Nearly 20% of Bulgaria's population lives in Sofia, cesnsus 2021

19.5% of Bulgaria's population lives in Sofia, according to data of the national census presented by the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

According to Census 2021 report, the country's population as at 7 September 2021 was 6,519,789 people. Women are 3,383,527 (51.9%) and men 3,136,262 (48.1%).

The population of the Sofia (capital) region is 1,274,290. This means that 19.5% of the country's population lives on its territory. There are 668,513 women (52.5%) and 605,777 men (47.5%), or 906 men per 1,000 women.

In the period between the last two censuses, the population of Sofia decreased by 17,301 people (1.3%). In the country, for this ten-year period, this is the district with the smallest population loss, according to NSI data from the census.

The territory of Sofia Municipality is divided into 24 administrative districts. 13 of them have a population of over 50 000 people. 73.8% of the population of Sofia Municipality lives in them. During the ten-year period between the two censuses, a decrease in population was registered in most of the districts of Sofia Municipality, with the largest decrease in Sredets district (-20.6%).

Negative trends in the age structure of the population continue to deepen. There is a continuing process of demographic ageing, which is reflected in an increase in the absolute number and relative share of the population aged 65 and over.

There were more older females than older males. The relative share of women aged 65 and over is 23.2% and of men 15.6%. This difference is due to the higher mortality rate among men and, as a consequence, their lower life expectancy. The number of males is higher in the age group up to 44 years. After this age, the number and the relative share of women in the total population of Sofia (capital city) District increase.

As at September 7, 2021, the population aged 65 and over is 249,605 or 19.6% of the District's population. Compared to the previous census, the population in this age group increased by 47,977 or 23.8%.

The population in the age group 15-64 was 838,390 or 65.8%. Compared to 2011, it decreased by 92,333, or by 9.9%. The share of the population in the active age group (15-64 years) is the highest in Sofia - 65.8% of the district's population.