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

Yellow code for strong wind in 16 eastern and southwestern regions

On Wednesday , the lowest temperatures will be between 3 and 8°C. In the regions with strong wind it will be up to 10-12°C. In Sofia it will be around 4°C. In the western parts of the Danube Plain and the Upper Thracian Plain it will..

published on 11/25/25 7:50 PM

Drones to aid disaster and fire response in Burgas

Following a series of fires in the Burgas area last summer, including one that destroyed homes in a local villa district, the Burgas municipality has acquired high-tech drones equipped with thermal cameras, night vision, and 3D imaging . The two..

published on 11/25/25 7:01 PM

Bulgarian police break up migrant smuggling network

Illegal migrants from Syria, Iraq and Iran have been discovered in Sofia, and ten members of an organised criminal group have been arrested , Deputy City Prosecutor Desislava Petrova told reporters. Two of those arrested have been charged as the..

published on 11/25/25 6:48 PM