Bulgaria
population: Official estimate (31 Dec 2025) · indicators as of 2026-09-05 · 25 metros tracked
🗺️ Geography25 metros
Bulgaria metro footprint, shaded by composite tier.
Hover for rank, click to open the metro page. Boundaries derived from Overture Maps administrative divisions; metros without source coverage are omitted.
🏙️ 25 tracked metros
Show all 25 rows
| Metro | State | Tier | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #331 | Sofia★ Capital▲ Largest | Sofia City | 1.5M | 8.0 | Established Metro |
| #1434 | Varna | Varna | 432K | 0.9 | Local Metro |
| #1579 | Plovdiv | Plovdiv | 634K | 0.7 | Local Metro |
| #2060 | Burgas | Burgas | 380K | 0.4 | Local Metro |
| #2343 | Vratza | Vratsa | 153K | 0.3 | Local Metro |
| #2372 | Ruse | Rousse | 141K | 0.3 | Local Metro |
| #2373 | Kardzhali | Kǎrdžali | 141K | 0.3 | Local Metro |
| #2454 | Lovech | Lovech | 116K | 0.3 | Local Metro |
| #2504 | Razgrad | Razgrad | 103K | 0.3 | Local Metro |
| #3115 | Stara Zagora | Stara Zagora | 297K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3119 | Blagoevgrad | Blagoevgrad | 292K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3193 | Pazardzhik | Pazardzhik | 230K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3199 | Pleven | Pleven | 226K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3220 | Haskovo | Haskovo | 212K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3231 | Veliko Tarnovo | Veliko Tarnovo | 207K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3303 | Sliven | Sliven | 173K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3362 | Shumen | Shumen | 151K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3367 | Dobrich | Dobrič | 150K | 0.1 | Local Metro |
| #3490 | Montana | Montana | 120K | 0.0 | Local Metro |
| #3525 | Pernik | Pernik | 114K | 0.0 | Local Metro |
| #3553 | Yambol | Jambol | 110K | 0.0 | Local Metro |
| #3628 | Gabrovo | Gabrovo | 98K | 0.0 | Local Metro |
| #3758 | Vidin | Vidin | 75K | 0.0 | Local Metro |
| #3978 | Kyustendil | Kjustendil | 49K | 0.0 | Local Metro |
| #4077 | Dupnitsa | Kjustendil | 38K | 0.0 | Local Metro |
🗂️ Provinces
28 entries listed under Bulgaria. Click any to see its metros and footprint.
📋 At a glance
- Official language
- Bulgarian
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Government
- Parliamentary republic
- Legislature
- National Assembly of Bulgaria
- Constitution
- 1991, 5 amendment events since
- Demonym
- Bulgarian
- Time zone
- UTC+02:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +359
- Internet TLD
- .bg, .бг
- ISO 3166
- BG
- Established
- 1878
- Highest point
- Musala (2,925 m (9,596 ft))
- National anthem
- Mila Rodino
Facts via Wikidata.
💹 Economy and developmentHigh income
Ranks are among sovereign countries with data; ★ marks a top-5% finish. Sources: World Bank Open Data and Our World in Data (UNDP, UN WPP, V-Dem, Global Carbon Budget, Ember, Energy Institute; CC BY 4.0). Each card credits its originating body. Renewable share is of electricity generation, not of primary energy. Each figure is the most recent year available.
Alliances & Organisations3 full memberships
Security
Political & Economic
Full memberDashed border = Candidate / ApplicantItalic = Dialogue / Observer
🏛️ Leadership History52 leaders · click to expand
marks a leader associated with atrocities or defiance of law, systemic subversion of democratic institutions, or a criminal conviction. Convictions arising from political persecution, and annulled convictions, are excluded. denotes a monarch. These are editorial designations, applied per entry rather than derived automatically.
Progressive Bulgaria era
Rumen Radev✦ Current
2026–PresentPrime Minister
Iliana Iotova✦ Current
2026–PresentPresident
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Rumen Radev✦ Current | Prime Minister | 2026–Present |
| Iliana Iotova✦ Current | President | 2026–Present |
Political instability era
Rosen Zhelyazkov
2025–2026Prime Minister
Dimitar Glavchev
2024–2025Prime Minister
Nikolai Denkov
2023–2024Prime Minister
Galab Donev
2022–2023Prime Minister
Kiril Petkov
2021–2022Prime Minister
Rumen Radev
2017–2026President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Rosen Zhelyazkov | Prime Minister | 2025–2026 |
| Dimitar Glavchev | Prime Minister | 2024–2025 |
| Nikolai Denkov | Prime Minister | 2023–2024 |
| Galab Donev | Prime Minister | 2022–2023 |
| Kiril Petkov | Prime Minister | 2021–2022 |
| Rumen Radev | President | 2017–2026 |
EU member era
Rosen Plevneliev
2012–2017President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Rosen Plevneliev | President | 2012–2017 |
EU accession era
Georgi Parvanov
2002–2012President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Georgi Parvanov | President | 2002–2012 |
Pre-EU reform era
Petar Stoyanov
1997–2002President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Petar Stoyanov | President | 1997–2002 |
Post-communist transition
Zhelyu Zhelev
1990–1997President
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Zhelyu Zhelev | President | 1990–1997 |
People's Republic of Bulgaria
⚠️ Todor Zhivkov
1954–1989First Secretary
Vulko Chervenkov
1950–1954First Secretary
Georgi Dimitrov
1946–1949Prime Minister
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ⚠️ Todor Zhivkov | First Secretary | 1954–1989 |
| Vulko Chervenkov | First Secretary | 1950–1954 |
| Georgi Dimitrov | Prime Minister | 1946–1949 |
Kingdom of Bulgaria
👑 Simeon II
1943–1946Monarch
👑 Boris III
1918–1943Monarch
👑 Ferdinand I
1887–1918Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Simeon II | Monarch | 1943–1946 |
| 👑 Boris III | Monarch | 1918–1943 |
| 👑 Ferdinand I | Monarch | 1887–1918 |
Principality of Bulgaria
👑 Alexander I
1879–1886Monarch
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Alexander I | Monarch | 1879–1886 |
Second Bulgarian Empire
👑 Ivan Shishman
1371–1395Emperor
👑 Ivan Alexander
1331–1371Emperor
👑 Ivan Asen II
1218–1241Emperor
👑 Boril
1207–1218Emperor
👑 Kaloyan
1196–1207Emperor
👑 Ivan Asen I
1188–1196Emperor
👑 Peter II
1185–1197Emperor
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Ivan Shishman | Emperor | 1371–1395 |
| 👑 Ivan Alexander | Emperor | 1331–1371 |
| 👑 Ivan Asen II | Emperor | 1218–1241 |
| 👑 Boril | Emperor | 1207–1218 |
| 👑 Kaloyan | Emperor | 1196–1207 |
| 👑 Ivan Asen I | Emperor | 1188–1196 |
| 👑 Peter II | Emperor | 1185–1197 |
First Bulgarian Empire
👑 Ivan Vladislav
1015–1018Emperor
👑 Gavril Radomir
1014–1015Emperor
👑 Samuel
997–1014Emperor
👑 Roman
977–997Emperor
👑 Boris II
969–977Emperor
👑 Peter I
927–969Emperor
👑 Simeon I the Great
913–927Emperor
👑 Simeon I the Great
893–913Knyaz
👑 Vladimir
889–893Knyaz
👑 Boris I
852–889Knyaz
👑 Presian I
836–852Khan
👑 Malamir
831–836Khan
Show all 26 leaders
👑 Omurtag
814–831Khan
👑 Krum
803–814Khan
👑 Kardam
777–803Khan
👑 Telerig
768–777Khan
👑 Pagan
767–768Khan
👑 Toktu
766–767Khan
👑 Umor
766–766Khan
👑 Sabin
763–766Khan
👑 Telets
760–763Khan
👑 Vinekh
754–760Khan
👑 Sevar
738–754Khan
👑 Kormisosh
721–738Khan
👑 Tervel
700–721Khan
👑 Asparuh
681–700Khan
| Name | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 👑 Ivan Vladislav | Emperor | 1015–1018 |
| 👑 Gavril Radomir | Emperor | 1014–1015 |
| 👑 Samuel | Emperor | 997–1014 |
| 👑 Roman | Emperor | 977–997 |
| 👑 Boris II | Emperor | 969–977 |
| 👑 Peter I | Emperor | 927–969 |
| 👑 Simeon I the Great | Emperor | 913–927 |
| 👑 Simeon I the Great | Knyaz | 893–913 |
| 👑 Vladimir | Knyaz | 889–893 |
| 👑 Boris I | Knyaz | 852–889 |
| 👑 Presian I | Khan | 836–852 |
| 👑 Malamir | Khan | 831–836 |
| 👑 Omurtag | Khan | 814–831 |
| 👑 Krum | Khan | 803–814 |
| 👑 Kardam | Khan | 777–803 |
| 👑 Telerig | Khan | 768–777 |
| 👑 Pagan | Khan | 767–768 |
| 👑 Toktu | Khan | 766–767 |
| 👑 Umor | Khan | 766–766 |
| 👑 Sabin | Khan | 763–766 |
| 👑 Telets | Khan | 760–763 |
| 👑 Vinekh | Khan | 754–760 |
| 👑 Sevar | Khan | 738–754 |
| 👑 Kormisosh | Khan | 721–738 |
| 👑 Tervel | Khan | 700–721 |
| 👑 Asparuh | Khan | 681–700 |
📈 Power over timeThe Power Atlas →
The powerline is the headline share of world power, running from the state’s first ranked year (benchmark estimates with wide error bars before 1816). Latent power is material mass a state could mobilise (population, manpower, heavy industry). Recognised power is what the system actually treats it as (military spending, productive economy, reach, and status such as a Security Council seat or nuclear arsenal). When latent runs above recognised, a power is rising or under-rated; when recognised runs higher, it is punching above its weight or coasting on prestige. Material sub-indices run 1816 through 2016.
⚔️ Conflicts since 19456 interstate wars · click to expand
| Conflict | Years | Against | Combat deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia | 1968 | Czechoslovakia | 254+ |
| World War II● | 1939–1945 | Soviet Union,United States,United Kingdom,China,Free France Free France,Poland,Yugoslavia,Greece,Netherlands,Belgium,Luxembourg,Norway,Denmark | — |
| World War I● | 1914–1918 | British Empire,France,Russia,Serbia,Belgium,Italy (from 1915),Japan,United States (from 1917),Romania,Portugal,Greece (from 1917) | — |
| Second Balkan War● | 1913 | Ottoman Empire,Kingdom of Greece,Kingdom of Serbia,Kingdom of Montenegro,Kingdom of Romania | — |
| First Balkan War● | 1912–1913 | Ottoman Empire | — |
| Serbo-Bulgarian War | 1885 | Serbia | — |
Bold = principal belligerent. Source: Wikipedia, “List of interstate wars since 1945.”
👥 Population over time
Our World in Data population (CC BY): UN WPP 2024 from 1950, Gapminder v7 1800-1949, HYDE 3.3 earlier; today's borders. Figures above are as of 2023, the last year that is estimated rather than forecast. The dashed tail to 2026 is a UN WPP medium-variant projection. It is drawn because the line should reach the present, and drawn differently because it has not happened yet: no rank, peak or share on this page uses it. Before 1950 the series is reconstruction rather than contemporaneous statistics, which is worth knowing when a country’s peak sits back there. The current population shown elsewhere on this page comes from the workbook and is unchanged by this. Bulgaria is past its peak, which is less unusual than it sounds: the two lines here can point in opposite directions, and for most of Europe and East Asia they now both point down.
👥 To 2100
The UN’s probabilistic projection for Bulgaria: the median with its 80% and 95% bands, the UN’s own high, low and zero-migration scenarios beside it. Not this site’s model; the site reads it and says what it implies.
Tap or drag across the chart to read any year: the estimate to 2023, then the UN median, its bands and the scenarios.
What drives it
Births, deaths and net migration on the UN medium path, with fertility, life expectancy and median age, every decade from 1950.
Show all 16 decades
Source: United Nations, DESA, Population Division. World Population Prospects 2024. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 IGO. Estimates to 2023; projections 2024 to 2100, medium variant and probabilistic intervals. The UN revises every two years; this is the WPP 2024 revision.
💰 Billionaires2 · $5.8B combined · click to expand
| # | Name | Net worth | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1467 | Georgi Domuschiev | $2.9B | Diversified |
| 1467 | Kiril Domuschiev | $2.9B | Diversified |
Source: Forbes real-time billionaires (via the rtb-api project). Net worth as of the latest monthly snapshot.
🏆 National Teams
Bulgaria on the international stage. Click a card for the full record.
