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

NSI: 201 ghost villages in Bulgaria without a single inhabitant

Photo: .nsi.bg

Sofia is the largest municipality in Bulgaria by population, while Plovdiv has overtaken Varna to take second place. Burgas retains its position as the country's fourth largest city, while Stara Zagora now ranks fifth, displacing Ruse. 


These shifts in the ranking of the 20 largest municipalities by population have been recorded by the National Statistical Institute for the period from 2014 to 2023. In particular, Kardzhali has experienced remarkable growth, rising from 19th to 16th place.


As of 31 December 2023, there were 201 settlements without a single inhabitant, mainly concentrated in the central Balkan region, in the regions of Veliko Tarnovo (67), Gabrovo (67), Kyustendil (10) and Kardzhali (9). In addition, 1,453 villages, representing 27.6% of the settlements, have populations ranging from 1 to 49 persons. Notably, there are six cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, accounting for 35.2% of the total population.




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

Balkan developments

The prices of Easter goods are rising The Easter meal in the Balkan countries will be more expensive this year, BTA reports. Lamb in Serbia costs about 1,400 dinars (EUR 11.5) per kilogram in supermarkets. On Good Friday, fish..

published on 4/17/25 11:39 AM

Bulgaria's Antarctic explorers featured in photo exhibition in Sofia

Residents and visitors to Sofia will have the opportunity to learn more about Bulgarian scientists working in Antarctica and their important role in the exploration of the continent. The exhibition "Antarctic People - Caring for the Earth" by BNR..

published on 4/17/25 8:15 AM

платена публикация
Pamper Yourself: Affordable Luxury Hair and Beauty Services in Bulgaria

Looking and feeling your best doesn’t have to come at a high price — especially in Bulgaria. The country has become a rising star in beauty tourism, offering top-tier salon services at prices that won’t break the bank. Whether you’re a local or a..

published on 4/16/25 9:55 AM