Sofia: population and official figures
1,183,400
1,295,931
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Sofia: Labour offices in Stolichna (Sofia) municipality had 10,958 registered unemployed people on average in 2024, a registered unemployment level of 1.7% against 5.2% nationally, the lowest of 6 cities.
- Health in Sofia: At the end of 2024, 7,472 physicians worked in Stolichna (Sofia) municipality, which is 577 for every 100,000 people (national rate 468).
- Education in Sofia: Stolichna (Sofia) municipality had 306 educational institutions in the 2024/25 school year: 234 general education schools, 30 vocational gymnasiums and 20 universities or equivalent higher schools.
- Poverty and living standards in Sofia: Courts imposed penalties for 2,129 crimes committed in Stolichna (Sofia) municipality in 2024 and convicted 1,912 people, 14.8 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 10.2% of those convicted were women.
What is the population of Sofia?
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, had 1,183,400 inhabitants (city proper) on 7 September 2021, according to a complete census (usual residents) reported to the United Nations.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow does Sofia rank among cities in Bulgaria?
Of the 6 cities the UN table lists for Bulgaria (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is the largest.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow many women and men live in Sofia?
Women and girls made up 52.6% of residents (622,212 female, 561,188 male).
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyWhat is the population of Sofia?
Stolichna (Sofia) municipality had 1,295,931 residents on 31 December 2024, 20.1% of Bulgaria's population.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the population of Sofia?
Sofia had 1,295,931 residents on 1 January 2025 according to the EU Urban Audit; 14.6% were under 15 and 19.2% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Sofia growing?
The population shrank by 0.1% between 2012 and 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Stolichna (Sofia) municipality covers 1,343 square kilometres, which gives 964.7 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
- 56% of people in Sofia agreed that there is corruption in their local public administration (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 38% of residents of Sofia were satisfied with how long the local administration takes to deal with a request. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 42% of residents of Sofia found the local administration's procedures straightforward and easy to understand. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 56% of residents of Sofia thought the fees charged by the local administration were reasonable. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 60% of people in Sofia said the local administration's information and services were easy to access online (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 81% of people in Sofia were satisfied to live in the city (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
Who runs Sofia?
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
- Plovdiv 319,612
- Varna 310,664
- Burgas 189,741
- Ruse 124,787
- Stara Zagora 122,536
Up a level: all cities in Bulgaria · Bulgaria · government and power
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
- 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_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- 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…)
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