Life expectancy in Bulgaria has increased by a year and a half, according to the latest data of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) that compared the period 2021-2023 to 2020-2022. However, in comparison to 10 years ago, life expectancy is decreasing for both women and men. People in cities live 3 years longer than those in villages. 

"Life expectancy is slowly growing, but we are still last in Europe in terms of life expectancy and we are first in terms of mortality," Magdalena Kostova, director of demographic statistics at NSI, has told BNR. She pointed out that premature mortality is twice as high among men. 30% of Bulgarians die before they reach the age of 65. If these negative trends continue, the Bulgarian population would be below 6 million in 2075, Kostova says.