766.9 13,2177.7 23,91813.9 1,8611.1 1,691 1.0 16,396 9.5 172,690 100.0
    86,81890.2 3,0493.2 4830.53,5893.7 1,6091.7 7360.73 96,284 100.0
    Sofia City 1,058,55383.1 5,8810.5 13,9601.1 13,7661.1 16,086 1.2 166,044 13.0 1,274,290 100.0
    204,66288.23420.111,3804.9 7420.31,4590.6 13,404 5.8 231,989 100.0
    239,77080.912,1704.1 18,158 6.1 2,4650.8 2,9291.0 21,015 7.1 296,507 100.0
    46,455 47.3 34,27934.95,9806.12,8282.9 2,091 2.16,0616.2 98,144 100.0
    352,88681.6 25,6785.9 9,6342.27,6641.8 6,1871.4 30,1497.0 432,198 100.0
    178,49186.1 11,3485.53,6551.81,6520.8 2,314 1.1 9,9114.8 207,371 100.0
    68,14390.4 650.05,0556.7 3450.5306 0.4 1,4942.0 75,408 100.0
    137,58790.0 4240.3 10,132 6.64440.3 1,6291.1 2,5871.7 152,813 100.0
    90,73382.7 9940.9 7,1166.5 8360.8 6430.6 9,371 8.5 109,693 100.0
    Republic of Bulgaria5,118,49478.5 508,3787.8266,7204.1 79,0061.2 79,513 1.2 467,6787.2 6,519,789 100.0

    Languages

    See main article: Languages of Bulgaria.

    Population of Bulgaria according to mother tongue 1880–1892
    Mother
    tongue
    census 1880[54] [55] census 1887[56] census 1892[57]
    Number%Number%Number%
    Bulgarian1,345,50767.02,326,25073.72,505,32675.7
    Turkish/Gagauz527,28426.3607,33119.3569,72817.2
    "Vlach"49,0702.4
    Romanian62,6281.9
    Roma37,6001.950,2911.652,1321.6
    Ladino14,0200.727,5310.8
    Tatar12,3760.616,2900.5
    Greek11,1520.658,3261.858,5181.8
    Armenian3,8376,4450.2
    Serbo-Croatian1,894
    Serbian818
    German/Yiddish1,280
    German3,620
    Russian1,123928
    Albanian530
    Italian515803
    Hungarian220
    Czech174
    French164356
    Arabic97
    Polish92
    English64
    Circassian63
    Persian58
    Others4024,425
    Unknown1,165
    Total2,007,9193 154 3753,310,713
    Territory (km2)63,75295,22395,223
    The 2001 census defines an ethnic group as a "community of people, related to each other by origin and language, and close to each other by mode of life and culture"; and one's mother tongue as "the language a person speaks best and usually uses for communication in the family (household)".[58] According to the 2011 census, among the Bulgarians 99.4% indicate Bulgarian as a mother tongue, 0.3% - Turkish/Balkan gagauz, 0.1% - Roma and 0.1% others; among Turks 96.6% have pointed the Turkish/Balkan Gagauz as a mother tongue and 3.2% - Bulgarian; among the Roma 85% indicate Roma language as a mother tongue, 7.5% - Bulgarian, 6.7% - Turkish/Balkan gagauz and 0.6% - Romanian.

    Religion

    See main article: Religion in Bulgaria.

    Bulgaria's traditional religion according to the constitution is the Orthodox Christianity, while Bulgaria is a secular state too. Since the last two censuses (2001 and 2011) provide widely divergent results, they are both shown in the table below. It is noteworthy that over a fifth of the population chose not to respond to this question in the 2011 census.

    2001[59] 2011[60]
    Orthodox Christian82.6%59.4%
    Muslim12.2%7.8% (7.4% Sunni; 0.4% Shia)
    Catholic0.6%0.7%
    Protestant0.5%0.9%
    Other0.2%0.15%
    None3.9%9.3%
    No response-21.8%

    The results of the Bulgarian 2011 Census, in which the indication of answer regarding the question for confession was optional, are as follows:[61]

    GroupPopulation% of declared% of total
    4,374,135 76.0% 59.4%
    Undeclared 1,606,269 - 21.8%
    682,162 11.8% 9.3%
    577,139 10.0% 7.8%
    64,476 1.1% 0.9%
    48,945 0.8% 0.7%
    1,715 0.0% 0.0%
    Jews 7060.0% 0.0%
    Others 9,0230.2% 0.1%
    Figure of percentage - 5,758,301 7,364,570
    The results of the Bulgarian 2001 Census by ethnic groups, the latest census in which the indication of identification (whether by confession or as irreligious) in the question for confession was obligatory, are as follows:[62] [63]
    Ethnic groups
    by confession
    TotalBulgariansTurksRomaOthers
    Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
    Orthodoxy6,552,75182.66,315,93894.95,4250.7180,32648.651,062
    Islam966,97812.2131,5312.0713,02495.5103,43627.918,987
    Irreligion308,1163.9151,0082.323,1463.159,66916.1
    Roman Catholicism43,8110.637,8110.62,5610.3
    Protestantism42,3080.514,5910.22,0660.324,6516.61,000
    Others14,9370.24,3310.14420.1
    Total population7,928,901100.06,655,210100.0746,664100.0370,908100.0100.0
    Religion! colspan="2"
    census 1900census 1910census 1920census 1926census 1934census 1992census 2001census 2011census 2021
    Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
    Orthodoxy3,019,99980.63,643,91884.04,062,09783.84,569,07483.45,128,89084.47,274,59285.76,552,75182.64,374,13559.44,091,78062.8
    Islam643,30017.2602,07813.8690,73414.2789,29614.4821,29813.51,110,29513.0966,97812.2577,1397.8638,7089.8
    Protestantism4,5240.16,3350.15,6170.16,7350.18,3710.121,8780.242,3080.564,4761.169,8521.1
    Roman Catholicism28,5690.832,1500.734,0720.740,3470.745,7040.753,0740.643,8110.548,9450.838,7090.6
    Jews33,6630.940,0670.943,2320.946,4310.848,3980.82,5800.07060.01,7360.0
    Armenian Apostolic Church13,8090.412,2590.310,8480.225,4020.523,4760.49,6720.11,7150.05,0020.1
    Others3260.014,9370.29,0230.26,4510.1
    Irreligion272,2643.7305,1024.7
    Undeclared930.0308,1163.9408,9895.5731,84111.2
    Borrowed from adm. sources308,1163.91,606,26921.8616,6819.5
    Total3,744,2834,337,5134,846,9715,478,7416,077,9398,487,3177,928,9017,364,5706,519,789

    Migration

    See main article: Immigration to Bulgaria.

    Historical migration

    The first censuses of the Principality of Bulgaria and the autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia in 1880 recorded 31,786 and 17,970 Bulgarian refugees from Macedonia and Ottoman Thrace, respectively, who accounted for 1.38% of the population of the Principality an 2.20% of the population of the autonomous province, respectively.[64] [65] The census of the Principality also counted a total of 37,635 people, or 1.88% of the population, born in a country other than the Ottoman Empire, mostly Bulgarians from Romania, Northern Dobruja and Bessarabia. By 1887, when the first joint census of the Principality and the autonomous province was conducted following their peaceful unification in 1885, the number of the refugees from the Ottoman Empire had grown to 54,462 people, or 1.73% of the population, while the rest of the foreign-born population had fallen to 31,637 people, 9,831 of whom born in the Russian Empire, 11,843 in Romania, 2,690 in Serbia and 7,273 elsewhere.

    According to the 1910 census, 300,000 or almost 10% of the ethnic Bulgarians were born in another Bulgarian municipality than the one they were enumerated in. The same data shows that the foreign-born ethnic Bulgarians numbered 78,000, or 2% of them, most numerous of whom were the 61,000 Ottoman-born, 9,000 Romanian-born and by less than 2,000 Austro-Hungarian, Serbian and Russian-born.[66] By the 1926 census, there had been 253,000 refugees with granted households and land or citizenship but with many more in towns of uncertain number. 35% came from Eastern Thrace, 30% came from Greek Macedonia, another 18% from Western Thrace, 8% from Dobruja, 4% from the Western Outlands, 3% from Asia Minor, and 2% from North Macedonia. They constituted 6% of the country's population. In 1940, 70,000 Bulgarians were exchanged from Northern Dobruja. The total number of refugees in 1878-1940 is estimated at between 700,000 and 1,200,000.[67] In 1950-1951, around 150,000 Turks left Bulgaria for Turkey, and again in 1989.

    Current migration

    According to the 2011 census Russian citizens are the most numerous foreigners - 11 991, followed by 8 444 EU citizens (UK- 2 605, Greece - 1 253, Germany- 848, Poland - 819 and Italy - 456), citizens of Ukraine - 3 064, North Macedonia - 1 091, Moldova - 893 and Serbia - 569. 22.8% of them are from Asia, mostly from Turkey. Those with dual Bulgarian and other citizenship were 22 152, or 0.3% of the population. Of them persons with Bulgarian and Russian citizenship were 5 257 (23.7%), followed by persons with Bulgarian and Turkish citizenship - 4 282 (19.3%), Bulgarian and citizenship of the USA- 1 725 (7.8%). There are at least 17,527 Refugees of the Syrian Civil War with applications in Bulgaria. In 2001-2015 185,447 people applied for Bulgarian citizenship and 116,222 were provided with. 113,647 were granted on grounds of proven Bulgarian ancestry, including 59,968 North Macedonia citizens. 29,218 were Moldovan citizens, 5930 Ukrainians, 5374 Serbians, 5194 Russians, 3840 Israeli, 2192 Albanians, 692 Turks and others.[68] In 2016, 12,880 foreigners were naturalized, including 6196 Macedonians.[69]

    Nationality! colspan="2"
    20112021
    Number%Number%
    Bulgarians7,327,84799.50%6,459,24899.07%
    Foreigners36,7230.50%60,5410.93%
    EU-278,4440.11%10,5490.16%
    Other European18,4130.15%35,9010.55%
    Africa4290.01%9400.01%
    Central and South America3380.00%5180.01%
    North America5880.01%7760.01%
    Asia8,4030.11%10,4660.16%
    Oceania620.00%880.00%
    Stateless460.00%1,3030.02%
    Total7,364,5706,519,789
    Nationality! colspan="2"
    20112021
    Number%Number%
    Russian Federation11,91132.84%17,46528.85%
    Ukraine3,0648.45%6,16310.18%
    Turkey2,7417.56%3,0174.99%
    United Kingdom2,6057.09%4,4847.41%
    Greece1,2533.41%1,6312.69%
    Armenia1,1673.22%1,0481.73%
    1,0913.01%1,5762.60%
    Germany8482.31%1,7972.97%
    China7492.04%1,6832.78%
    7292.00%2,6154.32%
    Total36,72360,541

    Population by country of birth:[70]

    2011201320152019[71]
    Bulgaria7,290,6667,188,2737,077,3896,951,482
    Total foreign-born78,62196,113123,803168,516
    18,72519,53324,41631,679
    Turkey3,9556,2279,28411,702
    1,2501,2988,31814,080
    Greece4,9287,3777,1668,563
    Ukraine5,8776,0847,03910,115
    Germany2,0833,6385,5339,334
    3,0425,0666,7389,992
    Spain1,5584,0655,2407,098
    Romania6,0455,3804,6124,556
    Italy1,0822,2612,8303,790
    2,4262,3842,7423,595
    United States1,1802,0232,4313,153
    1,8931,9962,3632,990
    Serbia2,3062,2462,3182,879
    Azerbaijan2,1521,8711,8862,103
    France5621,2551,7812,614
    Poland1,1961,4431,6482,043
    Armenia1,4721,4221,5651,840
    Kazakhstan9701,0671,5152,101
    Belgium4101,0091,4812,199
    China8609291,2361,447
    Czech Republic9241,0281,1861,514
    Austria1,512
    Albania1,1341,0781,1301,348
    Netherlands2987351,0401,522
    Cyprus2446791,0081,372
    Unknown1441661,006
    Foreigners by nationality:
    20112015
    Total36,72365,622
    11,99117,943
    Turkey2,7418,157
    7297,508
    Ukraine3,0643,874
    2,6053,693
    Unknown2,538
    Greece1,2532,094
    Stateless1,875
    1,0911,289
    Germany8481,266
    Armenia1,1671,175
    China7491,147
    8931,018
    Poland819978
    United States876
    Italy456815
    Serbia569813
    Iraq706806
    Kazakhstan712

    Net Migration

    Bulgaria Net Migration, 2007-present! Year !! Immigrants !! Emigrants !! Net Migration
    2007 1,561 2,958 -1,397
    2008 1,236 2,112 -876
    2009 3,310 19,039 -15,729
    2010 3,518 27,708 -24190
    2011 4,722 9,517 -4,795
    2012 14,103 16,615 -2,512
    2013 18,570 19,678 -1,108
    2014 26,615 28,727 -2,112
    2015 25,223 29,470 -4,247
    2016 21,241 30,570 -9,329
    2017 25,597 31,586 -5,999
    2018 29,559 33,225 -3,666
    2019 37,929 39,941 -2,012
    2020 37,364 6,649 30,715
    2021 39,461 26,755 12,706
    2022 40,619 13,175 27,444
    2023 56,807 15,227 41,580
    [72]

    Age structure

    0–14 years: 13.2%

    15–65 years: 68.3%

    65 years and over: 18.5% (Census 2011)At the 2011 census, the largest cohort of those self-identified as Romani was the 0–9 years cohort, which accounted for 20.8% of all Romani. The same age cohort accounted for 10.2% of the Turks and 7.2% of the Bulgarians. At the 2021 census, the 0–9 years cohort amongst the Romani was second largest after the 10–19 years one and represented 17.0% of all Romani.[73] The corresponding percentages for ethnic Bulgarians and ethnic Turks stood at 7.7% and 8.8%, respectively.

    Ethnicity of children aged 0–9 per province (% from the declared)
    ProvinceEthnicityEthnicityEthnicity
    Bulgarian Turkish Roma
    Bulgaria 72.9% 10.6% 12.0%
    80.9% 7.3% 7.8%
    68.5% 16.2% 9.7%
    56.9% 17.1% 18.9%
    85.0% 8.2% 3.8%
    62.7% 16.5% 16.7%
    23.8% 67.8% 2.7%
    79.4% 0.0% 16.1%
    78.0% 3.6% 14.8%
    66.8% 0.1% 29.0%
    67.3% 8.7% 16.7%
    90.3% 0.1% 7.5%
    78.5% 4.4% 13.5%
    74.1% 9.3% 11.9%
    33.9% 50.0% 10.2%
    72.2% 15.1% 8.9%
    45.5% 31.5% 17.6%
    38.2% 43.1% 14.4%
    55.0% 11.6% 28.3%
    87.6% 5.0% 1.9%
    Sofia City 92.2% 0.5% 3.6%
    77.1% 0.2% 18.8%
    68.3% 7.3% 19.9%
    39.6% 38.0% 15.5%
    79.2% 8.9% 7.0%
    79.9% 11.0% 4.4%
    74.3% 0.1% 20.6%
    80.3% 0.4% 15.6%
    62.4% 5.8% 26.7%
    Source (2011 census):
    Bulgarian children constitute the majority of all children in 23 out of 28 provinces. They constitute more than ninety percent of all children in two provinces: Sofia (city) (92%) and Pernik Province (90%).

    Turkish children constitute the majority in Kardzhali Province (68% of self-declared) and Razgrad Province (50% of self-declared); they also constitute the largest group of all children in Silistra Province (43%).

    Roma children constitute 12% of all children in Bulgaria and more than a quarter in three provinces: Montana (29%), Sliven (28%) and Yambol (27%).

    Bulgaria is ageing rapidly, especially in some remote rural areas.

    Age Structure (2011)
    Under working age (0 – 17)Working age (18 – 64)Above working age (65 and over)
    1 172 208 (16.0%)4 789 967 (65.1%)1 389 059 (18.9%)
    Age Structure (2017)[74]
    Under working age (0 – 17)Working age (18 – 64)Above working age (65 and over)
    1 065 993 (15.1%)4 248 503 (60.3%)1 735 538 (24.6%)
    The ageing of the population leads to an increase of the median age. The median age is 43.6 as of 2017, up from 40.4 years in 2001.[75]

    Education

    See main article: Education in Bulgaria.

    Over 98% of the population is literate, the males being more literate than the females.

    According to the 2011 census, about 112,778 people aged nine or more are illiterate. There are considerable differences in the share of illiterate persons amongst the three main ethnic groups. Amongst the Bulgarian ethnic group the share of illiterate is 0.5%, amongst the Turkish - 4.7% and amongst the Roma ethnic group - 11.8%.[76] About 81 thousand people aged seven or more never visited school.[77]

    Unemployment

    The number of unemployed people declined from 207000 people (or around 6.2% of the population) in 2017[78] to 156 657 in November 2023. The unemployment rate stood at 4.3 per cent in November 2023 according to Eurostat.[79]

    Most unemployed people are aged 15 to 24 years old.

    The unemployment rate in rural areas (around 10.0%) is nearly two times higher than the unemployment rate in urban areas (approximately 5.1%).

    Vidin Province has the highest unemployment rate with almost one fifth of its labour force being unemployed. The provinces of Shumen (15.9%), Silistra (12.5%) and Targovishte (12.4%) also have very high unemployment rates.

    Other statistics

    Home ownership

    According to Eurostat, 82.3% per cent of the population live in privately owned and owner-occupied homes, ranking it as 12th highest in ownership globally.[80] It is down from a recent peak of 87.6% in 2008, and has been steadily falling since.

    Internet penetration

    The number of Internet users has increased rapidly since 2000—from 430,000 their number grew to 1.55 million in 2004, and 3.4 million (48 per cent penetration rate) in 2010.[81] Bulgaria has the third-fastest average Broadband Internet speed in the world after South Korea and Romania with an average speed of 1,611 kbit/s.[82] [83]

    Mobile phone adoption

    Currently there are three active mobile phone operators—Mtel, Telenor and Vivacom, Mtel is the largest one with 5.2 million users as of 2010,[84] Telenor has 3,9 million as of 2007 and Vivacom over 1 million.

    HIV

    Bulgaria's HIV rate is among the lowest in the world, being 0.1% or 3,800 infected as of 2009.

    Urbanization

    See also: List of cities and towns in Bulgaria.

    Most Bulgarians (72.5 per cent) reside in urban areas. Approximately one-sixth of them live in Sofia, which has a population exceeding 1,200,000 people.

    Urban population: 5,338,261 or 72.5% of total population (Census 2011)

    Rural: 2,026,309 or 27.5%

    Rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005–10 est.)

    See also

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: TOTAL FERTILITY RATE BY STATISTICAL REGIONS, DISTRICTS AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE 2023.
    2. Web site: ЖИВОРОДЕНИ, МЪРТВОРОДЕНИ И УМРЕЛИ ПРЕЗ I ТРИМЕСЕЧИЕ НА 2024 ГОДИНА, ПО ОБЛАСТИ.
    3. Web site: 2013 Human Development Report - Human Development Reports. hdr.undp.org. January 2013 . 24 August 2017.
    4. Web site: Interactive Infographic of the World's Best Countries . Newsweek.com . 15 August 2010 . 24 July 2011 . 28 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110728092003/http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/15/interactive-infographic-of-the-worlds-best-countries.html . dead .
    5. The population of Bulgaria during the Middle Ages (seventh to fourteenth centuries). 2014-01-24 . 12280532 . 4 . 2. 3–11 . Naselenie . Arkadiev . D.
    6. Web site: Census 2011. Nsi.bg. 2017-08-24.
    7. Web site: НАСЕЛЕНИЕ КЪМ 7 СЕПТЕМВРИ 2021 ГОДИНА . 2023-05-11 . nsi.bg.
    8. Note: Crude migration change % is a trend analysis, an extrapolation, based on calculation of the average population change (current year minus previous) minus natural change of the current year (see table vital statistics). As average population is an estimate of the population in the middle of the year and not end of the year, crude migration is thus an extrapolation.
    9. B.R. Mitchell. European historical statistics, 1750–1975.
    10. Book: Demographic Yearbook 1948. Statistical Office of the United Nations. 20 February 2015.
    11. Web site: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria . 10 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100731172424/http://www.nsi.bg/otrasalen.php?otr=53 . 31 July 2010.
    12. Web site: Home | National statistical institute. www.nsi.bg.
    13. Web site: National Center of Public Health and Analyses. 18 April 2021. 29 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210429202908/https://ncpha.government.bg/en/. dead.
    14. https://infostat.nsi.bg/infostat/pages/reports/result.jsf?x_2=1089 infostat.nsi.bg, visited 18 december 2023
    15. Web site: Population and demographic processes in 2015.
    16. Web site: Population and demographic processes in 2016.
    17. Web site: Population and demographic processes in 2017.
    18. Web site: Population and demographic processes in 2018.
    19. Web site: Population and demographic processes in 2019.
    20. Web site: Population and demographic processes in 2020.
    21. Web site: Population and demographic processes in 2021. National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria. 29 April 2022.
    22. Web site: Population and demographic processes in 2022.
    23. Web site: TOTAL FERTILITY RATE BY STATISTICAL REGIONS, DISTRICTS AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE 2022.
    24. Web site: TOTAL FERTILITY RATE BY STATISTICAL REGIONS, DISTRICTS AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE 2023.
    25. Web site: TOTAL FERTILITY RATE BY STATISTICAL REGIONS, DISTRICTS AND PLACE OF RESIDENCE 2023.
    26. Web site: Живородени, мъртвородени и умрели. ncpha.government.bg.
    27. Book: Karpat . K.H. . Ottoman population, 1830-1914: demographic and social characteristics . University of Wisconsin Press . Madison, Wis . 1985 . 70. The assessment of fertility rates is an absolute necessity for the understanding of the growth rate of the Ottoman population. It is generally assumed that during the first thirtv years of the nineteenth century the Ottoman population decreased, beginning to increase again after 1850. This assumption is one-sided and only partly true, for it ignores the differences in growth rates between Muslim and non-Muslim groups. The non-Muslim population actually grew at a fairly fast rate after the 1830s—probably 2 percent annually; the Muslim population declined or remained the same in number. There are indications, however, that fertility rates among the Muslims began to increase after 1850. The causes of the disproportionate fertility rates among the two groups are to be found in the special economic and social conditions which favored non-Muslims and penalized the Muslims, especially Turks. Male Turks spent their peak reproductive years in military service and were unable to marry and settle down to take advantage of economic opportunities. Then, when in the nineteenth century the Ottoman state was exposed to the influence of the European capitalist economy and to intensified internal and international trade, several non-Muslim groups became the early recipients of the economic benefits—and the promoters as well—of the new economic system. .
    28. Статистически годишник на Българското Царство. National Statistical Institute. 1915. bg, fr. Sofia. Статистически годишник на Българското Царство за 1912 г.. Statistical Almanac of the Tsardom of Bulgaria for 1912. 75–77, 105.
    29. Статистически годишник на Българското Царство. National Statistical Institute. 1930. bg, fr. Sofia. Статистически годишник на Българското Царство за 1929–1930 г.. Statistical Almanac of the Tsardom of Bulgaria for 1929–1930. 61, 89.
    30. Статистически годишник на Българското Царство. National Statistical Institute. 1930. bg, fr. Sofia. Статистически годишник на Българското Царство за 1934 г.. Statistical Almanac of the Tsardom of Bulgaria for 1934. 53, 64.
    31. Проблеми на географията. 1-2. 2011. Sofia. Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Ilieva. Nadezhda. Промени в локализацията на ромската етническа група в България. Problems in the Localisation of Romani in Bulgaria. 3.
    32. Web site: Live births by districts, municipalities and sex - National statistical institute. www.nsi.bg. 14 March 2018. 15 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180315133635/http://www.nsi.bg/en/content/6623/live-births-districts-municipalities-and-sex. dead.
    33. News: Bulgaria Writes New Chapter In Long Story Of Demographic Decline. 9 July 2020. 28 October 2020. Timothy. Judah. The Economist. Balkan Insight.
    34. News: NSI - Birth rate, final data. 2021. 22 October 2022. National Statistical Institute (Bulgaria).
    35. Web site: Total fertility rate by statistical regions, districts and place of residence - National statistical institute. www.nsi.bg. 28 January 2018. 20 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180320150417/http://www.nsi.bg/en/content/6615/total-fertility-rate-statistical-regions-districts-and-place-residence. dead.
    36. Web site: Total fertility rate by statistical regions, districts and place of residence - National statistical institute. www.nsi.bg.
    37. Web site: Live births by districts, municipalities and sex. National Statistical Institute.
    38. Web site: Population by Districts, Municipalities, Place of Residence and Sex as of 31.12.2022. National Statistical Institute.
    39. Web site: Live births. www.nsi.bg.
    40. Web site: Live births by districts, municipalities and mother's age. National Statistical Institute.
    41. Web site: НАСЕЛЕНИЕ КЪМ 31.12.2022 Г. ПО ОБЛАСТИ, ОБЩИНИ, МЕСТОЖИВЕЕНЕ И ПОЛ. www.nsi.bg. 28 April 2023. 15 August 2023.
    42. Web site: World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations. esa.un.org. 2018-08-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20160919061238/https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/. 19 September 2016. dead.
    43. Web site: - National Statistical Institute . 29 October 2019 . 8 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200808142849/https://www.nsi.bg/en/content/6649/life-expectancy-districts-and-sex . dead .
    44. Web site: Population projections by sex and age National statistical institute . 2024-04-21 . www.nsi.bg.
    45. L. Ivanov. Demographic priorities and goals of the Government Program 2017–2021. Presentation at the round table Demographic Policies and Labour Mobility organized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, and the State Agency for the Bulgarians Abroad. Sofia, 19 September 2017. 4 pp.
    46. L. Ivanov. Measures to solve demographic problems. Business Club Magazine. Issue 11, 2017. pp. 18-20. (in Bulgarian and English)
    47. Web site: Население по местоживеене, пол и етническа група. Population by place of residence, sex and ethnic group. Censusresults.nsi.bg. bg. 1900–2011. 27 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20170530153208/http://censusresults.nsi.bg/Census/Reports/1/2/R7.aspx. 30 May 2017. dead.
    48. Georgeoff, Peter John (with David Crowe), "National Minorities in Bulgaria, 1919–1980" in Horak, Stephen, ed., Eastern European National Minorities 1919/1980: AHandbook, (Littleton, Co: Libraries Limited, Inc.).
    49. Web site: 6.1 European population committee (The demographic characteristics of the main ethnic/national minorities in Bulgaria). Council of Europe.
    50. Web site: 1 March 2001. НАСЕЛЕНИЕ КЪМ 1 March 2001 Г. ПО ОБЛАСТИ И ЕТНИЧЕСКА ГРУПА (Inhabitants as at 1 March 2001 by province and ethnic group). Nsi.bg.
    51. Web site: Population by Ethnic Group, Statistical Regions, Districts and Municipalities as of 07/09/2021. National Statistical Institute. 2022. en.
    52. Web site: Ethno-Cultural Characteristics of the Bulgarian Population as at 7 September 2021. National Statistical Institute. 24 November 2022. bg.
    53. Web site: Ethno-Cultural Characteristics of the Bulgarian Population as at 7 September 2021. National Statistical Institute. 24 November 2022. bg. 13.
    54. Web site: ILib - Lister . 2017-02-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085456/http://statlib.nsi.bg:8181/en/lister.php?iid=DO-010000007&page=10 . 4 February 2017.
    55. Kalionski, Alexei. Communities, Identities and Migrations in Southeast Europe Collected Articles. Anamnesis., p. 48
    56. 6.1 European population committee (CDPO) The demographic characteristics of national minorities in certain European States The demographic characteristics of the main ethnic/national minorities in Bulgaria CM(99)138 Addendum 2 (restricted) 27 October 1999
    57. Web site: ILib - Lister . 2017-02-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170204165949/http://statlib.nsi.bg:8181/en/lister.php?iid=DO-010000116&page=28 . 4 February 2017.
    58. Web site: Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe . Population by ethnic group and mother tongue, 2001 . 2 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923211849/http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/bulgaria.php?aid=421 . 23 September 2015 . dead .
    59. Web site: НАСЕЛЕНИЕ КЪМ 01.03.2001 Г. ПО ОБЛАСТИ И ВЕРОИЗПОВЕДАНИЕ . POPULATION AS OF 01.03.2001 BY DISTRICT AND RELIGION . 2010-10-06 . live . 7 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100907235917/http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Religion.htm.
    60. Web site: Население по местоживеене, възраст и вероизповедание . Population by place of residence, age and religion . 17 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120128054930/http://censusresults.nsi.bg/Census/Reports/2/2/R10.aspx . 28 January 2012 . live.
    61. Web site: Население по местоживеене, възраст и вероизповедание . 2011. Censusresults.nsi.bg. 2016-04-11. bg.
    62. Web site: Етнически малцинствени общности . Ethnic minority communities . Nccedi.government.bg . 2017-08-24 . dead . 24 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170824222635/http://www.nccedi.government.bg/page.php?category=92&id=247.
    63. Web site: Структура на населението по вероизповедание . Structure of the population by confession . Nccedi.government.bg . 2017-08-24 . dead . 25 December 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091225163107/http://www.nsi.bg/Census/StrReligion.htm.
    64. Web site: Ivan. Balev . НЕПРИЗНАТИТЕ" ПРЕБРОЯВАНИЯ В ИСТОРИЯТА НА БЪЛГАРСКАТА СТАТИСТИКА . Unrecognised Censuses in the History of Bulgarian Statistics. bg . 2017 . 10–11.
    65. Book: Сборник Тракия, т. 1. Collection Thrace . I. 2001. 51. Thracian Scientific Institute, Haskovo Branch. bg.
    66. Web site: iLib - Lister. https://web.archive.org/web/20170206185503/http://statlib.nsi.bg:8181/en/lister.php?iid=DO-010000566&page=62. dead. 6 February 2017. 6 February 2017. 15 October 2017.
    67. Web site: Communities, Identities and Migrations in Southeast Europe - PDF. docplayer.net. 24 August 2017.
    68. Web site: 59 968 македонци доказали български произход - Благоевград . DarikNews.bg. 11 June 2015 . 24 August 2017.
    69. Web site: Президент на Република България. President.bg. 2017-08-24.
    70. Perspectives migrations internationales 2016 et Eurostat.
    71. Web site: Bulgaria - International immigration 2019.
    72. Data extracted from Bulgaria Statistics. Retrieved from [Bulgaria Statistics website](http://www.bulgariastatistics.bg) on July 12, 2024.
    73. Web site: Инфостат. Population by Ethnic Group and Age as of 07.09.2021.
    74. Web site: Time series: Pop_6.1.10_Pop_DR_EN.xls . Population by working age status, place of residence, sex, and by districts and municipalities | National statistical institute . Nsi.bg . 2018-05-05.
    75. Web site: POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROCESSES IN 2017 . 2018-05-05.
    76. http://www.nsi.bg/census2011/PDOCS2/Census2011final_en.pdf 2011 census results
    77. Web site: Risk report . sociobrains.com .
    78. Unemployed and unemployment rates - national level; statistical regions; districts http://www.nsi.bg/en/content/6503/unemployed-and-unemployment-rates-national-level-statistical-regions-districts
    79. Web site: Eurostat: Unemployment in Bulgaria in November 2023 was 4.3% . 9 January 2024 .
    80. Web site: Eurostat - Data Explorer - Distribution of population by tenure status, type of household and income group. Eurostat. 23 October 2016.
    81. Web site: Bulgaria Internet Usage Stats and Market Report . Internetworldstats.com . 30 June 2010 . 20 December 2011.
    82. News: Bulgaria ranks third in global Internet speed survey. The Sofia Echo. 21 September 2011. 8 June 2012. 17 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120617201929/http://sofiaecho.com/2011/09/21/1161236_bulgaria-ranks-third-in-global-internet-speed-survey. dead.
    83. Web site: The World in 2011 – Facts and Figures . February 2012 . . 27 April 2012.
    84. Web site: "М-Тел" блиц с Андреас Майерхофер - списание МЕНИДЖЪР. 23 April 2012. Manager.bg. 24 August 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120423010908/http://www.manager.bg/broi-132/menidzhmant/%E2%80%9Cm-tel-blits-s-andreas-mayerhofer. 23 April 2012.