Stara Zagora: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Stara Zagora: The registered unemployment level in Stara Zagora municipality averaged 2.6% in 2024 (1,717 people on the labour office register), 3rd lowest of 6 cities; the national level was 5.2%.
- Health in Stara Zagora: At the end of 2024, 968 physicians worked in Stara Zagora municipality, which is 680 for every 100,000 people (national rate 468).
- Education in Stara Zagora: Stara Zagora municipality had 46 educational institutions in the 2024/25 school year: 33 general education schools, 9 vocational gymnasiums and 1 universities or equivalent higher schools.
- Poverty and living standards in Stara Zagora: Courts imposed penalties for 622 crimes committed in Stara Zagora municipality in 2024 and convicted 597 people, 42.0 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 9.4% of those convicted were women.
What is the population of Stara Zagora?
Stara Zagora municipality had 142,296 residents on 31 December 2024, 2.2% of Bulgaria's population.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the population of Stara Zagora?
Stara Zagora had 142,296 residents on 1 January 2025 according to the EU Urban Audit; 14.2% were under 15 and 23.5% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Stara Zagora growing?
The population shrank by 10.6% between 2012 and 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Stara Zagora municipality covers 1,093 square kilometres, which gives 130.2 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 Stara Zagora?
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
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…)
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