Why Are People Leaving Bulgaria? (And Why Others Are Moving In)

The short answer

Bulgaria’s population is shrinking because of negative natural growth (fewer births than deaths) and emigration for better pay and careers. At the same time, a smaller—but growing—stream of newcomers comes for lower living costs, EU location and lifestyle. The 2021 census counted 6,519,789 people (−11.5% vs. 2011), with declines in all 28 districts. [NSI Census 2021]

Why people leave

1) Demographics: fewer births, older population

Since the 1990s, Bulgaria has had persistent negative natural growth. In 2021, people aged 65+ made up nearly a quarter of the population, and the trend has continued. [NSI Census 2021]

2) Pay & careers abroad

After EU accession, many Bulgarians—especially young and skilled—moved to higher-income EU economies. Wage gaps remain a strong pull factor, reinforcing “brain drain”. Analyses describe a demographic squeeze with fewer young workers replacing retirees. [OSW 2024]

3) Geography: a strong capital, weaker periphery

Population loss is uneven: the Northwest and North-Central regions shrink fastest, while Sofia (capital) is comparatively resilient. [NSI Census 2021]

But people are also moving to Bulgaria

Inflows don’t match outflows, but they matter:

• Cost of living & lifestyle: Bulgaria remains low-cost by EU standards, which attracts some remote workers and retirees (e.g., mountain towns and big cities). Context from nomad/remote-work coverage and cost comparisons.
• Residence permits: Eurostat shows EU-wide first residence permits hit record highs in 2023; Bulgaria’s share is small but present. The NSI reported 19,662 first permits in 2024 for non-EU nationals (≥3 months), up 1.5% y/y. [Eurostat explainer] [NSI via Sofia Globe 2025]
• Ageing & labour needs: Policy papers encourage attracting skills to counter shortages and ageing. [OECD 2023/2025]

For EU citizens (e.g., Romanians), freedom of movement makes relocation straightforward. Post-March 2024 Schengen developments apply to air/sea; Bulgaria’s national long-stay permits remain valid as per the MFA. [MFA]

Which places are losing people fastest?

The 2021 census found declines in all 28 districts. The steepest drop was in Vidin (−25.4%), while Sofia (city) had the smallest decline at −1.3%. [Sofia Globe 2022, citing NSI]

Recent NSI yearbooks continue to show decline in the Northwest and North-Central regions through 2023, while some southern/eastern regions stabilized or grew slightly. [NSI Pop. & Demographic Processes 2023]

Ruse: the local picture

Ruse, a key Danube city and regional centre, has been shrinking as well—more slowly than the hardest-hit northwest, but consistently over recent years. NSI district pages show downward trends tied to the same forces as nationally: low birth rates, youth out-migration, ageing. [NSI – Ruse District]

On the ground, this means tighter talent pools, more vacant older housing—but also affordability that can attract cross-border movers (e.g., from Giurgiu and Bucharest) and remote workers who want a mid-size city on the Danube with low costs and decent connectivity.

Bulgaria through the years: ~2.5 million fewer people in ~35 years

Official series show Bulgaria peaking near 9 million in the late 1980s and standing around the mid-6 millions today—roughly 2.5 million fewer. The 2021 census figure is 6.52m; World Bank’s 2024 estimate is about 6.44m. [NSI] [World Bank] [OSW 2024]

What it means for the economy

1) Labour shortages & skills gaps

Employers report difficulty hiring in multiple sectors; regional participation gaps widened over the last decade, and Bulgaria faces notable skills imbalances. [OECD Local Dev 2024] [OECD Skills 2023/2025]

2) Wages vs. productivity

Tight labour markets in growth areas push wages up. Without matching productivity gains, competitiveness can be squeezed—especially for tradable sectors. [OECD Economic Outlook 2024]

3) Public finance pressure

With one of the EU’s highest old-age dependency ratios (~38% in 2024), costs for pensions and healthcare rise as the tax base shrinks—especially in rural districts. [Eurostat Ageing 2024]

4) Remittances help, but don’t reverse decline

Money sent home supports households and small investments, but net out-migration still reduces the working-age population.

5) Openings for cities like Ruse

Low costs + EU location + Danube logistics + cross-border links create niches: near-shore services, remote-worker communities, tourism, and Romanian day-trips. To capture them: improve housing quality (including pet-friendly rentals), digital infrastructure, and newcomer information—exactly what this site focuses on.