Ruse: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Ruse: The registered unemployment level in Ruse municipality averaged 3.2% in 2024 (2,061 people on the labour office register), the highest of 6 cities; the national level was 5.2%.
- Health in Ruse: At the end of 2024, 755 physicians worked in Ruse municipality, which is 550 for every 100,000 people (national rate 468).
- Education in Ruse: Ruse municipality had 42 educational institutions in the 2024/25 school year: 27 general education schools, 12 vocational gymnasiums and 1 universities or equivalent higher schools.
- Poverty and living standards in Ruse: Courts imposed penalties for 662 crimes committed in Ruse municipality in 2024 and convicted 521 people, 38.0 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 8.8% of those convicted were women.
What is the population of Ruse?
Ruse municipality had 137,159 residents on 31 December 2024, 2.1% of Bulgaria's population.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the population of Ruse?
Ruse had 137,159 residents on 1 January 2025 according to the EU Urban Audit; 12.7% were under 15 and 25.2% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Ruse growing?
The population shrank by 17.8% between 2012 and 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Ruse municipality covers 568 square kilometres, which gives 241.5 residents per square kilometre at the end of 2024 against 58.0 for Bulgaria as a whole. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
Who runs Ruse?
In Bulgaria, cities and towns are run by municipalities – obshtini: Municipal council and mayor (kmet) directly elected every four years (last in October 2023). Schools (buildings and staff), kindergartens, local roads, waste, water, social services.
How local power works in Bulgaria
Cities of a similar size in Bulgaria
- Sofia 1,183,400
- Plovdiv 319,612
- Varna 310,664
- Burgas 189,741
- Stara Zagora 122,536
Up a level: all cities in Bulgaria · Bulgaria · government and power
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI): Regions, districts and municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria 2024 (yearbook tables by statistical region, district and municipality), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81cba27bb0cc…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.