Quick facts
Sofia overview
Sofia (orange) and the other large cities of Bulgaria
Sofia lies in Sofia-Capital in Bulgaria at 42.7°N, 23.32°E, about 562 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Sofia (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Bulgaria: the next largest cities are Plovdiv (329,489), Varna (318,737), Burgas (210,646). Together, the three largest cities hold 27.1% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Pernik, about 26 km away, followed by Vratsa (60 km).
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 Sofia
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Pernik Pernik | 26 km | 82,467 |
| Vratsa Vratsa | 60 km | 49,569 |
| Kyustendil Kyustendil | 69 km | 46,856 |
| Blagoevgrad Blagoevgrad | 78 km | 67,810 |
| Montana Montana | 80 km | 47,445 |
| Pazardzhik Pazardzhik | 100 km | 55,220 |
| Lovech Lovech | 123 km | 27,910 |
| Plovdiv Plovdiv | 132 km | 329,489 |
Largest cities in Bulgaria
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sofia?
Sofia has about 1,152,556 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Sofia the capital of Bulgaria?
Yes — Sofia is the national capital of Bulgaria.
How big is Sofia compared with the rest of Bulgaria?
Its 1,152,556 residents are 17.3% of the 6,653,669 people living in Bulgaria today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Sofia?
In Sofia-Capital, Bulgaria, at latitude 42.7 and longitude 23.32, 562 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Pernik (26 km), Vratsa (60 km), Kyustendil (69 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Sofia Population 2026 — Bulgaria. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/bulgaria/sofia/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/bulgaria/sofia/">Sofia 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.