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

A European Parliament committee will monitor road safety in Bulgaria

The European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions (PETI) has decided to monitor the state of road safety in Bulgaria. The decision came after hearing a petition submitted by Rosalina Gadyuchkova, a Bulgarian citizen living in the United Kingdom.  The..

published on 11/4/25 9:54 AM

The Consulate General of Bulgaria in Toronto organizes Consular Days in Vancouver on November 7 and 8

The Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Toronto, together with the Bulgarian-Canadian Society of British Columbia, will organize consular days in Vancouver, BC on November 7 and 8, 2025, announced the team of the Bulgarian diplomatic..

published on 11/4/25 9:21 AM
National Gallery Square 500

National Gallery presents Christo and Jeanne-Claude with "Wrapped Reichstag"

The National Gallery Square 500 opens for the first time on November 4 at 6:00 p.m. an exhibition of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, marking the 90th anniversary of the birth of the creative tandem. The first acquisition of Christo's..

published on 11/4/25 7:05 AM