The number of settlements in Bulgaria as of December 31, 2024 is 5256 (including 257 cities and 4999 villages); and the number of settlement formations is 166 (including 8 of national significance and 158 of local significance), the National Statistical Institute (NSI) announced.
By the end of 2024, the number of settlements without a single inhabitant is 199, with the largest number of them located in the districts of Veliko Tarnovo (66), Gabrovo (64), Kyustendil (10), Kardzhali (9) and Sofia (9). In 1258 villages, or in 23.9 percent of the settlements, live from 1 to 49 people inclusive. With a population of over 100,000 people, there are six cities in the country, in which 35.5 percent of the country's population lives.
As of December 31, 2024, Bulgaria is divided administratively and territorially into 28 districts and 265 municipalities, in which there are 3041 separate mayoralties. In addition, the Sofia Municipality and the cities of Plovdiv and Varna are divided administratively and territorially into regions: Sofia Municipality - into 24 districts, the city of Plovdiv - into 6 districts, the city of Varna - into 5 districts.
The average area of a district in the Republic of Bulgaria is 3964 square kilometers. The largest districts in the country by territory are Burgas, Sofia, Blagoevgrad and Plovdiv, and the smallest - Pernik, Gabrovo and Sofia (capital). The smallest region in the country by territory - Sofia (capital), is at the same time the largest by population - 1,295,931. Apart from it, the population in no other region exceeds 1,000,000 people. The smallest by population is Vidin region - 70,542 people.
The largest municipality in Bulgaria by population is Sofia. In addition to it, seven more municipalities in the country have a population of over 100,000 people - Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Ruse, Sliven and Pleven. The relative share of the population in these 8 municipalities represents 41.1 percent of the total population in the country.
By the end of 2024, out of a total of 265 municipalities in the country, 145 have a population of under 10,000 people. The relative share of the population in these municipalities represents 12.3 percent of the total population in the country. The smallest municipality in the country is Treklyano (Kyustendil District) with a population of 522 people, followed by Boynitsa Municipality (Vidin District) with a population of 712 people.
The average area of a municipality in the Republic of Bulgaria is 419 square kilometers. The largest municipality in the country by territory is Sliven. In addition to it, seven more municipalities have a territory of over 1,000 square kilometers - Stolichna, Dobrich-Selska, Tundzha (Yambol District), Samokov (Sofia District), Sredets (Bourgas District), Stara Zagora and Karlovo (Plovdiv District).
The smallest municipality in the country by territory is Chelopech (Sofia District). In addition, 10 more municipalities have an area of less than 100 square kilometers - Nikolaevo (Stara Zagora District), Yambol, Anton (Sofia District), Chavdar (Sofia District), Dolna Banya (Sofia District), Stamboliyski (Plovdiv District), Beloslav (Varna District), Sopot (Plovdiv District), Krichim (Plovdiv District) and Perushtitsa (Plovdiv District).
On the territory of 9 municipalities in Bulgaria - Plovdiv, Dobrich, Yambol, Krichim, Perushtitsa, Koprivshtitsa, Chelopech, Anton and Chavdar, there is only one settlement - their municipal center.
The population of Sofia Municipality is unevenly distributed in its individual regions. In 2024, in two of them – "Lyulin and "Mladost", are home to 15.6 percent of the residents of Sofia Municipality, with each of the aforementioned districts having a population of over 100,000 people. The smallest district in Sofia Municipality is Bankya with a population of 11,480 people, or 0.9 percent of the municipality's population.
The population of Plovdiv is relatively evenly distributed by districts - between 10.9 percent for the "Western" district and 22.4 percent for the "Southern" district.
The distribution of the population in the districts of Varna varies from 7 percent for the "Asparuhovo" district to 32.2 percent for the "Primorski" district, which is also the only one with a population of over 100,000 people.