44,640 people from abroad settled in Bulgaria in 2025

Bulgaria’s population decreased by 14,153 people in 2025. At the beginning of 2026, the country’s population stood at 6,423,207, a decline of 0.22% compared with the previous year. Over the past 10 years, the population has shrunk by 9.56%, according to the National Statistical Institute.

The average age is 45.4, while people of working age account for 58.6% of the population. Every 100 people retiring are replaced by just 75 young people entering the workforce.

A total of 192 settlements have no residents. The largest village is Lozen, in the Sofia area, while the smallest town is Melnik.

During the year, 44,640 people moved to Bulgaria from abroad. The largest numbers arrived from Türkiye, Ukraine and Germany. The main reason for the population decline remains negative natural growth.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov