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

Bulgaria meets price stability criterion for eurozone entry

Since the beginning of the year, Bulgaria has also met the price stability criterion for eurozone membership, Minister of Finance Temenuzhka Petkova said. At the opening of the Investor Day 2025: Embracing Opportunities forum in..

published on 4/28/25 11:59 AM

For 12 months after the introduction of the euro, prices will be in both levs and euro

A month after Bulgaria receives the green light to join the eurozone, all traders are obliged to have their prices in both Bulgarian levs and euro. This was what Deputy Minister of Economy Nikolay Pavlov said in an interview with the..

published on 4/28/25 10:28 AM

Russia and unstable Balkans are threat to national security

The main threats to Bulgaria's national security are Russia and the instability of the Western Balkans, according to the annual report of the State Agency for National Security (SANS) for 2024. In Bulgaria, two Russian..

published on 4/28/25 9:20 AM