 once again surpassed that of girls (26,051), continuing a longstanding trend of gender imbalance at birth){kind=link}
Bulgaria’s population continues its gradual decline, falling by 8,121 individuals in 2024 to a total of 6,437,360, according to the latest report from the National Statistical Institute (NSI).
The 0.13% decrease marks yet another year of demographic contraction for the Balkan nation, driven by persistently low birth rates and a mortality rate that remains significantly above the European Union average.
A total of 53,727 children were registered in 2024, with 53,428 classified as live births—99.4% of all registered. However, live births saw a 6.6% decline compared to 2023, pushing the total fertility rate down to 8.3‰ from 8.9‰.
The number of boys born (27,377) once again surpassed that of girls (26,051), continuing a longstanding trend of gender imbalance at birth.
Sliven district recorded the highest birth rate in the country at 12.5‰, followed by Yambol at 10.0‰. At the other end of the spectrum, Smolyan and Pernik reported the lowest birth rates—5.2‰ and 6.1‰ respectively—highlighting regional disparities in demographic trends.
Despite a slight drop in the overall number of deaths—down 0.3% to 100,736—the mortality rate remained high at 15.6‰. Male mortality outpaced female mortality, at 16.8‰ compared to 14.6‰, with 1,064 men dying for every 1,000 women.
Rural areas were hit hardest, with a mortality rate of 20.7‰, contrasting sharply with urban areas at 13.8‰.
The districts of Vidin, Montana, and Kyustendil reported the highest mortality rates in the country, with Vidin topping the list at 24.3‰. Sofia (capital) had the lowest, at 11.3‰.
The capital city continues to buck the national trend, showing a modest population increase. Sofia Municipality grew from 1,196,806 residents at the end of 2023 to 1,205,548 by the close of 2024.
Other urban centers such as Plovdiv, Varna, and Burgas also experienced population growth, while Stara Zagora and Ruse recorded declines. Sofia remains the country’s largest municipality, housing 1,295,931 people or roughly 20.1% of the national population.
In total, six districts saw population increases, most notably Kardzhali (up 2%) and Burgas (up 1.2%). Meanwhile, Vidin and Smolyan recorded the steepest losses, each shedding 1.7% of their population. Vidin, now home to just 70,542 people, is the smallest district in the country.
Bulgaria’s aging population continues to be a concern. As of the end of 2024, citizens aged 65 and over number 1,544,245—24% of the total population, up from 23.8% the year before.
The proportion of children under 15 decreased slightly to 14%, while the working-age population (15–64) remained stable at 58.5%, or approximately 3.765 million people.
With 81 municipalities housing fewer than 6,000 people, only 4.4% of Bulgarians live in these sparsely populated areas. In contrast, 41.1% reside in the eight largest municipalities, emphasizing the country’s continued urbanization amid rural decline.
The NSI data underscores Bulgaria’s ongoing demographic challenges, including low fertility, premature mortality, and regional disparities that threaten the long-term stability of its population.