Largest Cities and Towns by Population in Bulgaria
71 cities and towns in Bulgaria with 10,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by population estimates for December 31, 2025 (by National Statistical Institute, Bulgaria).
| Rank | City or Town | Also Known As | Native Name | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sofia | Sofija | София | 1,213,134 |
| 2 | Plovdiv | - | Пловдив | 333,994 |
| 3 | Varna | - | Варна | 322,683 |
| 4 | Burgas | - | Бургас | 189,086 |
| 5 | Stara Zagora | - | Стара Загора | 120,976 |
| 6 | Ruse | Rousse | Русе | 120,282 |
| 7 | Pleven | - | Плевен | 88,058 |
| 8 | Sliven | - | Сливен | 77,832 |
| 9 | Dobrich | Dobrič, Tolbuhin | Добрич | 68,573 |
| 10 | Shumen | Šumen | Шумен | 66,399 |
| 11 | Pernik | - | Перник | 65,317 |
| 12 | Blagoevgrad | - | Благоевград | 64,171 |
| 13 | Haskovo | Khaskovo | Хасково | 62,923 |
| 14 | Veliko Tarnovo | - | Велико Търново | 60,067 |
| 15 | Yambol | Jambol | Ямбол | 58,997 |
| 16 | Pazardzhik | Pazardžik | Пазарджик | 53,693 |
| 17 | Vratsa | Vraca | Враца | 47,874 |
| 18 | Asenovgrad | - | Асеновград | 45,271 |
| 19 | Gabrovo | - | Габрово | 43,229 |
| 20 | Kardzhali | Kǎrdžali | Кърджали | 42,250 |
| 21 | Kazanlak | - | Казанлък | 41,260 |
| 22 | Montana | Mihajlovgrad | Монтана | 34,614 |
| 23 | Kyustendil | Kjustendil | Кюстендил | 34,063 |
| 24 | Vidin | - | Видин | 33,127 |
| 25 | Targovishte | Tǎrgovište | Търговище | 32,524 |
| 26 | Dimitrovgrad | - | Димитровград | 29,835 |
| 27 | Razgrad | - | Разград | 27,517 |
| 28 | Lovech | Loveč | Ловеч | 26,693 |
| 29 | Silistra | - | Силистра | 26,470 |
| 30 | Dupnitsa | Dupnica, Stanke Dimitrov | Дупница | 26,108 |
| 31 | Petrich | Petrič | Петрич | 25,888 |
| 32 | Gorna Oryahovitsa | Gorna Orjahovica | Горна Оряховица | 24,768 |
| 33 | Smolyan | Smoljan | Смолян | 24,028 |
| 34 | Samokov | - | Самоков | 23,741 |
| 35 | Sandanski | - | Сандански | 23,334 |
| 36 | Velingrad | - | Велинград | 19,843 |
| 37 | Karlovo | - | Карлово | 18,590 |
| 38 | Botevgrad | - | Ботевград | 18,497 |
| 39 | Nesebar | - | Несебър | 18,384 |
| 40 | Gotse Delchev | Goce Delčev | Гоце Делчев | 17,672 |
| 41 | Harmanli | Kharmanli | Харманли | 17,223 |
| 42 | Aytos | Ajtos | Айтос | 17,119 |
| 43 | Svishtov | Svištov | Свищов | 17,115 |
| 44 | Sevlievo | - | Севлиево | 16,935 |
| 45 | Troyan | Trojan | Троян | 16,501 |
| 46 | Svilengrad | - | Свиленград | 16,302 |
| 47 | Nova Zagora | - | Нова Загора | 16,298 |
| 48 | Lom | - | Лом | 15,429 |
| 49 | Panagyurishte | Panagjurište | Панагюрище | 14,754 |
| 50 | Rakovski | - | Раковски | 14,670 |
| 51 | Pomorie | Anhialo | Поморие | 14,195 |
| 52 | Karnobat | - | Карнобат | 14,176 |
| 53 | Novi Iskar | - | Нови Искър | 13,307 |
| 54 | Ihtiman | - | Ихтиман | 12,537 |
| 55 | Peshtera | Peštera | Пещера | 12,452 |
| 56 | Chirpan | Čirpan | Чирпан | 12,375 |
| 57 | Popovo | - | Попово | 12,161 |
| 58 | Kostinbrod | - | Костинброд | 11,665 |
| 59 | Bankya | Bankja | Банкя | 11,642 |
| 60 | Radomir | - | Радомир | 11,486 |
| 61 | Razlog | - | Разлог | 11,025 |
| 62 | Parvomay | Pǎrvomaj | Първомай | 10,862 |
| 63 | Kozloduy | Kozloduj | Козлодуй | 10,652 |
| 64 | Bansko | - | Банско | 10,189 |
| 65 | Cherven Bryag | Červen Brjag | Червен бряг | 10,041 |
| 66 | Radnevo | - | Раднево | 9,964 |
| 67 | Kavarna | - | Каварна | 9,838 |
| 68 | Novi Pazar | - | Нови пазар | 9,826 |
| 69 | Stamboliyski | Stambolijski | Стамболийски | 9,671 |
| 70 | Provadia | Provadija | Провадия | 9,634 |
| 71 | Berkovitsa | Berkovica | Берковица | 9,587 |
Source: National Statistical Institute, Bulgaria (2025 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff.
Why don't these match official city populations?Official figures typically count only the population within administrative boundaries. UN urban area figures cover the entire built-up area, which can include multiple cities and towns.Show moreShow less
Tokyo
33,338,852
Urban area
9,953,160
23 wards
Essen
2,709,375
Urban area
573,618
City of Essen
Ankara
3,630,865
Urban area
5,186,002
Metropolitan municipality
What counts as an urban area? The UN uses satellite imagery to map built-up land, and treats each continuous stretch of built-up land as an urban area. This means that urban areas can extend beyond official city boundaries, and may include multiple cities and towns within a single urban area.
Can an urban area be smaller than its city? Yes. While most cities have urban areas larger than their administrative boundaries, some cities have extensive administrative limits that include sparsely populated areas.
8 urban areas in Bulgaria with 50,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by the UN's population estimates for 2026.
| Rank | Urban Area | Population Estimate (2026) | Yearly Change | Land Area (km²) | Density (P/km²) | World Rank | Projections (2030) | Projections (2050) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sofia | 1,063,522 | −0.34% | 197 | 5,399 | 486 | 1,049,065 | 970,901 |
| 2 | Plovdiv | 328,697 | −0.35% | 45 | 7,304 | 1,763 | 324,135 | 300,377 |
| 3 | Varna | 289,543 | −0.36% | 65 | 4,455 | 2,020 | 285,428 | 265,758 |
| 4 | Burgas | 103,598 | −0.34% | 25 | 4,144 | 6,050 | 102,206 | 95,219 |
| 5 | Ruse | 89,137 | −0.36% | 18 | 4,952 | 7,058 | 87,837 | 81,768 |
| 6 | Stara Zagora | 83,317 | −0.38% | 20 | 4,166 | 7,587 | 82,061 | 76,242 |
| 7 | Pleven | 57,280 | −0.36% | 19 | 3,015 | 10,896 | 56,454 | – |
| 8 | Sliven | 51,389 | −0.39% | 17 | 3,023 | 11,988 | 50,578 | – |
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision, Online Edition.