Quick facts
Plovdiv overview
Plovdiv (orange) and the other large cities of Bulgaria
Plovdiv lies in Bulgaria at 42.15°N, 24.75°E, about 163 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Sofia (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Sofia (1,152,556) and larger than Varna (318,737). The largest city in Bulgaria is Sofia with 1,152,556 people; the capital, Sofia, has 1,152,556.
The national capital, Sofia, is about 132 km away; the nearest large city is Pazardzhik, 35 km from Plovdiv.
Bulgaria as a whole has a live population of 6,653,669 (-0.7% a year) and ranks #110 of 238 countries — see the Bulgaria population page for the full statistics and the Bulgaria atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Plovdiv
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Pazardzhik Pazardzhik | 35 km | 55,220 |
| Smolyan Smolyan | 65 km | 30,689 |
| Haskovo Haskovo | 71 km | 64,564 |
| Kardzhali Kardzhali | 76 km | 44,071 |
| Stara Zagora Stara Zagora | 80 km | 121,582 |
| Gabrovo Gabrovo | 93 km | 48,133 |
| Lovech Lovech | 109 km | 27,910 |
| Veliko Tŭrnovo Veliko Tarnovo | 126 km | 59,166 |
Largest cities in Bulgaria
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Plovdiv?
Plovdiv has about 329,489 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Plovdiv the capital of Bulgaria?
No. The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia (1,152,556 people), about 132 km away. Plovdiv is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Plovdiv compared with the rest of Bulgaria?
Its 329,489 residents are 5% of the 6,653,669 people living in Bulgaria today. Sofia is larger with 1,152,556 people.
Where is Plovdiv?
In Bulgaria, at latitude 42.15 and longitude 24.75, 163 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Pazardzhik (35 km), Smolyan (65 km), Haskovo (71 km).
Explore more
Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Plovdiv Population 2026 — Bulgaria. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/bulgaria/plovdiv/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/bulgaria/plovdiv/">Plovdiv Population 2026 — Bulgaria</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.