site.btaThree Regional Capitals Report Population Increase, Vratsa Loses Most Residents in 2015

Three Regional Capitals Report Population Increase, Vratsa Loses Most Residents in 2015

Varna, April 27 (BTA) - Three regional capitals reported a population increase in 2015: Bourgas by 4,292 people, Plovdiv 58 people, and Sofia 3,699 people, BTA found from the National Register of Populated Places. Of 257 Bulgarian towns, just 29 saw an increase in population in 2015.

Bourgas had the largest increase to 203,017 residents as at December 31.

Sofia is the regional capital with the second largest population rise by 3,699 people to 1,231,981 residents. Plovdiv's population increased by 58 people to 341,625 residents.

Notably, several towns which are not regional capitals reported large increases, the leader again being Harmanli as in 2014, with a population rise by 1,427 residents. Nessebur's population increased by 519 people, after a 500-plus rise in 2014.

The towns whose population increased are located in 16 regions.

The largest number of towns to report a population rise are in Bourgas Region, which has 20 towns, eight of which had more residents in 2015 than in 2014. Plovdiv Region has three towns - Plovdiv, Sadovo and Suedinenie - whose population increased in 2015. The regions of Blagoevgrad, Varna and Veliko Turnovo each have two towns whose population grew.

Vratsa lost the largest number of residents, 2,367 people in 2015, compared to 1,254 in 2014 when again it had the largest drop in population.

The population of 12 more regional capitals decreased: Pleven by 2,350 people, Vidin 1,732, Dobrich 1,525, Montana 1,521, Varna and Haskovo 1,483 each, Pernik 1,423, Yambol 1,337, Rousse 1,290, Shoumen 1,175, Sliven 1,170 and Gabrovo 1,053.

Other towns whose population dropped are: Pazardjik by 937 people, Stara Zagora 922, Kyustendil 886, Silistra 815, Lovech 750, Blagoevgrad 683, Kurdjali 637, Turgovishte 543, Smolyan 533 and Razgrad 481. Veliko Turnovo reported the smallest decrease by 356 residents.

In 2015, Smolyan still was the smallest regional capital with a population of 28,591. Asenovgrad again was the largest town which is not a regional capital, with 49,510 residents. Four towns have fewer than 1,000 residents: Melnik 208 people, Madjarovo 601, Pliska 890 and Kiten 959, according to the National Register of Populated Places.