Sofia, Bulgaria Population 2024

Sofia's 2024 population is now estimated at 1,287,540In 1950, the population of Sofia was 521,938Sofia experienced a decrease of -570 residents over the past year, marking an annual decline of -0.04%.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Sofia, which typically includes Sofia's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. Not only is it the capital city, but it is the largest by population, with a city population estimated in late 2015 to be 1,260,120.

The city has a long history that makes it very unique, and today, it is home to many commercial businesses, universities, and has been considered one of the best places for startup businesses in the entire world.

Sofia Demographics

The majority of Sofia’s citizens were born in Bulgaria, accounting for almost 88% of the total population. A total of 1.5% are Romani, 0.5% are Turks, while the remainder of people responding to the census belonged to another group or did not declare their affiliation.

The primary religion in Sofia is Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Over 69% were recorded as following this religion according to the 2011 census. Other religions throughout the city include Protestant, Muslim and Roman Catholic. Over one-quarter of residents did not identify their religion or were classified as non-religious.

The unemployment rate in the area is about 6%. Approximately one-third of the residents in Sofia have earned a college degree. The city has a very high literacy rate, with over 99.6% of residents over the age of 9 being literate.

Sofia History

The city of Sofia is the second oldest in Europe, with humans inhabiting it since at least 8 BC, but it is believed that the area has been inhabited for at least 30,000 years.

In the 1870s, the city was liberated from the rule of the Ottomans. By the end of the decade, the city was named as the capital. During this time, the population exceeded 11,000.

In the years that followed, the city’s population continued to grow as migrants made their way into the area. In the early 1900s, Sofia was involved in multiple wars. This included the Second Balkan War, and World War II. During World War II, bombings from the US and the UK destroyed thousands of buildings and killed thousands of people. The city was invaded in 1944 by the Soviet Red Army. The next year, Fatherland Front took control.

In the years that followed, Bulgaria became the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, before changing again in 1990 to the Republic of Bulgaria. The city has continued to see growth, both in terms of dwellings and buildings and its population, which has risen because of migration from rural areas.

Sofia Population Growth

The population of Sofia has grown significantly since the census was first taken in the 1870s. The city through each census has recorded growth. Because of the high rate of immigration to the capital city, these numbers are only expected to continue to grow in the years ahead.

Country
Bulgaria
Growth Rate
-0.04%

86 Rows

Year
Population
20351,268,800
20341,270,990
20331,273,090
20321,275,080
20311,276,890
20301,278,520
20291,279,970
20281,281,220
20271,283,790
20261,284,870
20251,286,460
20241,287,540
20231,288,110
20221,286,790
20211,284,310
20201,280,970
20191,276,940
20181,272,420
20171,266,840
20161,261,290
20151,255,740
20141,250,230
20131,244,740
20121,236,760
20111,226,320
20101,215,980
20091,205,730
20081,195,580
20071,185,480
20061,177,560
20051,168,850
20041,157,370
20031,145,960
20021,132,680
20011,120,410
20001,128,270
19991,136,200
19981,144,180
19971,152,210
19961,160,290
19951,168,440
19941,176,650
19931,184,910
19921,189,840
19911,190,290
19901,190,740
19891,191,200
19881,191,650
19871,192,100
19861,192,560
19851,181,470
19841,159,260
19831,137,410
19821,116,000
19811,095,000
19801,074,410
19791,054,160
19781,034,320
19771,014,850
1976995,774
1975977,004
1974958,614
1973940,570
1972922,889
1971905,494
1970888,449
1969871,726
1968855,339
1967839,217
1966823,420
1965805,615
1964785,106
1963765,065
1962745,562
1961726,557
1960708,061
1959689,987
1958672,398
1957655,257
1956636,637
1955615,880
1954595,828
1953576,429
1952557,686
1951539,504
1950521,938

86 Rows

Year
Population
Change
Growth
1950521,9380%0
1951539,5043.37%17,566
1952557,6863.37%18,182
1953576,4293.36%18,743
1954595,8283.37%19,399
1955615,8803.37%20,052
1956636,6373.37%20,757
1957655,2572.92%18,620
1958672,3982.62%17,141
1959689,9872.62%17,589
1960708,0612.62%18,074
1961726,5572.61%18,496
1962745,5622.62%19,005
1963765,0652.62%19,503
1964785,1062.62%20,041
1965805,6152.61%20,509
1966823,4202.21%17,805
1967839,2171.92%15,797
1968855,3391.92%16,122
1969871,7261.92%16,387
1970888,4491.92%16,723
1971905,4941.92%17,045
1972922,8891.92%17,395
1973940,5701.92%17,681
1974958,6141.92%18,044
1975977,0041.92%18,390
1976995,7741.92%18,770
19771,014,8501.92%19,076
19781,034,3201.92%19,470
19791,054,1601.92%19,840
19801,074,4101.92%20,250
19811,095,0001.92%20,590
19821,116,0001.92%21,000
19831,137,4101.92%21,410
19841,159,2601.92%21,850
19851,181,4701.92%22,210
19861,192,5600.94%11,090
19871,192,100-0.04%-460
19881,191,650-0.04%-450
19891,191,200-0.04%-450
19901,190,740-0.04%-460
19911,190,290-0.04%-450
19921,189,840-0.04%-450
19931,184,910-0.41%-4,930
19941,176,650-0.7%-8,260
19951,168,440-0.7%-8,210
19961,160,290-0.7%-8,150
19971,152,210-0.7%-8,080
19981,144,180-0.7%-8,030
19991,136,200-0.7%-7,980
20001,128,270-0.7%-7,930
20011,120,410-0.7%-7,860
20021,132,6801.1%12,270
20031,145,9601.17%13,280
20041,157,3701%11,410
20051,168,8500.99%11,480
20061,177,5600.75%8,710
20071,185,4800.67%7,920
20081,195,5800.85%10,100
20091,205,7300.85%10,150
20101,215,9800.85%10,250
20111,226,3200.85%10,340
20121,236,7600.85%10,440
20131,244,7400.65%7,980
20141,250,2300.44%5,490
20151,255,7400.44%5,510
20161,261,2900.44%5,550
20171,266,8400.44%5,550
20181,272,4200.44%5,580
20191,276,9400.36%4,520
20201,280,9700.32%4,030
20211,284,3100.26%3,340
20221,286,7900.19%2,480
20231,288,1100.1%1,320
20241,287,540-0.04%-570
20251,286,460-0.08%-1,080
20261,284,870-0.12%-1,590
20271,283,790-0.08%-1,080
20281,281,220-0.2%-2,570
20291,279,970-0.1%-1,250
20301,278,520-0.11%-1,450
20311,276,890-0.13%-1,630
20321,275,080-0.14%-1,810
20331,273,090-0.16%-1,990
20341,270,990-0.16%-2,100
20351,268,800-0.17%-2,190

Sofia Population Data (Urban Area)

Name
2024 Pop.
2024 Growth
Sofia1,287,540-0.04%
Plovdiv347,318-0.09%
Varna334,389-0.08%

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