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People Statistics · City

Population of the urban area in Sofia

1975 – 2025 · 11 data points Updated Oct 21, 2026
People · Sofia

Source: European Commission JRC — GHSL Urban Centre Database, 1975 – 2025

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Overview 7 figures People 16 figures Economy 14 figures Housing 1 figure Education 4 figures Tourism 4 figures Climate 5 figures
Latest value · 2025 1,068,057 −2.2% since 2020
First value · 1975 857,979
since 2015 +0.5% +0.4% a year on average
Population of the urban area, 1975 – 2025 people · Sofia
1975 
 
1985 
 
1995 
 
2005 
 
2015 
 
1.1M
2025 

Source: European Commission JRC — GHSL Urban Centre Database, 1975 – 2025

The series at a glance Sofia · 1975 – 2025
Latest value 1,068,057 · 2025
First value 857,979 · 1975
Highest 1,092,034 · 2020
Lowest 857,979 · 1975
Average change +0.4% a year on average
Data points 11

By year

All years · 1975 – 2025

YearSofiaChange
2025 1,068,057 −2.2%
2020 1,092,034 +2.7%
2015 1,063,024 +2.7%
2010 1,034,743 +3.5%
2005 1,000,046 +3.0%
2000 971,186 −3.6%
1995 1,007,104 −2.0%
1990 1,027,905 +0.3%
1985 1,025,258 +9.3%
1980 937,681 +9.3%
1975 857,979

Source: European Commission JRC — GHSL Urban Centre Database, 1975 – 2025

What it means

How many people live in the built-up city as a whole, regardless of municipal borders.

How it is calculated

Satellite maps of buildings and census data are combined into a 1 km grid; the continuous dense area of at least 50,000 people is the urban centre. Every five years from 1975; 2030 is a projection.