site.btaPopulation Decline, Ageing Continues in Bulgaria in 2023

As of December 31, 2023, the population of Bulgaria was 6,445,481 people, which represents 1.4% of the population of the European Union (EU), National Statistical Institute (NSI) data for 2023 show. The country's population decreased by 2,229 people, or 0.03%, compared to 2022.

Men numbered 3,097,698 (48.1%) and women 3,347,783 (51.9%), or a ratio of 1,081 women per 1,000 men. The number of men was predominantly in the under 55 age group. The number and relative proportion of women in the total population increases with age.

Ageing population

At the end of 2023, there were 1,530,909 people aged 65 and over, or 23.8% of the country's population. Compared to 2022, the share of the population in this age group increased by 0.3%.

The relative share of women aged 65 and over was 27.7% and 19.5% of men. The difference is attributed to the higher mortality rate among men and, consequently, their lower life expectancy.

On a regional basis, the share of people aged 65 and over was the highest in Vidin (31.3%), Gabrovo (30.3%) and Smolyan (28.9%). In 22 regions, the share was above the national average. The lowest share of the elderly population was in Sofia (capital) - 19.2%, Varna - 21.5%, and Blagoevgrad - 22.2%.

As of December 31, 2023, the number of children under 15 in the country was 911,025, or 14.1% of the total population.

The relative share of the population under 15 was highest in the districts of Sliven - 18.9%, Yambol - 15.2%, and Burgas - 14.9% of the population. In 17 districts, the share was below the national average, with the lowest shares in Smolyan - 10.6%, Vidin - 11.5%, and Gabrovo - 11.7%. 

In 2023, the overall age dependency ratio in Bulgaria was 61%, or for every person in the dependent ages (under 15 and over 65), there were fewer than two persons of working age. The ratio was lower in urban areas (57.6%) than in rural areas (71.3%). In all regions of the country the indicator was above 50%. The lowest value was in Sofia (capital) - 51.5%, while the highest ratio was observed in Vidin - 74.8%, and Gabrovo and Yambol - 72.3% each. 

The ageing of the population over the years has led to an increase in the population's average age, which rose from 40.6 years in 2002 to 45.2 years at the end of 2023. The average age of the population in urban areas was 44.4 years and 47.5 years in rural areas.

Labour force

The number and relative share of the population below, at and above working age have changed. Both the ageing of the population and the legislative changes in the retirement age have an impact on the working-age and over-age totals. 

In 2023, the limits for the working-age population are 62 years for women and 64 years and 6 months for men. 

The working-age population in 2023 was estimated at 3,769,000, or 58.5% of the total population. Men were 1,971,000 and women 1,798,000. 

By the end of 2023, there were 1,698,000 people over working age, or 26.3%, and 977,000 people under working age, or 15.2% of the country's population.

The labour force replacement rate is characterized by the coefficient of demographic replacement, which is the ratio between the number of people entering the labour force (15-19 years) and the number of people leaving the labour force (60-64 years). By the end of 2023, the coefficient of demographic replacement was 67.

Territorial distribution

Some 4,738,461 people, or 73.5% of the country's population, lived in cities in 2023, and 1,707,020 people, or 26.5% of the total population, lived in villages.

By the end of 2023, there were 5,256 settlements in Bulgaria, of which 257 were towns and 4,999 were villages. There were 201 settlements without population. The largest number was in the regions of Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo - 67 in each.

From 1 to 49 people lived in 23.7% of all settlements or 1,245.

There were six cities in the country with a population of more than 100,000, which accounted for 35.2% of the country's population.

By the end of 2023, the country was divided into 6 statistical regions, 28 administrative regions and 265 municipalities.  

Fertility

In 2023, the country registered 57,478 births, of which 57,197 (99.5%) were live births. Compared with 2022, the number of live births increased by 601 children, or 1.1%.

The number of male live births (29,318) was 1,439 higher than the number of female live births (27,879), or 951 girls per 1,000 boys. 

In urban and rural areas, live births were 42,388 and 14,809 respectively, and the fertility rate was 8.9% in urban areas and 8.7% in rural areas.  

Regionally, the highest fertility rates were in the regions of Sliven - 12.5%, Sofia (capital), Yambol - 9.9% each, and Plovdiv - 9.7%. In 21 regions, the fertility rate was lower than the national average, with the lowest rates in the regions of Smolyan - 5.1%, Pernik - 6.4%, and Gabrovo - 6.8%.

Mortality

The number of deaths in 2023 was 101,006 and the total mortality rate was 15.7%. Compared to 2022, the number of deaths decreased by 17,808, or 15%. The overall mortality rate remained high.

The male mortality rate (16.9%) was higher than the female mortality rate (14.5%). In 2023, some 1,076 men died per 1,000 women. The mortality rate was higher in rural areas (21%) than in urban areas (13.7%). 

Regionally, the regions with the highest mortality rates in the country were Vidin - 23.4%, Gabrovo - 21.9%, and Montana - 21.6%. Eight regions had lower mortality rates than the national average, with the lowest in Sofia (capital) - 11.4%.