Bulgaria's population fell by 14,153 to 6,423,207 in 2025, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said in its report "Population and Demographic Processes 2025".

That is a drop of 0.22%. At the end of 2024 the population stood at 6,437,360, down 8,121, or 0.13%, from 2023. The loss in 2025 was bigger than the year before.

Natural change in 2025 was minus 49,238 people. Migration added 35,085 people, which was not enough to make up the gap. Deaths in Bulgaria have outnumbered live births every year since 1990, the NSI said. Net migration shows how many more people moved to Bulgaria than left it. The institute said it has a major effect on the size and structure of the population.

Some 44,640 people immigrated in 2025, meaning they settled in Bulgaria from abroad. They include returning Bulgarian citizens and citizens of other countries with a residence permit or status.

Most immigrants came from outside the EU, at 45.9%. Bulgarian citizens made up 38.9% and citizens of EU countries 15.2%. Turkey was the top country with 25.1%, followed by Ukraine with 18.5% and Germany with 9.1%. Children up to 14 made up 14.3%, people aged 15 to 64 made up 72.9%, and 12.8% were 65 or older.

A total of 9,555 people emigrated, changing their address from Bulgaria to one abroad. Of them, 52.1% were men. Children up to 14 made up 6%, people aged 15 to 64 made up 59.7%, and 34.3% were 65 or older.

The average age at the end of 2025 was 45.4 years: 44.6 in cities and 47.7 in villages. The NSI said population ageing has pushed it up over the years. There are 3,764,842 people of working age, or 58.6% of the population.

Bulgaria has 192 settlements with no residents, and another 1,280, or 24.4% of all, have between 1 and 49 residents. The biggest village is Lozen in Sofia municipality, with 6,671 people, and the smallest town is Melnik, with 181 residents.