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

The number of believers has decreased by 9 percent for 10 years

Photo: EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria ranks last in the EU with just 12 priests per 100,000 people. There are more than 8,000 churches and monasteries in the country, or 10 times more temples than clergy, according to the latest national census of 2021.

51.4% or 3 million said they believe in God. 24.7% declared themselves non-believers. 13 percent could not define if they are believers and 11% did not want to answer. During the previous census in 2011, 60.4% said they were religious and 22% declared themselves non-religious. 4,219,270 people (71.5%) of those who answered the question identified themselves as Christians. 97% of Christians are Orthodox. In 1992, 86.7% of the respondents were Christians. Protestants are 1.7%, Catholics are 0.9% and Armenian Christians - 0.1%. Muslims are 638,708 or 10.8% of the respondents; Jewish people are 1,736, while 6,451 people profess other religions.



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

Dimitar Manolov

Podkrepa Trade Union continues to insist on the introduction of non-taxable minimum

In a letter to the institutions, Podkrepa Trade Union made proposals for the introduction of a non-taxable minimum, as well as an update of minimum and maximum social security incomes. The union also insists on the preparation of an..

published on 1/28/25 11:01 AM

Good conditions for mountain tourism

The weather in the mountains is sunny with light wind in some places, the Mountain Rescue Service of the Bulgarian Red Cross reports. However, icing is possible on some of the mountain paths. In places on the ridges there is moderate..

published on 1/28/25 10:25 AM

Bulgarian clergy and laity bid farewell to the hegumen of the Zograf Monastery

A requiem liturgy has been served in the "St. Nedelya" Cathedral by the hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in memory of the hegumen of the Zograf Monastery, Archimandrite Ambrose. After a short illness, he left this world on January 27 in the..

published on 1/28/25 9:58 AM