As of 31 December 2025, Bulgaria has 6,423,207 people. That is 14,153, or 0.22%, fewer than a year earlier, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said. The figures are in the institute's "Population and Demographic Processes 2025" publication, which it posted on its website.
The fall was smaller in 2024. At the end of that year, 6,437,360 people lived in Bulgaria, 8,121, or 0.13%, fewer than in 2023.
The main cause is natural change, the gap between live births and deaths. In 2025 it was negative, and on its own it cut the population by 49,238. This has been the case every year since 1990.
Migration makes up part of the loss. Net migration is the difference between people who moved to Bulgaria and those who left it, and in 2025 it was positive at 35,085 people. The NSI says migration from abroad has a major effect on the size and make-up of the population.
A total of 44,640 people came from abroad to live in Bulgaria. The NSI says they include both returning Bulgarian citizens and foreigners with a residence permit or status. Citizens of non-EU countries make up the largest group (45.9%), followed by Bulgarian citizens (38.9%) and people from EU countries (15.2%). By country, Turkey leads with 25.1%, then Ukraine with 18.5% and Germany with 9.1%.
Most of the newcomers are of working age: 72.9% of them are between 15 and 64. Children up to 14 make up 14.3%, and people aged 65 and over 12.8%.
The number of emigrants who changed their address from Bulgaria to one abroad was 9,555, and 52.1% of them are men. Older people make up a bigger share among them: 34.3% are 65 or over, 59.7% are between 15 and 64, and 6% are children up to 14.
Bulgaria's population is ageing: by the end of 2025 the average age reached 45.4 years. People in villages average 47.7 years, and city residents 44.6. There are 3,764,842 people of working age, or 58.6% of the population.
A total of 192 settlements have no residents at all, and another 1,280, or 24.4% of all, have between 1 and 49. Among villages, the most populous is Lozen, in Sofia municipality, with 6,671 people, while the smallest town is Melnik, with 181 residents.