Bulgaria Population 2024
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. Bulgaria is the 21st most populous and 15th-largest area in Europe. According to the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria, the Population of Bulgaria as of 1st Jan. 2023 is 6,447,710 (6.44 million) and the Estimated population of Bulgaria in 2024 is 6,618,615 or 6.6 million.
Bulgaria Demography
| Bulgaria | 2024 Population |
| Total Population | 6,618,615 |
| Europe Rank | 21st |
| Land Area | 311,888 sq. km (120,421 sq. mi) |
| Area Rank | 15th |
| Pop. Density | 166 people/sq. mi (64 /sq. km) |
| Urban Population | 75.6% |
| Fertility Rate | 1.56 |
| Infant mortality rate | 5.4 |
| Median Age | 44.6 Years |
| Life Expectancy | 75.49 years |
| Capital City | Sofia |
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria
Religion in Bulgaria
Christianity is the majority Religion in Bulgaria. Its followed by 64.7% of the population and the dominant Christianity denomination is Eastern Orthodox Christianity within the fold of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Protestantism and Catholicism are followed in small numbers and are 1.1% and 0.6% adherents respectively.
Islam is the second largest religion in Bulgaria and is followed by 9.8% of Bulgaria’s population. 15.9% of the population doesn’t affiliate with any religion and the other 9.5% have not answered about religion.
Religion in Bulgaria
| Religion | Percent % |
| Christianity | 64.7% |
| Bulgarian Orthodoxy | – 62.7% |
| – Protestantism | – 1.1% |
| – Catholicism | – 0.6% |
| – Other Christians | 0.3% |
| Islam | 9.8% |
| Other religions | 0.1% |
| Unaffiliated | 15.9% |
| Not answered | 9.5% |
source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria
Bulgaria Historical Population
Bulgaria’s population was at 3.7 million at the start of the 20th century. Population growth was steepest in the period after World War II, it slowed after the 1990s and picked in 1985 at 9 million. Since then its saw a negative growth rate & reached 6.5 million in 2021
Let’s have a look at the population of Bulgaria from the Year 1900 to 2021
| Census Year | Population | Percentage Change |
| 1900 | 3744283 | – |
| 1905 | 4035575 | 7.78% |
| 1910 | 4337513 | 7.48% |
| 1920 | 4846971 | 11.75% |
| 1930 | 5478741 | 13.03% |
| 1940 | 6077939 | 10.94% |
| 1950 | 7029349 | 15.65% |
| 1956 | 7613709 | 8.31% |
| 1966 | 8227866 | 8.07% |
| 1976 | 8727771 | 6.08% |
| 1985 | 8948649 | 2.53% |
| 1992 | 8487317 | -5.16% |
| 2001 | 7928901 | -6.58% |
| 2011 | 7364570 | -7.12% |
| 2021 | 6520314 | -11.46% |
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria
Top Cities in Bulgaria by Population
| # | City | Province | Population |
| 1 | Sofia | Sofia-Capital | 12,04,685 |
| 2 | Plovdiv | Plovdiv | 3,38,153 |
| 3 | Varna | Varna | 3,34,870 |
| 4 | Burgas | Burgas | 2,00,271 |
| 5 | Ruse | Ruse | 1,49,642 |
| 6 | Stara Zagora | Stara Zagora | 1,38,272 |
| 7 | Pleven | Pleven | 1,06,954 |
| 8 | Sliven | Sliven | 91,620 |
| 9 | Dobrich | Dobrich | 91,030 |
| 10 | Shumen | Shumen | 80,855 |
| 11 | Pernik | Pernik | 80,191 |
| 12 | Haskovo | Haskovo | 76,397 |
| 13 | Yambol | Yambol | 74,132 |
| 14 | Pazardzhik | Pazardzhik | 71,979 |
| 15 | Blagoevgrad | Blagoevgrad | 70,881 |
| 16 | Veliko Tarnovo | Veliko Tarnovo | 68,783 |
| 17 | Vratsa | Vratsa | 60,692 |
| 18 | Gabrovo | Gabrovo | 58,950 |
| 19 | Asenovgrad | Plovdiv | 50,846 |
| 20 | Vidin | Vidin | 48,071 |
Bulgarian Diasopra
People of Bulgarian ancestry form a minority group in several countries of North and South America. As per the estimates, the total population of Bulgarian ancestry is 1 million around the world and the largest communities of the Bulgarian diaspora in America are in the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Brazil.
read more about Bulgarian ancestry in America
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