Bulgaria's population continues to decline

Although the country's natural growth rate has returned to pre-Covid-19 levels, the population in most municipalities in Bulgaria continues to decline, BNR reporter Natalia Ganchovska reports.

The biggest decline is observed in the large municipalities - Sofia, Ruse, Varna, Pernik and Pleven.

Only four smaller municipalities - Tvarditsa, Garmen, Nikolaevo and Yablanitsa - recorded positive natural growth.

Despite the overall positive demographic trend, the population continued to decrease in 220 out of 265 municipalities last year.

A more pronounced negative natural growth was observed mostly in North-Western Bulgaria, as well as in the regions bordering Serbia.