Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Sofia registers decline in population for the first time in 30 years

Sofia's Vitosha boulevard
Photo: BGNES

At the end of 2020, the population of Bulgaria was estimated at 6.9 million people. This is a decrease of 2.1 million people, or 23% compared to 1990. 

During this period, Sofia was the only city that increased its population from 1.12 million people in 1990 to 1.33 million people in 2019

In 2020, Sofia residents decreased by 1.53%, or 20,378 people to 1,308,412 inhabitants. This has not happened since 2001, when Sofia's population fell to 1.09 million people. But then it continued to grow.

According to experts, the data of the National Statistical Institute clearly show that the Bulgaria's smaller towns and villages no longer have the resources to supply Sofia with new residents. 

The pandemic made remote work possible and reduced the attractiveness of the city,  investor.bg writes.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Kiril Petkov

Prosecutor's Office has imposed measure of restriction on Kiril Petkov

I have not committed any crime, this is a political attack, the co-chairman of "We Continue the Change" (PP), Kiril Petkov, said before entering the Prosecutor's Office. Outside the building there were PP sympathizers and MPs who..

published on 1/10/25 1:12 PM

Prime Minister Glavchev inspects traffic flow at the Danube Bridge in Ruse

Our full accession to Schengen is an achievement of many governments and many teams, and we will not allow a spoonful of tar to be added to this, said caretaker Premier Dimitar Glavchev, who visited today the Danube Bridge border checkpoint in Ruse...

published on 1/10/25 12:12 PM
Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov

Bulgaria is expected to meet the requirements for visa-free travel to the US in 2025

Bulgaria has made significant progress in meeting the criteria for inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov said in a written response to MP Martin Dimitrov. Given the requirement to reduce the..

published on 1/10/25 11:31 AM