Demographics of Bulgaria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Demographics of Bulgaria
Bulgaria single age population pyramid 2020.png
Bulgaria population pyramid in 2020
PopulationDecrease 6,875,040 (30 June 2021)[1][2][3][4]
Growth rateDecrease -9.5 people/1,000 population (2020)[1]
Birth rateDecrease 8.5 births/1,000 population (2020)[5]
Death rateNegative increase 18.0 deaths/1,000 population (2020)[1]
Life expectancyDecrease 73.6 years (2020)[6]
 • maleDecrease 69.9 years (2020)[6]
 • femaleDecrease 77.5 years (2020)[6]
Fertility rateSteady 1.56 children born/woman (2020)[1]
Infant mortality ratePositive decrease 5.1 deaths/1,000 infants (2020)[1]
Net migration rateIncrease +4.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020)
Age structure
0–14 yearsSteady 14.4%
15–64 yearsDecrease 63.8%
65 and overIncrease21.8% (2020)
Sex ratio
At birth1.06 male(s)/female
Under 151.05 male(s)/female
15–64 years0.97 male(s)/female
65 and over0.68 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationalitynoun: Bulgarian(s) adjective: Bulgarian
Major ethnicBulgarian (84.8%)
Minor ethnicTurkish (8.8%)
Roma (4.9%)
Other and unknown (1.5%)
Language
OfficialBulgarian (85.2%)

The demography of the Republic of Bulgaria is monitored by the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria.

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Bulgaria, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Bulgaria has a very high Human Development Index of 0.813, ranking 51st in the world in 2018[7] and holds the 38th position in Newsweek's rankings of the world's best countries to live in, measuring health, education, political environment and economic dynamism.[8]

Demographic history[]

Various estimates have put Bulgaria's medieval population at 1.1 million in 700 AD and 2.6 million in 1365.[9] At the 2011 census, the population inhabiting Bulgaria was 7,364,570 in total, but more recent estimates calculate that the population has declined to 6.9 million.[10] 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.

Census population and average annual growth rate
YearPop.±% p.a.
1887 3,154,375—    
1892 3,310,713+0.97%
1900 3,744,283+1.55%
1905 4,035,575+1.51%
1910 4,337,513+1.45%
1920 4,846,971+1.12%
1926 5,528,741+2.22%
1934 6,077,939+1.19%
1946 7,029,349+1.22%
1956 7,613,709+0.80%
1965 8,227,966+0.87%
1975 8,727,771+0.59%
1985 8,948,649+0.25%
1992 8,487,317−0.75%
2001 7,932,984−0.75%
2011 7,364,570−0.74%
2015 7,168,009[11]−0.67%
20167,101,859−0.92%
20177,050,034−0.73%
20187,000,039−0.71%
20196,951,482−0.69%
20206,916,548−0.50%
Source: Censuses in Bulgaria

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.[12]

Years 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880[12]
Total Fertility Rate in Bulgaria 5.16 5.05 4.95 4.84 4.73 4.62
Years 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890[12]
Total Fertility Rate in Bulgaria 4.52 4.92 5.16 5.16 5.04 4.37 5.15 5.05 4.92 4.7
Years 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900[12]
Total Fertility Rate in Bulgaria 5.24 4.82 4.69 5.09 5.45 5.55 5.7 5.28 5.45 5.67
Years 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910[12]
Total Fertility Rate in Bulgaria 5.7 5.73 5.76 5.8 5.83 5.77 5.72 5.66 5.6 5.55
Years 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915[12]
Total Fertility Rate in Bulgaria 5.52 5.48 5.45 5.42 5.39

Vital statistics 1900–1915[]

[13][14][15]

Average population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000)
1900 3,710,000 157,000 84,000 73,000 42.3 22.6 19.7
1901 3,740,000 141,000 87,000 54,000 37.7 23.3 14.4
1902 3,800,000 149,000 91,000 58,000 39.2 23.9 15.3
1903 3,850,000 159,000 88,000 71,000 41.3 22.9 18.4
1904 3,910,000 167,000 84,000 83,000 42.7 21.5 21.2
1905 4,000,000 174,000 87,000 87,000 43.5 21.8 21.8
1906 4,100,000 179,000 91,000 88,000 43.7 22.2 21.5
1907 4,150,000 180,000 92,000 88,000 43.4 22.2 21.2
1908 4,200,000 169,000 102,000 67,000 40.2 24.3 16.0
1909 4,280,000 173,000 113,000 60,000 40.4 26.4 14.0
1910 4,350,000 180,000 100,000 80,000 41.4 23.0 18.4
1911 4,400,000 176,000 94,000 82,000 40.0 21.4 18.6
1912 4,430,000 185,000 91,000 94,000 41.8 20.5 21.2
1913 4,200,000 108,000 122,000 -14,000 25.7 29.0 -3.3
1914 4,240,000 191,000 88,000 103,000 45.0 20.8 24.3
1915 4,280,000 172,000 85,000 87,000 40.2 19.9 20.3

Vital statistics 1916–1940[]

Average population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rates[12]
1916 4,660,000 99,000 97,000 2,000 21.2 20.8 0.4 5.38
1917 4,690,000 81,000 99,000 -18,000 17.3 21.1 -3.8 5.37
1918 4,740,000 100,000 152,000 -52,000 21.1 32.1 -11.0 5.36
1919 4,790,000 157,000 97,000 60,000 32.8 20.3 12.5 5.35
1920 4,850,000 193,000 104,000 89,000 39.8 21.4 18.4 5.35
1921 4,890,000 197,000 106,000 91,000 40.3 21.7 18.6 5.27
1922 5,010,000 203,000 106,000 97,000 40.5 21.2 19.4 5.19
1923 5,090,000 192,000 108,000 84,000 37.7 21.2 16.5 5.11
1924 5,210,000 207,000 108,000 99,000 39.7 20.7 19.0 5.03
1925 5,310,000 196,000 102,000 94,000 36.9 19.2 17.7 4.94
1926 5,420,000 203,000 93,000 110,000 37.5 17.2 20.3 4.80
1927 5,510,000 183,000 112,000 71,000 33.2 20.3 12.9 4.65
1928 5,590,000 185,000 99,000 86,000 33.1 17.7 15.4 4.50
1929 5,670,000 173,000 103,000 70,000 30.5 18.2 12.3 4.36
1930 5,740,000 180,000 93,000 87,000 31.4 16.2 15.2 4.05
1931 5,800,000 171,000 98,000 73,000 29.5 16.9 12.6 3.80
1932 5,884,000 186,000 96,000 90,000 31.6 16.3 15.3 4.07
1933 5,961,000 174,000 93,000 81,000 29.2 15.6 13.6 3.76
1934 6,039,000 181,795 85,046 96,749 30.1 14.1 16.0 3.88
1935 6,102,000 160,951 89,086 71,865 26.4 14.6 11.8 3.39
1936 6,154,000 159,146 87,723 71,423 25.9 14.3 11.6 3.33
1937 6,196,000 150,771 84,674 66,097 24.3 13.7 10.7 3.12
1938 6,244,000 142,415 85,373 57,042 22.8 13.7 9.1 2.92
1939 6,292,000 138,883 84,150 54,733 22.1 13.4 8.7 2.81
1940 6,341,000 140,564 85,046 55,518 22.2 13.4 8.8 2.84

Vital statistics 1941 to present[]

[16]

Source: National Statistical Institute[17]

Average population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rates[fn 1]
1941 6,711,000 147,293 85,011 62,282 21.9 12.7 9.3 2.80
1942 6,767,000 153,272 88,082 65,190 22.6 13.0 9.6 2.91
1943 6,823,000 148,840 88,386 60,454 21.8 13.0 8.9 2.79
1944 6,879,000 151,013 94,082 56,931 22.0 13.7 8.3 2.83
1945 6,936,000 166,960 103,591 63,369 24.1 14.9 9.1 3.09
1946 6,993,000 179,226 95,799 83,427 25.6 13.7 11.9 3.29
1947 7,048,000 169,501 94,395 75,106 24.0 13.4 10.7 3.06
1948 7,130,000 175,771 89,927 85,844 24.7 12.6 12.0 3.16
1949 7,195,000 177,734 84,675 93,059 24.7 11.8 12.9 3.17
1950 7,251,000 182,571 74,134 108,437 25.2 10.2 15.0 2.94
1951 7,258,000 152,803 77,364 75,439 21.1 10.7 10.4 2.45
1952 7,275,000 154,014 84,254 69,760 21.2 11.6 9.6 2.44
1953 7,346,000 153,220 68,055 85,165 20.9 9.3 11.6 2.41
1954 7,423,000 149,902 68,384 81,518 20.2 9.2 11.0 2.36
1955 7,499,000 150,978 67,960 83,018 20.1 9.1 11.1 2.41
1956 7,576,000 147,910 71,153 76,757 19.5 9.4 10.1 2.36
1957 7,651,000 141,035 65,807 75,228 18.4 8.6 9.8 2.26
1958 7,728,000 138,294 60,734 77,560 17.9 7.9 10.0 2.23
1959 7,829,246 136,892 73,850 63,042 17.5 9.4 8.1 2.23
1960 7,867,374 140,082 63,665 76,417 17.7 8.1 9.7 2.31
1961 7,943,118 137,861 62,562 75,299 17.3 7.8 9.4 2.29
1962 8,012,946 134,148 69,640 64,508 16.7 8.7 8.0 2.24
1963 8,078,145 132,143 66,057 66,086 16.3 8.1 8.1 2.21
1964 8,144,340 130,958 64,479 66,479 16.0 7.9 8.1 2.19
1965 8,204,168 125,791 66,970 58,821 15.3 8.1 7.1 2.09
1966 8,258,057 123,039 68,366 54,673 14.9 8.3 6.6 2.03
1967 8,310,226 124,582 74,696 49,886 14.9 9.0 6.0 2.02
1968 8,369,603 141,460 72,176 69,284 16.8 8.6 8.2 2.27
1969 8,434,172 143,060 80,183 62,877 16.9 9.5 7.4 2.27
1970 8,489,574 138,745 77,095 61,650 16.3 9.1 7.2 2.17
1971 8,536,395 135,422 82,805 52,617 15.8 9.7 6.1 2.10
1972 8,576,200 131,316 84,174 47,142 15.3 9.8 5.5 2.03
1973 8,620,967 139,713 81,470 58,243 16.2 9.4 6.7 2.15
1974 8,678,745 149,196 85,239 63,957 17.1 9.8 7.3 2.29
1975 8,720,742 144,668 89,974 54,694 16.6 10.3 6.3 2.23
1976 8,758,599 144,929 88,348 56,581 16.5 10.1 6.4 2.24
1977 8,804,183 141,702 94,362 47,340 16.1 10.7 5.4 2.21
1978 8,814,032 136,442 92,445 43,997 15.5 10.5 5.0 2.15
1979 8,825,940 135,358 94,403 40,955 15.3 10.7 4.6 2.16
1980 8,861,535 128,190 97,950 30,240 14.4 11.0 3.4 2.05
1981 8,891,117 124,372 95,441 28,931 14.0 10.7 3.2 2.00
1982 8,917,457 124,166 100,293 23,873 13.9 11.2 2.7 2.01
1983 8,939,738 122,993 102,182 20,811 13.7 11.4 2.3 2.01
1984 8,960,679 122,303 101,419 20,884 13.6 11.3 2.3 2.01
1985 8,960,547 118,955 107,485 11,470 13.3 12.0 1.3 1.97
1986 8,958,171 120,078 104,039 16,039 13.4 11.6 1.8 2.02
1987 8,971,359 116,672 107,213 9,459 13.0 11.9 1.1 1.96
1988 8,981,446 117,440 107,385 10,055 13.1 11.9 1.1 1.97
1989 8,876,972 112,289 106,902 5,387 12.8 12.2 0.6 1.90
1990 8,718,289 105,180 108,608 -3,428 12.1 12.5 -0.4 1.82
1991 8,632,367 95,910 110,423 -14,513 11.2 12.8 -1.7 1.66
1992 8,540,164 89,134 107,998 -18,864 10.5 12.7 -2.2 1.55
1993 8,472,313 84,400 109,540 -25,140 10.0 12.9 -3.0 1.46
1994 8,443,591 79,442 111,827 -32,385 9.4 13.3 -3.8 1.37
1995 8,406,067 71,967 114,670 -42,703 8.6 13.7 -5.1 1.23
1996 8,362,826 72,188 117,056 -44,868 8.7 14.0 -5.4 1.23
1997 8,312,068 64,125 121,861 -57,736 7.7 14.7 -7.0 1.09
1998 8,256,786 65,361 118,190 -52,829 7.9 14.4 -6.4 1.11
1999 8,210,624 72,290 111,786 -39,496 8.8 13.6 -4.8 1.23
2000 8,170,172 73,679 115,087 -41,408 9.0 14.1 -5.1 1.27
2001 8,009,142 68,180 112,368 -44,188 8.5 14.0 -5.5 1.24
2002 7,837,161 66,499 112,617 -46,118 8.5 14.4 -5.9 1.21
2003 7,775,327 67,359 111,927 -44,568 8.7 14.4 -5.7 1.23
2004 7,716,860 69,886 110,110 -40,224 9.1 14.3 -5.2 1.29
2005 7,658,972 71,075 113,374 -42,299 9.3 14.8 -5.5 1.31
2006 7,601,022 73,978 113,438 -39,460 9.7 14.9 -5.2 1.38
2007 7,545,338 75,349 113,004 -37,655 10.0 15.0 -5.0 1.42
2008 7,492,561 77,712 110,523 -32,811 10.4 14.8 -4.4 1.48
2009 7,444,443 80,956 108,068 -27,112 10.9 14.5 -3.6 1.57
2010 7,395,599 75,513 110,165 -34,652 10.2 14.9 -4.7 1.49
2011 7,348,328 70,846 108,258 -37,412 9.6 14.7 -5.1 1.51
2012 7,305,888 69,121 109,281 -40,160 9.5 15.0 -5.5 1.50
2013 7,265,115 66,578 104,345 -37,767 9.2 14.4 -5.2 1.48
2014 7,223,937 67,585 108,952 -41,367 9.4 15.1 -5.7 1.52
2015[18] 7,177,991 65,950 110,117 -44,167 9.2 15.3 -6.2 1.53
2016[19] 7,127,822 64,984 107,580 -42,596 9.1 15.1 -6.0 1.54
2017[20] 7,075,947 63,955 109,791 -45,836 9.0 15.5 -6.5 1.56
2018[21] 7,025,037 62,197 108,526 -46,329 8.9 15.4 -6.6 1.56
2019[22] 6,975,761 61,538 108,083 -46,545 8.8 15.5 -6.7 1.58
2020[23][24] 6,934,015 59,086 124,735 -65,649 8.5 18.0 -9.5 1.56

NOTE: the AVERAGE POPULATION is the MID-YEAR POPULATION, not the population at the beginning or end of the year. The population of Bulgaria in the middle of 2020 is 6,934,015 inhabitants, and at the end of 2020 it is 6,916,548.[24]

Current vital statistics[]

[25]

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January - June 2020 27,022 50,488 -23,466
January - June 2021 26,230 67,738 -41,508
Difference Decrease -792 (-2,93%) Negative increase +17,250 (+34.17%) Decrease -18,042

Birth rates and fertility[]

Fertility rate (1980–2010)
Births and deaths, Bulgaria 1900-2015

  • Birth rate in 2014

  • Fertility rate in 2013

  • Fertility rate in 2014

  • Bulgaria's deaths and births (2005–2009).

In 2016 a total of 64,984 live births were recorded in Bulgaria.[26] The country has a crude birth rate of 9.1‰.

Seventy years ago (in the census of 1946), Bulgaria had a crude birth rate of 25,6‰. Ethnic Bulgarians (23,3‰) had a much lower crude birth rate compared to the two largest minorities: Turks (40,9‰) and Roma (47,2‰).[27] However, it is unlikely that this difference continued since then, as birth rates in the Balkan countries dropped sharply.

Bulgaria has a low total fertility rate of 1.54 children per woman (at the end of 2016). 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.[28]

Total fertility rate and crude birth rate by province from 2010 to 2018 (NSI)[29]
Province TFR (2010) TFR (2016) TFR (2017) TFR (2018) TFR (2019)
Northwest Region 1.53 1.72 Increase 1.72 Steady 1.75 Decrease 1.77 Increase
Vidin 1.50 1.45 Decrease 1.58 Increase 1.68 Increase 1.65 Decrease
Vratsa 1.46 1.77 Increase 1.68 Decrease 1.81 Increase 1.83 Increase
Lovech 1.58 1.66 Increase 1.79 Increase 1.89 Increase 1.84 Decrease
Montana 1.52 1.74 Increase 1.65 Decrease 1.67 Increase 1.62 Decrease
Pleven 1.56 1.80 Increase 1.79 Decrease 1.71 Decrease 1.81 Increase
North Central Region 1.32 1.45 Increase 1.45 Steady 1.45 Steady 1.43 Decrease
Veliko Tarnovo 1.19 1.40 Increase 1.43 Increase 1.34 Decrease 1.27 Decrease
Gabrovo 1.43 1.41 Decrease 1.49 Increase 1.58 Increase 1.69 Increase
Razgrad 1.37 1.49Increase 1.48 Decrease 1.65 Increase 1.60 Decrease
Ruse 1.34 1.40 Increase 1.37 Decrease 1.41 Increase 1.30 Decrease
Silistra 1.49 1.77 Increase 1.71 Decrease 1.55 Decrease 1.76 Increase
Northeast Region 1.53 1.50 Decrease 1.48 Decrease 1.49 Increase 1.52 Increase
Varna 1.57 1.45 Decrease 1.44 Decrease 1.44 Steady 1.47 Increase
Dobrich 1.44 1.53Increase 1.51 Decrease 1.44 Decrease 1.56 Increase
Targovishte 1.67 1.59 Decrease 1.57 Decrease 1.63 Increase 1.61 Decrease
Shumen 1.42 1.54 Increase 1.45 Decrease 1.53 Increase 1.51 Decrease
Southeast Region 1.67 1.82 Increase 1.88 Increase 1.84 Decrease 1.87 Increase
Burgas 1.54 1.63Increase 1.65 Increase 1.61 Decrease 1.69 Increase
Sliven 1.95 2.24 Increase 2.34 Increase 2.27 Decrease 2.35 Increase
Stara Zagora 1.64 1.73 Increase 1.80 Increase 1.76 Decrease 1.72 Decrease
Yambol 1.70 1.98 Increase 2.00 Increase 2.13 Increase 2.06 Decrease
Southwest Region 1.42 1.36 Decrease 1.38 Increase 1.38 Steady 1.42 Increase
Blagoevgrad 1.46 1.46 Steady 1.45 Decrease 1.50 Increase 1.62 Increase
Kyustendil 1.33 1.63 Increase 1.75 Increase 1.76 Increase 1.95 Increase
Pernik 1.35 1.62Increase 1.66 Increase 1.73 Increase 1.68 Decrease
Sofia 1.45 1.74 Increase 1.73 Decrease 1.80 Increase 1.91 Increase
Sofia (city) 1.39 1.27 Decrease 1.29 Increase 1.26 Decrease 1.28 Increase
South Central Region 1.50 1.61 Increase 1.65 Increase 1.65 Steady 1.66 Increase
Kardzhali 1.49 1.64 Increase 1.66 Increase 1.70 Increase 1.74 Increase
Pazardzhik 1.58 1.72 Increase 1.75 Increase 1.85 Increase 1.81 Decrease
Plovdiv 1.49 1.56 Increase 1.60 Increase 1.61 Increase 1.60 Decrease
Smolyan 1.33 1.45 Increase 1.47 Increase 1.40 Decrease 1.49 Increase
Haskovo 1.53 1.70Increase 1.75 Increase 1.62 Decrease 1.71 Increase
Bulgaria 1.49 1.54Increase 1.56 Increase 1.56 Steady 1.58 Increase

Regional differences[]

As of 2017, the municipality of Nikolaevo has the highest crude birth rate with 18.6‰, followed by Tvarditsa (16.7‰) and Kaynardzha (15.7‰). All these municipalities have relatively large Romani populations.

Top 20 municipalities with the highest birth rate (2017)[30]
Municipality Birth rate (‰)
Nikolaevo Municipality, Stara Zagora Province 18.6
Tvarditsa Municipality, Sliven Province 16.7
Kaynardzha Municipality, Silistra Province 15.7
Gurkovo Municipality, Stara Zagora Province 14.6
Yablanitsa Municipality, Lovech Province 14.2
Nikola Kozlevo Municipality, Shumen Province 13.4
Kotel Municipality, Sliven Province 13.2
Straldzha Municipality, Yambol Province 13.1
Simeonovgrad Municipality, Haskovo Province 12.5
Chelopech Municipality, Sofia Province 12.4
Maglizh Municipality, Stara Zagora Province 12.4
Sliven Municipality, Sliven Province 12.2
Nova Zagora Municipality, Sliven Province 12.1
Bratya Daskalovi Municipality, Stara Zagora Province 12.1
Ihtiman Municipality, Sofia Province 12.0
Dolni Dabnik Municipality, Pleven Province 11.8
Pavel Banya Municipality, Stara Zagora Province 11.6
Lukovit Municipality, Lovech Province 11.6
Rakovski Municipality, Plovdiv Province 11.5
Kameno Municipality, Burgas Province 11.4
Top 20 municipalities with the lowest birth rate (2017)[30]
Nedelino Municipality, Smolyan Province 5.7
Hisarya Municipality, Plovdiv Province 5.6
Kocherinovo Municipality, Kyustendil Province 5.6
Devin Municipality, Smolyan Province 5.5
Gramada Municipality, Vidin Province 5.5
Svoge Municipality, Sofia Province 5.5
Godech Municipality, Sofia Province 5.4
Apriltsi Municipality, Lovech Province 5.3
Novo Selo Municipality, Vidin Province 5.0
Chepelare Municipality, Smolyan Province 4.9
Zemen Municipality, Pernik Province 4.9
Hitrino Municipality, Shumen Province 4.8
Chiprovtsi Municipality, Montana Province 4.7
Borovo Municipality, Ruse Province 4.5
Belene Municipality, Pleven Province 4.4
Tryavna Municipality, Gabrovo Province 4.2
Boynitsa Municipality, Vidin Province 4.0
Nevestino Municipality, Kyustendil Province 3.8
Banite Municipality, Smolyan Province 3.2
Georgi Damyanovo Municipality, Montana Province 3.1

On the other hand, the municipalities of Georgi Damyanovo, Banite and Nevestino have a extremely 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 is declining rapidly in recent years.

Number of teenage mothers in Bulgaria in the period 1990-2017[31]
Year 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2017
All live births in Bulgaria 105,180 71,967 73,679 69,886 75,513 65,950 63,955
Mothers aged under twenty 22,518 16,278 12,787 10,625 8,411 6,274 6,038
Share of teenage mothers Increase 21.4% Increase22.6% Decrease 17.4% Decrease 15.2% Decrease 11.1% Decrease 9.5% Decrease 9.4%

The ten municipalities with the largest absolute number of teenage mothers are: Sliven (373), Sofia (339), Plovdiv (245), Pazardzhik (161), Stara Zagora (141), Nova Zagora (131), Burgas (108), Yambol (106), Haskovo (96) and Varna (86).[32]

Top ten municipalities with the highest share of mothers aged under twenty (2017)[30]
Municipality All live births Births to mothers aged under twenty % of all live births
Bolyarovo Municipality 25 10 40.0%
Gramada Municipality 10 4 40.0%
Bratya Daskalovi Municipality 98 37 37.8%
Nikolaevo Municipality 82 31 37.8%
Gurkovo Municipality 73 27 37.0%
Kaynardzha Municipality 80 29 36.3%
Maglizh Municipality 121 43 35.5%
Yablanitsa Municipality 82 29 35.4%
Ihtiman Municipality 205 71 34.6%
Dimovo Municipality 65 22 33.8%

Life expectancy at birth[]

Total population: Increase 74.83 years
Male: Increase 71.37 years
Female: Increase 78.39 years (2016-2018 est.)[1]

Average life expectancy at age 0 of the total population.[33]

Period Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955 62.33
1955–1960 Increase 66.78
1960–1965 Increase 70.28
1965–1970 Increase 70.91
1970–1975 Increase 71.07
1975–1980 Increase 71.10
1980–1985 Increase 71.24
1985–1990 Increase 71.39
1990–1995 Decrease 71.11
1995–2000 Decrease 70.97
2000–2005 Increase 72.19
2005–2010 Increase 73.13
2010–2015 Increase 74.25
2016–2018 Increase 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).[34]

Infant mortality rate[]

Total: Positive decrease 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018)[1]
Male: Positive decrease 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018)
Female: Positive decrease 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.[35]

Year Population
2015 7,159,819
2020 6,950,436
2025 6,734,989
2030 6,519,217
2035 6,311,454
2040 6,115,526
2045 5,929,267
2050 5,748,061
2055 5,567,060
2060 5,384,040

Demographic statistics[]

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review.[36]

  • One birth every 8 minutes
  • One death every 5 minutes
  • One net migrant every 111 minutes
  • Net loss of one person every 11 minutes

Demographic statistics according to the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.[37]

Population pyramid of Bulgaria by age and sex in 1950
Population
6,919,180 (July 2021 est.)
7,057,504 (July 2018 est.)
Ethnic groups
Bulgarian 76.9%, Turkish 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%, Turkish 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
Population pyramid of Bulgaria in 2017
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: 3th
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: 11.9% (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[]

Bias among ethnic groups in Bulgaria

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.[38][39]

Ethnic groups[]

Population of Bulgaria according to ethnic group 1900–1956
Ethnic
group 		census 1900 census 1905 census 1910 census 1920 census 1926 census 1934 census 1946 census 1956
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Bulgarians[40] 2,888,219 77.1 3,203,810 79.4 3,518,756 81.1 4,036,056 83.3 4,557,706 83.2 5,204,217 85.6 5,903,580 84.0 6,506,541 85.5
Turks[40] 531,240 14.2 488,010 12.1 465,641 10.7 520,339 10.7 577,552 10.5 591,193 9.7 675,500 9.6 656,025 8.6
Roma[40] 89,549 2.4 99,004 2.5 122,296 2.8 98,451 2.0 134,844 2.5 149,385 2.5 170,011 2.4 197,8651 2.6
Russians 1,685 0.0 3,275 0.2 2,505 0.2 9,080 0.2 19,706 0.4 11,928 0.2 13,200 0.2 10,551 0.1
Armenians 14,581 0.4 12,932 0.3 11,509 0.2 27,332 0.5 25,963 0.4 21,637 0.3 21,954 0.3
Sarakatsani 6,128 0.2 7,251 0.2 2,085 0.0
Macedonians - - - - - - [41] 169,5442 2.4 187,7892 2.5
Greeks 66,635 1.8 63,487 1.6 43,275 1.0 42,074 0.9 10,564 0.2 9,601 0.2 7,437 0.1
Jews 33,661 0.9 37,663 0.9 40,133 0.9 43,209 0.9 46,558 0.8 48,565 0.8 44,209 0.6 6,027 0.1
Romanians 71,063 1.9 75,773 1.9 79,429 1.8 57,312 1.2 69,080 1.2 16,504 0.3 3,749 0.0
Tatars 18,884 0.5 17,942 0.4 18,228 0.4 6,191 0.1 5,993 0.1
Gagauzes 10,175 0.3 4,362 0.1
Others 13,199 0.2
Undeclared 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -
Total 3,744,283 4,035,575 4,337,513 4,846,971 5,528,741 6,077,939 7,029,349 7,613,709
1 According to x files of the state, the number of the Romani was reduced by 25,000 in 1956.[42]

2There are strong indications that in the 1946 and the 1956 census the population was forced to list as ethnic Macedonians against their will by the communist government in accordance with an agreement with Yugoslavia.[43][44]

Population of Bulgaria according to nationality group 1965–2011
Nationalities census 1965 census 1975 census 19802[42] census 19892[42] census 19922[42] [45] census 1992 [46] census 2001 [40] census 20111
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % / % of Total
Bulgarians[40] 7,231,243 87.9 7,930,024 90.9 7,271,185 85.7 6,655,210 83.9 5,664,624 84.8 / 76.9
Turks[40] 780,928 9.5 730,728 8.4 800,052 9.4 746,664 9.4 588,318 8.8 / 8.0
Roma[40] 148,874 1.8 523,519 576,927 550,000 6.5 313,396 3.7 370,908 4.7 325,343 4.9 / 4.4
Russians 10,815 0.1 17,139 0.2 15,595 0.2 9,978 0.1
Armenians 20,282 0.2 14,526 0.2 13,677 0.2 10,832 0.1 6,552 0.1
Vlachs 5,159 0.1 10,566 0.1 3,684 0.1
Sarakatsani 5,144 0.1 4,107 0.1 2,556 0.0
Ukrainians 1,864 0.0 2,489 0.0 1,789 0.0
Macedonians 9,632 0.1 10,803 0.1 5,071 0.1 1,654 0.0
Greeks 8,241 0.1 4,930 0.1 3,408 0.0 1,379 0.0
Jews 5,108 0.1 3,076 0.0 3,461 0.0 1,363 0.0 1,162 0.0
Romanians 2,491 0.0 1,088 0.0 891 0.0
Tatars 6,430 0.1 5,963 0.1 4,515 0.1 1,803 0.0
Gagauzes 1,478 0.0 540 0.0
Other 23,542 0.3 12,342 0.2 19,659 0.3
Undeclared 0 - 0 - 8,481 0.1 86,915 1.1 736,981 10.01
Total 8,227,966 8,727,771 8,487,317 7,932,984 7,364,570
1 The 2011 percentage of the ethnic groups is calculated only from those who answered the optional question on ethnicity (6,680,980 in total) and does not include around 750,000 people who did not answer the question or 10% from the population.

2 Denotes secret backstage censuses ordered by the Ministry of Interior for enumerating Romani people alone. In 1989, over half of the Romani were recorded as Turkified and having fluid Turkish identity.[42]
3 Note that the distinction between Sarakatsani and Greeks, and between Vlachs and Romanians, is fluid. Sarakatsani were counted as Greeks in the 1900, 1920, 1926, 1934, and 1965 censuses.

Ethnic structure of the entire population (7,364,570) by most detailed cadastral division according to the 2011 census
Distribution of the ethnic groups by municipalities according to the 2011 census within those who answered the question (6,680,000)
Distribution of Turks according to the 2001 census

The censuses in 1880, 1887 and 1892 did not have a question on ethnic affiliation. The following table shows the ethnic composition of all Provinces of Bulgaria according to the 2011 census(% from the declared):

Province Ethnicity Ethnicity Ethnicity
Bulgarian Turkish Roma
Blagoevgrad Province 89% 6% 3%
Burgas Province 80% 13% 5%
Dobrich Province 75% 13% 9%
Gabrovo Province 92% 6% 1%
Haskovo Province 79% 13% 7%
Kardzhali Province 30% 66%
Kyustendil Province 93% 0% 6%
Lovech Province 91% 3% 4%
Montana Province 86% 0% 13%
Pazardzhik Province 84% 6% 8%
Pernik Province 96% 0% 3%
Pleven Province 91% 4% 4%
Plovdiv Province 87% 6% 5%
Razgrad Province 43% 50% 5%
Ruse Province 81% 13% 4%
Shumen Province 59% 30% 8%
Silistra Province 57% 36% 5%
Sliven Province 77% 10% 12%
Smolyan Province 91% 5% 0%
Sofia City 96% 1% 2%
Sofia Province 91% 0% 7%
Stara Zagora Province 86% 5% 8%
Targovishte Province 55% 36% 7%
Varna Province 87% 7% 3%
Veliko Tarnovo Province 90% 7% 2%
Vidin Province 91% 0% 8%
Vratsa Province 93% 0% 6%
Yambol Province 87% 3% 8%
Source (2011 census):[47]

Languages[]

Main article: Languages of Bulgaria
Distribution of the mother tongues by municipalities according to the 2011 census
Distribution of languages of Bulgaria (2001) [48]
Bulgarian
 
 84.5%
Turkish
 
 9.6%
Roma (Gypsy)
 
 4.1%
others
 
 0.9%
undeclared
 
 0.9%
Population of Bulgaria according to mother tongue 1880–1892
Mother
tongue 		census 1880[49][50] census 1887[51] census 1892[52]
Number % Number % Number %
Bulgarian 1,345,507 67.0 2,326,250 73.7 2,505,326 75.7
Turkish/Gagauz 527,284 26.3 607,331 19.3 569,728 17.2
Vlach 49,070 2.4
Romanian 62,628 1.9
Roma 37,600 1.9 50,291 1.6 52,132 1.6
Ladino 14,020 0.7 27,531 0.8
Tatar 12,376 0.6 16,290 0.5
Greek 11,152 0.6 58,326 1.8 58,518 1.8
Armenian 3,837 6,445 0.2
Serbo-Croatian 1,894
Serbian 818
German/Yiddish 1,280
German 3,620
Russian 1,123 928
Albanian 530
Italian 515 803
Hungarian 220
Czech 174
French 164 356
Arab 97
Polish 92
English 64
Circassian 63
Persian 58
Others 402 4,425
Unknown 1,165
Total 2,007,919 3 154 375 3,310,713
Territory (km2) 63,752 95,223 95,223

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)".[53] According to the 2011 census, among the Bulgarians 99.4% indicate Bulgarian as a mother tongue, 0.3% - Turkish, 0.1% - Roma and 0.1% others; among Turks 96.6% have pointed the Turkish 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 and 0.6% - Romanian.

Religion[]

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.

Religious structure of Bulgaria according to the 2011 census.
Muslim areas in Bulgaria according to the 2001 census
2001[54] 2011[10][55]
Orthodox Christian 82.6% 59.4%
Muslim 12.2% 7.8% (7.4% Sunni; 0.4% Shia)
Catholic 0.6% 0.7%
Protestant 0.5% 0.9%
Other 0.2% 0.15%
None 3.9% 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:[56]

Group Population % of declared % of total
Orthodoxy 4,374,135 76.0% 59.4%
Undeclared 1,606,269 - 21.8%
Irreligion 682,162 11.8% 9.3%
Islam 577,139 10.0% 7.8%
Protestantism 64,476 1.1% 0.9%
Roman Catholicism 48,945 0.8% 0.7%
Oriental Orthodoxy 1,715 0.0% 0.0%
Jews 706 0.0% 0.0%
Others 9,023 0.2% 0.1%
Figure of percentage - 5,758,301 7,364,570
Municipalities where the prevalence is Bulgarian Muslim according to the 2001 census

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:[57][58]

Ethnic groups
by confession 		Total Bulgarians Turks Roma Others
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Orthodoxy 6,552,751 82.6 6,315,938 94.9 5,425 0.7 180,326 48.6 51,062
Islam 966,978 12.2 131,531 2.0 713,024 95.5 103,436 27.9 18,987
Irreligion 308,116 3.9 151,008 2.3 23,146 3.1 59,669 16.1
Roman Catholicism 43,811 0.6 37,811 0.6 2,561 0.3
Protestantism 42,308 0.5 14,591 0.2 2,066 0.3 24,651 6.6 1,000
Others 14,937 0.2 4,331 0.1 442 0.1
Total population 7,928,901 100.0 6,655,210 100.0 746,664 100.0 370,908 100.0 100.0

Migration[]

Main article: Immigration to Bulgaria

In relation to internal migration, 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.[59] 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.[60]

  • Percentage of Bulgarians born in a different municipality of Bulgaria calculated from the total of the ethnic Bulgarians in 1910

  • Percentage of foreign-born Bulgarians calculated from the total of the ethnic Bulgarians in 1910

  • Percentage of Bulgarians born in Greek Macedonia and North Macedonia in 1946 calculated from the total of the ethnic Bulgarians

  • Part of the Bulgarians born in East Thrace, West Thrace and Asia Minor in 1946 calculated from the total of the ethnic Bulgarians

  • Part of the Bulgarians born in Northern Dobruja, Romania and Serbia in 1946 calculated from the total of the ethnic Bulgarians

  • Foreign born as a part of the ethnic Bulgarians in 1946

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.[61] In 2016, 12,880 foreigners were naturalized, including 6196 Macedonians.[62]

Population by country of birth:[63]

2011 2013 2015 2019[64]
European Union Bulgaria 7,290,666 7,188,273 7,077,389 6,951,482
Total foreign-born 78,621 96,113 123,803 168,516
 Russia 18,725 19,533 24,416 31,679
 Turkey 3,955 6,227 9,284 11,702
 Syria 1,250 1,298 8,318 14,080
European Union Greece 4,928 7,377 7,166 8,563
 Ukraine 5,877 6,084 7,039 10,115
European Union Germany 2,083 3,638 5,533 9,334
 UK 3,042 5,066 6,738 9,992
European Union Spain 1,558 4,065 5,240 7,098
European Union Romania 6,045 5,380 4,612 4,556
European Union Italy 1,082 2,261 2,830 3,790
 North Macedonia 2,426 2,384 2,742 3,595
 USA 1,180 2,023 2,431 3,153
 Moldova 1,893 1,996 2,363 2,990
 Serbia 2,306 2,246 2,318 2,879
 Azerbaijan 2,152 1,871 1,886 2,103
European Union France 562 1,255 1,781 2,614
European Union Poland 1,196 1,443 1,648 2,043
 Armenia 1,472 1,422 1,565 1,840
 Kazakhstan 970 1,067 1,515 2,101
European Union Belgium 410 1,009 1,481 2,199
 China 860 929 1,236 1,447
European Union Czech Republic 924 1,028 1,186 1,514
European Union Austria 1,512
 Albania 1,134 1,078 1,130 1,348
European Union Netherlands 298 735 1,040 1,522
European Union Cyprus 244 679 1,008 1,372
Unknown 144 166 1,006

Foreigners by nationality:

2011 2015
Total 36,723 65,622
 Russia 11,991 17,943
 Turkey 2,741 8,157
 Syria 729 7,508
 Ukraine 3,064 3,874
 UK 2,605 3,693
Unknown 2,538
European Union Greece 1,253 2,094
Stateless 1,875
 North Macedonia 1,091 1,289
European Union Germany 848 1,266
 Armenia 1,167 1,175
 China 749 1,147
 Moldova 893 1,018
European Union Poland 819 978
 USA 876
European Union Italy 456 815
 Serbia 569 813
 Iraq 706 806
 Kazakhstan 712

Age structure[]

0–14 years: Decrease 13.2%
15–65 years: Increase 68.3%
65 years and over: Increase 18.5% (Census 2011)[10]

At the 2011 census the largest decadal age group of the identified as Romani people is the 0–9 years old or 21% of them, the same age group accounted for 10% of the Turks and 7% of the Bulgarians.[65] Experts estimate that the Romani in some provinces make up 40% of all aged between 0 and 9 years.[66] Amongst those who did not answer the question on ethnic group lowest is the share of people aged 60+ years.

Children aged up to nine years old by ethnic structure per province(% from the declared)
Province Ethnicity Ethnicity Ethnicity
Bulgarian Turkish Roma
Bulgaria 72.9% 10.6% 12.0%
Blagoevgrad Province 80.9% 7.3% 7.8%
Burgas Province 68.5% 16.2% 9.7%
Dobrich Province 56.9% 17.1% 18.9%
Gabrovo Province 85.0% 8.2% 3.8%
Haskovo Province 62.7% 16.5% 16.7%
Kardzhali Province 23.8% 67.8% 2.7%
Kyustendil Province 79.4% 0.0% 16.1%
Lovech Province 78.0% 3.6% 14.8%
Montana Province 66.8% 0.1% 29.0%
Pazardzhik Province 67.3% 8.7% 16.7%
Pernik Province 90.3% 0.1% 7.5%
Pleven Province 78.5% 4.4% 13.5%
Plovdiv Province 74.1% 9.3% 11.9%
Razgrad Province 33.9% 50.0% 10.2%
Ruse Province 72.2% 15.1% 8.9%
Shumen Province 45.5% 31.5% 17.6%
Silistra Province 38.2% 43.1% 14.4%
Sliven Province 55.0% 11.6% 28.3%
Smolyan Province 87.6% 5.0% 1.9%
Sofia City 92.2% 0.5% 3.6%
Sofia Province 77.1% 0.2% 18.8%
Stara Zagora Province 68.3% 7.3% 19.9%
Targovishte Province 39.6% 38.0% 15.5%
Varna Province 79.2% 8.9% 7.0%
Veliko Tarnovo Province 79.9% 11.0% 4.4%
Vidin Province 74.3% 0.1% 20.6%
Vratsa Province 80.3% 0.4% 15.6%
Yambol Province 62.4% 5.8% 26.7%
Source (2011 census):[40]

% ethnic declaration of total population aged 0-9 (2011 census)[65][67]

  Bulgarians (62.0%)
  unanswered (14.9%)
  Romani (10.2%)
  Turks (9.0%)
  No identity (3.4%)
  Other (0.5%)

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)[68]
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.[69]

Education[]

Main article: Education in Bulgaria
Map of Romani students in schools in Bulgaria. Chart of completed degrees by ethnic groups in Bulgaria.

% of the native language of children in 1st grade in 2011[70]

  Bulgarian (52%)
  another language (48%)

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%.[71] About 81 thousand people aged seven or more never visited school.[72]

Unemployment[]

Chart of unemployment and poverty rate by ethnic groups

The median unemployment for the country in 2011 was 10.1%.

The number of unemployed people declined to 207 thousand people (or around 6.2% of the population) in 2017.[73]

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%) have also 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.[74] It is down from a recent peak of 87.6% in 2008, and has been steadily falling since.[74]

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.[75] 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.[76][77]

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,[78] Telenor has 3,9 million as of 2007 and Vivacom over 1 million[citation needed].

HIV[]

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

Urbanization[]

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: Increase 5,338,261 or 72.5% of total population (Census 2011)[10]
Rural: 2,026,309 or 27.5%
Rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005–10 est.)

Largest cities[]

Main article: List of cities and towns in Bulgaria
 
  • v
  • t
Largest cities or towns in Bulgaria
2011 Census[79]
Rank Name Province Pop. Rank Name Province Pop.
Sofia
Sofia
Plovdiv
Plovdiv 		1 Sofia Sofia-Capital 1,204,685 11 Pernik Pernik 80,191 Varna
Varna
Burgas
Burgas
2 Plovdiv Plovdiv 338,153 12 Haskovo Haskovo 76,397
3 Varna Varna 334,870 13 Yambol Yambol 74,132
4 Burgas Burgas 200,271 14 Pazardzhik Pazardzhik 71,979
5 Ruse Ruse 149,642 15 Blagoevgrad Blagoevgrad 70,881
6 Stara Zagora Stara Zagora 138,272 16 Veliko Tarnovo Veliko Tarnovo 68,783
7 Pleven Pleven 106,954 17 Vratsa Vratsa 60,692
8 Sliven Sliven 91,620 18 Gabrovo Gabrovo 58,950
9 Dobrich Dobrich 91,030 19 Asenovgrad Plovdiv 50,846
10 Shumen Shumen 80,855 20 Vidin Vidin 48,071

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ In fertility rates, 2.1 and above is a stable population and has been marked blue, 2 and below leads to an aging population and the result is that the population decreases.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "National statistical institute" (PDF). Nsi.bg. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Population and demographic processes in 2020" (PDF). 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Живородени, мъртвородени и умрели през І тримесечие на 2021 г. по области".
  4. ^ "Живородени, мъртвородени и умрели през ІI тримесечие на 2021 г. по области" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Crude birth rate by statistical regions, districts and place of residence - National statistical institute". www.nsi.bg.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Eurostat: Life expectancy decreased in 2020 across the EU".
  7. ^ "2013 Human Development Report - Human Development Reports". hdr.undp.org. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Interactive Infographic of the World's Best Countries". Newsweek.com. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  9. ^ Arkadiev, D (24 January 2014). "The population of Bulgaria during the Middle Ages (seventh to fourteenth centuries)". Naselenie. 4 (2): 3–11. PMID 12280532.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Census 2011" (PDF). Nsi.bg. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Population projections by sex and age - National statistical institute". Nsi.bg. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Max Roser (2014), "Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last centuries", Our World in Data, Gapminder Foundation
  13. ^ B.R. Mitchell. European historical statistics, 1750–1975.
  14. ^ Demographic Yearbook 1948 (PDF). Statistical Office of the United Nations. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  15. ^ "National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria". Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  16. ^ "National Center of Public Health and Analyses".
  17. ^ "National Statistical Institute".
  18. ^ "Population and demographic processes in 2015" (PDF).
  19. ^ "Population and demographic processes in 2016" (PDF).
  20. ^ "Population and demographic processes in 2017" (PDF).
  21. ^ "Population and demographic processes in 2018" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Population and demographic processes in 2019" (PDF).
  23. ^ "Population and demographic processes in 2020" (PDF).
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b "Average annual population by districts, municipalities and place of residence".
  25. ^ "Живородени, мъртвородени и умрели".
  26. ^ "Live births by districts, municipalities and sex - National statistical institute". www.nsi.bg.
  27. ^ "Report" (PDF). geoproblems.eu.
  28. ^ Judah, Timothy (9 July 2020). "Bulgaria Writes New Chapter In Long Story Of Demographic Decline". The Economist. Balkan Insight. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  29. ^ "Total fertility rate by statistical regions, districts and place of residence - National statistical institute". www.nsi.bg.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Live births". www.nsi.bg.
  31. ^ Live births by districts, municipalities and mother’s age
  32. ^ National statistical institute [1] December 2017
  33. ^ "World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations". esa.un.org. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  34. ^ - National Statistical Institute
  35. ^ "Official forecast for the population of Bulgaria". National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013.
  36. ^ "Bulgaria Population 2018", World Population Review
  37. ^ "World Factbook EUROPE : BULGARIA", The World Factbook, 12 July 2018 Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  38. ^ 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.
  39. ^ L. Ivanov. Measures to solve demographic problems. Business Club Magazine. Issue 11, 2017. pp. 18-20. ISSN 2367-623X (in Bulgarian and English)
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "Население по местоживеене, пол и етническа група" [Population by place of residence, sex and ethnic group]. Censusresults.nsi.bg (in Bulgarian). 1900–2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  41. ^ Georgeoff, Peter John (with David Crowe), "National Minorities in Bulgaria, 1919– 1980" in Horak, Stephen, ed., Eastern European National Minorities 1919/1980: A Handbook, (Littleton, Co: Libraries Limited, Inc.).
  42. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Ilieva, Nadezhda (2012). NUMBER OF ROMA ETHNIC GROUP IN BULGARIA FROM THE LIBERATION TO THE BEGINNING OF THE 21ST CENTURY (BASED ON REGULAR CENSUSES) (Part 1) (PDF). Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. pp. 74–75.
  43. ^ v, Joseph. The Communist Party of Bulgaria; Origins and Development, 1883–1936. Columbia University Press. p. 126.
  44. ^ A. Cook, Bernard (2001). Europe Since 1945: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. p. 810. ISBN 978-0-8153-4058-4.
  45. ^ "6.1 European population committee (The demographic characteristics of the main ethnic/national minorities in Bulgaria)". Council of Europe.
  46. ^ "НАСЕЛЕНИЕ КЪМ 1 March 2001 Г. ПО ОБЛАСТИ И ЕТНИЧЕСКА ГРУПА (Inhabitants as at 1 March 2001 by province and ethnic group)". Nsi.bg. 1 March 2001.
  47. ^ Population by province, municipality, settlement and ethnic identification, by 1 February 2011; Bulgarian National Statistical Institute Archived 21 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine (in Bulgarian)
  48. ^ "Population by mother tongue". Nsi.bg. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  49. ^ "ILib - Lister". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  50. ^ Kalionski, Alexei. Communities, Identities and Migrations in Southeast Europe Collected Articles. Anamnesis. ISBN 978-619-90188-4-2, p. 48
  51. ^ 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
  52. ^ "ILib - Lister". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  53. ^ Cultrual Policies and Trends in Europe. "Population by ethnic group and mother tongue, 2001". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
  54. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 September 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  55. ^ "Census 2011 final results > Population > Population by place of residence, age and religion". Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  56. ^ "Население по местоживеене, възраст и вероизповедание". Censusresults.nsi.bg (in Bulgarian). 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  57. ^ "Структура на населението по вероизповедание (Structure of the population by confession)". Nccedi.government.bg. Archived from the original on 25 December 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  58. ^ "Етнически малцинствени общности (Ethnic minority communities)". Nccedi.government.bg. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  59. ^ "iLib - Lister". 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  60. ^ "Communities, Identities and Migrations in Southeast Europe - PDF". docplayer.net. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  61. ^ "59 968 македонци доказали български произход - Благоевград". DarikNews.bg. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  62. ^ "Президент на Република България". President.bg. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  63. ^ Perspectives migrations internationales 2016 et Eurostat.
  64. ^ https://countryeconomy.com/demography/migration/immigration/bulgaria
  65. ^ Jump up to: a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  66. ^ "Проф. Илона Томова: Има области с 40% деца роми, държавата им е длъжник | Заман България". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  67. ^ "Population by districts, municipalities, settlements and age as of 01.02.2011". Nsi.bg. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  68. ^ 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. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  69. ^ "POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC PROCESSES IN 2017" (PDF). Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  70. ^ "С. Игнатов: За 48% от първокласниците майчиният език не е български".
  71. ^ 2011 census results
  72. ^ "Risk report" (PDF). sociobrains.com.
  73. ^ Unemployed and unemployment rates - national level; statistical regions; districts [2]
  74. ^ Jump up to: a b "Eurostat - Data Explorer - Distribution of population by tenure status, type of household and income group". Eurostat. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  75. ^ "Bulgaria Internet Usage Stats and Market Report". Internetworldstats.com. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
  76. ^ "Bulgaria ranks third in global Internet speed survey". The Sofia Echo. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  77. ^ "The World in 2011 – Facts and Figures" (PDF). International Telecommunication Union. February 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  78. ^ ""М-Тел" блиц с Андреас Майерхофер - списание МЕНИДЖЪР". Manager.bg. 23 April 2012. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  79. ^ "Census results" (PDF). 2011.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""