Population and Demographics

According to the 2001 census, Bulgaria's population is mainly ethnic Bulgarian (83.9%), with two sizable minorities, Turks (9.4%) and Roma (4.7%). Of the remaining 2.0%, 0.9% are distributed among some 40 smaller minorities, the most numerous of which are the Russians, Armenians, Vlachs, Jews, Crimean Tatars and Karakachans.

Most Bulgarians (82.6%) are, at least nominally, members of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the national Eastern Orthodox church. Other religious denominations include Islam (12.2%), various Protestant denominations (0.8%), Roman Catholicism (0.5%), with other denominations, atheists and undeclared numbering about 4.1%.

Bulgaria has had the slowest population growth of any country in the world since 1950, except Saint Kitts and Nevis (due to their high emigration rate). Growth has been negative since the early 1990s (-0.837% in 2007), due to the economic collapse and high emigration (-3.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population). In 1988 the population was 8,859,000 people, and in 2001 7,950,000. In 2007, it was estimated to be7,679,290.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 7,679,290
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 13.9% (male 521,117/female 496,022)
  • 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 2,472,424/female 2,556,102)
  • 65 years and over: 17.4% (male 523,660/female 753,533)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 40.9 years
  • Male: 38.8 years
  • Female: 43.1 years
• Population Growth Rate: -0.837%
• Birth Rate: 9.62 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 14.28 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: -3.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.051 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 0.967 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.695 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 0.924 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 19.16 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 22.75 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 15.37 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 72.57 years
  • Male: 68.95 years
  • Female: 76.4 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 1.39 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 346
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Bulgarian 83.9%
  • Turk 9.4%
  • Roma 4.7%
  • Other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian)
• Religions:
  • Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%
  • Muslim 12.2%
  • Other Christian 1.2%
  • Other 4%
• Languages:
  • Bulgarian 84.5%
  • Turkish 9.6%
  • Roma 4.1%
  • Other and unspecified 1.8%
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 98.2%
  • Male: 98.7%
  • Female: 97.7%