Kardzhali: population, economy and official figures
Kardzhali is a province in Yuzhen tsentralen, Bulgaria. Kardzhali had 149,478 residents on 1 January 2025, 11.4% of Yuzhen tsentralen and 2.32% of Bulgaria; 14th largest of 28 provinces in Bulgaria.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kardzhali: GDP per person was 13,300 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 33% of the EU average (66% for Bulgaria); 24th highest of 28 provinces in Bulgaria.
- Health in Kardzhali: At the end of 2024, 375 physicians worked in Kardzhali district, which is 251 for every 100,000 people (national rate 468).
- Education in Kardzhali: Kardzhali district had 69 educational institutions in the 2024/25 school year: 58 general education schools, 11 vocational gymnasiums and no university.
- Poverty and living standards in Kardzhali: 19.7% of people in Kardzhali 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 Kardzhali ranks 14th highest of 28 districts.
- Government and politics in Kardzhali: Kardzhali district elects 5 of the 240 members of the 52nd National Assembly through multi-member constituency No. 9, 2.1% of all seats.
Is the population of Kardzhali growing?
That is 2.0% more people than in 2015 (146,546).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Kardzhali?
There were 46.8 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Kardzhali?
The median age was 51.2 years in 2025, against 47.2 for Bulgaria; 6th highest of 28 provinces in Bulgaria.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Kardzhali?
27.1% of residents were 65 or older and 12.2% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Kardzhali?
In 2024 there were 927 live births and 2,250 deaths, a natural decrease of 1,323.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Kardzhali?
It covers 3,212 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the population of Kardzhali district?
Kardzhali district had 149,478 residents on 31 December 2024, down 5.5% from 158,204 at the end of 2019 (national change -7.4%).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyAre people moving to Kardzhali?
Net migration added 28.6 people per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -8.9 per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Kardzhali district covers 3,211 square kilometres, which gives 46.6 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 Yuzhen tsentralen
- Plovdiv 635,630
- Pazardzhik 223,494
- Haskovo 207,356
- Smolyan 90,534
Up a level: Yuzhen tsentralen · 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.