Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The number of believers has decreased by 9 percent for 10 years

Photo: EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria ranks last in the EU with just 12 priests per 100,000 people. There are more than 8,000 churches and monasteries in the country, or 10 times more temples than clergy, according to the latest national census of 2021.

51.4% or 3 million said they believe in God. 24.7% declared themselves non-believers. 13 percent could not define if they are believers and 11% did not want to answer. During the previous census in 2011, 60.4% said they were religious and 22% declared themselves non-religious. 4,219,270 people (71.5%) of those who answered the question identified themselves as Christians. 97% of Christians are Orthodox. In 1992, 86.7% of the respondents were Christians. Protestants are 1.7%, Catholics are 0.9% and Armenian Christians - 0.1%. Muslims are 638,708 or 10.8% of the respondents; Jewish people are 1,736, while 6,451 people profess other religions.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Georg Georgiev

MPs discuss vote of no confidence in Rosen Zhelyazkov’s cabinet

“When we deal with diplomacy, we must deal with facts and the official truth,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev said during the debates in the National Assembly on the vote of no confidence in the government due to failure..

published on 4/2/25 11:21 AM

Council of Ministers extends current program in support of Ukrainian refugees by a month

The program for humanitarian assistance to displaced persons from Ukraine has been extended by a month, the government press service reported. During this time, humanitarian assistance will continue to be provided to Ukrainian..

published on 4/2/25 9:43 AM
Hasan Azis

Democracy, Rights and Freedoms – DPS is to support the cabinet at least until June

“Democracy, Rights and Freedoms” – DPS will support the government at least until the coming of the convergence report on the eurozone, which is expected in June this year, it became clear from the declaration adopted at a six-hour..

published on 4/2/25 8:55 AM