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.
The population of Bulgaria was around 6.4 million in 2024.
In 2023, Bulgaria had a Human Development Index of 0.845, which corresponds to "very high human development", ranking 55th in the world together with neighbouring Romania, was designated as a "High-income economy" by the World Bank, with a GNI per capita of $15,320, as of 2024, and was awarded the 38th position in Newsweeks rankings of the world's best countries to live in, measuring health, education, political environment and economic dynamism in 2010.
Demographic history
Various estimates have put Bulgaria's medieval population at 1.1 million in 700 AD and 2.6 million in 1365. 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. 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
Vital statistics
Vital Statistics 1875 to 1899 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.
Years 187518761877187818791880Total Fertility Rate in Bulgaria5.165.05 4.954.844.734.62 Years 1881188218831884188518861887188818891890Total Fertility Rate in Bulgaria4.524.92 5.165.165.044.375.155.054.924.7 Years 189118921893189418951896189718981899Total Fertility Rate in Bulgaria5.244.82 4.695.095.455.555.75.285.45
Vital statistics 1900 to present B.R. Mitchell. European historical statistics, 1750–1975.infostat.nsi.bg, visited 18 december 2023
Notable events in Bulgarian demography:
1912–1913 – Balkan Wars 1915–1918 – First World War 1989–1990 – End of the People's Republic and 1989 expulsion of Turks from Bulgaria 2020–2023 – COVID-19 pandemic
Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)Crude migration rate (per 1000)Total fertility rate 1900 3,710,000 157,000 84,000 73,000 42.3 22.6 19.7 5.67 1901 3,740,000 141,000 87,000 54,000 37.7 23.3 14.4 5.70 1902 3,800,000 149,000 91,000 58,000 39.2 23.9 15.3 5.73 1903 3,850,000 159,000 88,000 71,000 41.3 22.9 18.4 5.76 1904 3,910,000 167,000 84,000 83,000 42.7 21.5 21.2 5.80 1905 4,000,000 174,000 87,000 87,000 43.5 21.8 21.8 5.83 1906 4,100,000 179,000 91,000 88,000 43.7 22.2 21.5 5.77 1907 4,150,000 180,000 92,000 88,000 43.4 22.2 21.2 5.72 1908 4,200,000 169,000 102,000 67,000 40.2 24.3 16.0 5.66 1909 4,280,000 173,000 113,000 60,000 40.4 26.4 14.0 5.6 1910 4,350,000 180,000 100,000 80,000 41.4 23.0 18.4 5.55 1911 4,400,000 176,000 94,000 82,000 40.0 21.4 18.6 5.52 1912 4,430,000 185,000 91,000 94,000 41.8 20.5 21.2 5.48 1913 4,200,000 108,000 122,000 −14,000 25.7 29.0 −3.3 5.45 1914 4,240,000 191,000 88,000 103,000 45.0 20.8 24.3 5.42 1915 4,280,000 172,000 85,000 87,000 40.2 19.9 20.3 5.3919164,660,00099,00097,0002,00021.220.80.4 5.3819174,690,00081,00099,000 −18,00017.321.1 −3.8 5.3719184,740,000100,000 152,000 −52,00021.132.1 −11.0 5.3619194,790,000157,00097,00060,00032.820.312.5 5.3519204,850,000193,000104,00089,00039.821.418.4 5.3519214,890,000197,000106,00091,00040.321.718.6 5.2719225,010,000203,000106,00097,00040.521.219.4 5.1919235,090,000192,000108,00084,00037.721.216.5 5.1119245,210,000 207,000108,00099,00039.720.719.0 5.0319255,310,000196,000102,00094,00036.919.217.7 4.9419265,420,000203,00093,000110,00037.517.220.3 4.8019275,510,000183,000112,00071,00033.220.312.9 4.6519285,590,000185,00099,00086,00033.117.715.4 4.5019295,670,000173,000103,00070,00030.518.212.3 4.3619305,740,000180,00093,00087,00031.416.215.2 4.0519315,800,000171,00098,00073,00029.516.912.6 3.8019325,884,000186,00096,00090,00031.616.315.3 4.0719335,961,000174,00093,00081,00029.215.613.6 3.7619346,039,000181,79585,04696,74930.114.116.0 3.8819356,102,000160,95189,08671,86526.414.611.8 3.3919366,154,000159,14687,72371,42325.914.311.6 3.3319376,196,000150,77184,67466,09724.313.710.7 3.1219386,244,000142,41585,37357,04222.813.79.1 2.9219396,292,000138,88384,15054,73322.113.48.7 2.8119406,341,000140,56485,04655,51822.213.48.8 2.8419416,715,100147,29385,01162,28221.912.79.3 2.8019426,771,100153,27288,08265,19022.613.09.6 −1,4 2.9119436,827,600148,84088,38660,45421.813.08.9 −0.6 2.7919446,884,600151,01394,08256,93122.013.78.30 2.8319456,942,200166,960103,59163,36924.114.99.1 −0.8 3.0919467,000,200179,22695,79983,42725.613.711.9 −3.7 3.2919477,063,700169,50194,39575,10624.013.410.7 −1.7 3.0619487,130,100175,77189,92785,84424.712.612.0 −2.8 3.1619497,195,100177,73484,67593,05924.711.812.9 −3.9 3.1719507,251,000182,57174,134108,43725.210.215.0 −7.3 2.9419517,258,200152,80377,36475,43921.110.710.4 −9.4 2.4519527,274,900154,01484,25469,76021.211.69.6 −7.3 2.4419537,346,100153,22068,05585,16520.99.311.6 −1.9 2.4119547,423,300149,90268,38481,51820.29.211.0 −0.6 2.3619557,499,400150,97867,96083,01820.19.111.1 −0.9 2.4119567,575,800147,91071,15376,75719.59.410.10 2.3619577,651,300141,03565,80775,22818.48.69.80 2.2619587,727,600138,294 60,73477,56017.97.910.0 −0.2 2.2319597,797,800136,89273,85063,04217.59.48.10.9 2.2319607,867,374140,08263,66576,41717.88.19.7 −0.9 2.3119617,943,118137,86162,56275,29917.47.99.50.1 2.2919628,012,946134,14869,64064,50816.78.78.10.7 2.2419638,078,145132,14366,05766,08616.48.28.2 −0.1 2.2119648,144,340130,95864,47966,47916.17.98.20 2.1919658,204,168125,79166,97058,82115.38.27.20.12.0919668,258,057123,03968,36654,67314.98.36.6 −0.12.0319678,310,226124,58274,69649,88615.09.06.00.32.0219688,369,603141,46072,17669,28416.98.68.3 −1.2 2.2719698,434,172143,06080,18362,87717.09.57.50.2 2.2719708,489,574138,74577,09561,65016.39.17.3 −0.7 2.1719718,536,395135,42282,80552,61715.99.76.2 −0.7 2.1019728,576,200131,31684,17447,14215.39.85.5 −0.92.0319738,620,967139,71381,47058,24316.29.56.8 −1.6 2.1519748,678,745149,19685,23963,95717.29.87.4 −0.7 2.2919758,720,742144,66889,97454,69416.610.36.3 −1.5 2.2319768,758,599144,92988,34856,58116.510.16.5 −2.1 2.2419778,804,183141,70294,36247,34016.110.75.4 −0.2 2.2119788,814,032136,44292,44543,99715.510.55.0 −3.9 2.1519798,825,940135,35894,40340,95515.310.74.6 −3.3 2.1619808,861,535128,19097,95030,24014.511.13.40.62.0519818,891,117124,37295,44128,93114.010.73.30.12.0019828,917,457124,166100,29323,87313.911.22.70.32.0119838,939,738122,993102,18220,81113.811.42.30.22.0119848,960,679122,303101,41920,88413.611.32.302.0119858,960,547118,955107,48511,47013.312.01.3 −1.31.9719868,958,171120,078104,03916,03913.411.61.8 −2.12.0219878,971,359116,672107,2139,45913.012.01.10.41.961988 8,981,446117,440107,38510,05513.112.01.101.9719898,876,972112,289106,9025,38712.612.00.6 −12.21.9019908,718,289105,180108,608 −3,42812.112.5 −0.4 −17.51.8219918,632,36795,910110,423 −14,51311.112.8 1.7 −8.21.6619928,540,16489,134107,998 −18,86410.412.6 −2.2 −8.51.5519938,472,31384,400109,540 −25,14010.012.9 −3.0 −7.71.4619948,443,59179,442111,827 −32,3859.413.2 −3.80.41.3719958,406,06771,967114,670 −42,7038.613.6 −5.10.61.2319968,362,82672,188117,056 −44,8688.614.0 −5.40.21.2319978,312,06864,125121,861 −57,7367.714.7 −6.90.8 1.0919988,256,78665,361118,190 −52,8297.914.3 −6.4 −0.31.1119998,210,62472,290111,786 −39,4968.813.6 −4.8 −0.81.2320008,170,17273,679115,087 −41,4089.014.1 −5.10.11.2620018,009,14268,180112,368 −44,1888.514.0 −5.5 −26.01.2120027,837,16166,499112,617 −46,1188.514.4 −5.9 −2.71.2320037,775,32767,359111,927 −44,5688.714.4 −5.701.2620047,716,86069,886110,110 −40,2249.114.3 −5.201.3320057,658,97271,075113,374 −42,2999.314.8 −5.501.3720067,601,02273,978113,438 −39,4609.714.9 −5.201.4420077,545,33875,349113,004 −37,65510.015.0 −5.0 −0.21.4920087,492,56177,712110,523 −32,81110.414.8 −4.4 −0.11.5620097,444,44380,956108,068 −27,11210.914.5 −3.6 −2.11.6620107,395,59975,513110,165 −34,65210.214.9 −4.7 −3.21.5720117,348,32870,846108,258 −37,4129.614.7 −5.1 −18.71.5120127,305,88869,121109,281 −40,1609.515.0 −5.5 −0.31.5020137,160,00566,578104,345 −37,7679.314.6 −5.3 −0.21.5420147,073,57267,585108,952 −41,3679.615.4 −5.8 −0.31.6220156,984,22565,950110,117 −44,1679.415.8 −6.3 −0.61.6420166,894,13964,984107,580 −42,5969.415.6 −6.2 −1.31.6720176,803,46863,955109,791 −45,8369.416.1 −6.7 −0.81.7120186,710,79862,197108,526 −46,3299.316.2 −6.9 −0.51.7320196,616,72661,538108,083 −46,5459.316.3 −7.0 −0.31.7920206,550,69659,086124,735 −65,6499.019.0 −10.04.41.7720216,507,30158,678148,995 −90,3179.022.9 −13.91.81.8020226,447,71056,596118,814 −62,2188.818.4 −9.6 4.21.7820236,445,48157,197101,006 −43,8098.915.7 −6.86.41.8120246,437,36053,428100,736−47,3088.315.6−7.36.01.7220256,423,207 50,24199,479 −49,3287.815.5 −7.75.51.63
Current vital statistics + Period Live births Deaths Natural increase January—June 2025 23,577 47,521 −23,944 January—June 2026 23,183 46,097 −22,914 Difference –394 (–1.67%) −1,424 (−3.0%) +1,030 Source:
Total fertility rates by region
+ 2025RegionsTFRYugoiztochen1.90Severozapaden1.80Yuzhen tsentralen1.631.63Severoiztochen1.52Severen tsentralen1.52Yugozapaden1.52
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.
The same trend continued well after Bulgaria's Liberation from Ottoman rule in 1878. 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. 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 +1891–1894 Averages by Confession Confession Live births per year Birth rate Deaths per year Death rate Rate of natural increaseNumber ‰ Number ‰ ‰ Eastern Orthodox 104,749 40.1 78,165 30.0 10.1 Muslims14,972 23.313,924 21.8 1.5 Jews 1,038 36.6 684 24.1 Roman Catholics 911 901 Armenian Gregorians 210 31.6 173 26.2 5.4Protestants 49 35 5.8TOTAL 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 increaseNumber ‰ Number ‰ ‰125,151 70,608 23.4 18.020,071 31.2 15,786 24.5 6.71,295 38.5 551 16.4 1,163 40.7 818 12.1383 27.7 298 21.6 119 70 10.8148,182 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 increaseNumber ‰ 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 18.1358 279 22.1 182 32.2 85 17.1174,347 43.2 88,524 21.9 21.3