Stara Zagora: population, economy and official figures
Stara Zagora is a province in Yugoiztochen, Bulgaria. Stara Zagora had 288,736 residents on 1 January 2025, 30.3% of Yugoiztochen and 4.49% of Bulgaria; 5th largest of 28 provinces in Bulgaria.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Stara Zagora: GDP per person was 36,200 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 91% of the EU average (66% for Bulgaria); 2nd highest of 28 provinces in Bulgaria.
- Health in Stara Zagora: At the end of 2024, 1,332 physicians worked in Stara Zagora district, which is 461 for every 100,000 people (national rate 468).
- Education in Stara Zagora: Stara Zagora district had 121 educational institutions in the 2024/25 school year: 98 general education schools, 18 vocational gymnasiums and 1 universities or equivalent higher schools.
- Poverty and living standards in Stara Zagora: 28.4% of people in Stara Zagora district were at risk of poverty in the 2025 survey, measured against the district's own poverty line; the national rate was 21.2% and Stara Zagora ranks the highest of 28 districts.
- Government and politics in Stara Zagora: Stara Zagora district elects 11 of the 240 members of the 52nd National Assembly through multi-member constituency No. 27, 4.6% of all seats.
Is the population of Stara Zagora growing?
That is 9.6% fewer people than in 2015 (319,443).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Stara Zagora?
There were 56.8 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Stara Zagora?
The median age was 47.8 years in 2025, against 47.2 for Bulgaria; 21st highest of 28 provinces in Bulgaria.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Stara Zagora?
24.8% of residents were 65 or older and 14.6% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Stara Zagora?
In 2024 there were 2,546 live births and 4,719 deaths, a natural decrease of 2,173.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Stara Zagora?
It covers 5,150 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the population of Stara Zagora district?
Stara Zagora district had 288,736 residents on 31 December 2024, down 7.9% from 313,396 at the end of 2019 (national change -7.4%).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyAre people moving to Stara Zagora?
The net migration rate was +1.9 per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -7.5 per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Stara Zagora district covers 5,148 square kilometres, which gives 56.1 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
Figures come from Bulgaria's own official statistics and from Eurostat's regional statistics for NUTS 3 areas. Comparisons with the EU average use purchasing power standards (PPS), which adjust for price differences.
Other provinces in Yugoiztochen
Up a level: Yugoiztochen · all regions of Bulgaria · how local power works in Bulgaria
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjangrp3: Population on 1 January (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4c748d3cba3a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_d3dens: Population density, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f4b59fe9d121…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Median age of the population (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bf6ade55a0d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Share of people aged 65 or over (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 17aa0d08ab9c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_fagec3: Live births (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cfda9b5f4ebd…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset reg_area3: Area, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75302b0aafe9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_gind3: Population change: demographic balance and crude rates by NUTS 3 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7548e948e15c…)
- 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…)
- National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria: Members of the 52nd National Assembly by parliamentary group and multi-member constituency (list as of 24 October 2026), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 85cb8b3368bb…)
- National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI): Poverty and Social Inclusion Indicators by District, survey years 2008-2025 (EU-SILC), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cc02ad48dd42…)
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