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Demographics

Total population

At the end of 2004 the calculated resident population of Bulgaria was 7 761 049 persons. Compared to 2003 its number has declined by 0.5% of the total population. The decline is entirely due to the negative natural increase of the population, i.e. the significantly greater number of deaths compared to that of live births.

Population by sex and total, 1990-2004. Source: NSI

The number of females in the total population continues to be higher (relative share of 51.5%).

 

Ageing of the population

The average age of the population in Bulgaria in 2004 stood at 41 years. The process of ageing of the population takes place in both villages and cities, the average age in villages being higher than that in cities – 45.0 years in villages and 39.3 years in cities.

The average life expectancy at birth for the 2002-2004 period is 72.37 years.

Population under, at and over working age

The population at working age at the end of 2004 was approximately 4 782 000 persons or 61.6% of the total population.

The population over working age in 2004 was 1 805 000 persons.

A long-term tendency towards a decline has emerged among the population under working age.

 

 

Years	Working – age status (% of all)
	Under working age	At working age	Over working age
1990	21.6	55.5	22.9
1995	19.1	56.6	24.3
2000	16.8	58.3	24.9
2001	16.3	59.2	24.5
2002	15.9	60.1	24.0
2003	15.5	60.8	23.7
2004	15.1	61.6	23.3

Population and working age distribution, 1990-2004. Source: NSI.

Birth rate of the population

70 433 children were born in Bulgaria in 2004, of which 69 886 (99.2%) were live-born.

Years	Crude birth rate (‰)	Natural growth (‰)	Total fertility rate(‰)
1990	12.1	-0.4	1.81
1995	8.6	-5.0	1.23
2000	9.0	-5.1	1.27
2001	8.6	-5.6	1.24
2002	8.5	-5.8	1.21
2003	8.6	-5.7	1.23
2004	9.0	-5.2	1.29

Crude birth rate and natural growth of the population (per 1000), 1990-2004. Source: NSI.
Mortality of the population

In Bulgaria in 2004 there were 110 110 deaths, or the crude death rate (the number of deaths per 1000 persons of the average annual population) stood at 14.2‰.

 

Years	Crude death rate (‰)	Infant mortality rate (‰)	Premature mortality rate (‰)
1990	12.5	14.8	29.7
1995	13.6	14.8	28.3
2000	14.1	13.3	25.0
2001	14.2	14.4	25.2
2002	14.3	13.3	24.5
2003	14.3	12.3	24.3
2004	14.2	11.6	24.9

Crude death rate, infant mortality rate and premature mortality rate (per 1000), 1990-2004. Source: NSI.

Marriages and divorces

The total number of registered marriages was 31 038, or 393 more than in preceding year. Out of all registered marriages 80.1% were in cities. There were 6 181 registered marriages in villages.

Internal migration of the population

In 2003 137 000 persons took part in 145 000 migrations and changed their place of residence within the country.

The biggest migration increase in territorial aspect in 2004 occurred between cities. Approximately 45% of all migrants changed their place of residence from one town to another. Migration flows from cities to villages (23%) and villages to cities (21%) were much smaller in terms of relative share. The smallest migration flow was from village to village (11%).