Provinces of Bulgaria
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Since 1999, Bulgaria has been divided into twenty-eight provinces (Bulgarian: области, oblasti; singular област, oblast; also translated as "region") which correspond approximately to the twenty-eight okrugs (districts) that existed before 1987. From 1987 until 1999, under the Communist administration of Todor Zhivkov the okrugs were consolidated into nine larger oblasts.[1]
Each oblast is named after its capital. In the case of Sofia Oblast and Sofia City, Sofia is the capital of both provinces, but its territory is only included in Sofia City.
The provinces are further subdivided into municipalities (община, obshtina).
| Province | Population (2005) | Population growth (2004/2005) | Land area (km²) | Population density (/km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blagoevgrad | 334,907 | -0.8% | 6,478 | 51.70 |
| Burgas | 418,925 | -0.2% | 7,618 | 55.00 |
| Shumen | 199,577 | -0.6% | 3,365 | 59.31 |
| Dobrich | 206,893 | -0.8% | 4,700 | 44.02 |
| Gabrovo | 135,780 | -1.2% | 2,053 | 66.96 |
| Haskovo | 268,335 | -0.7% | 4,033 | 66.53 |
| Kardzhali | 159,878 | -0.7% | 4,032 | 39.65 |
| Kyustendil | 154,468 | -1.2% | 3,027 | 51.03 |
| Lovech | 159,214 | -1.3% | 4,134 | 38.99 |
| Montana | 166,775 | -2.0% | 3,595 | 47.35 |
| Pazardzhik | 300,092 | -1.0% | 4,393 | 68.31 |
| Pernik | 142,251 | -1.3% | 2,377 | 59.84 |
| Pleven | 305,025 | -1.5% | 4,216 | 73.64 |
| Plovdiv | 707,570 | -0.2% | 5,973 | 118 |
| Razgrad | 140,743 | -1.0% | 2,648 | 53.15 |
| Ruse | 256,835 | -0.7% | 2,616 | 99.07 |
| Silistra | 135,701 | -1.3% | 2,862 | 47.41 |
| Sliven | 211,005 | -1.0% | 3,646 | 47.41 |
| Smolyan | 133,015 | -1.5% | 3,532 | 37.66 |
| Sofia (city) | 1,231,622 | +1.0% | 1,349 | 913 |
| Sofia (province) | 262,032 | -1.1% | 7,277 | 36.01 |
| Stara Zagora | 362,090 | -0.5% | 4,959 | 73.02 |
| Targovishte | 136,806 | -1.0% | 2,735 | 50.02 |
| Varna | 457,922 | -0.1% | 3,819 | 120 |
| Veliko Tarnovo | 283,599 | -0.5% | 4,684 | 60.99 |
| Vidin | 117,809 | -2.0% | 3,071 | 39.11 |
| Vratsa | 209,124 | -1.7% | 4,098 | 51.89 |
| Yambol | 147,906 | -1.1% | 4,209 | 35.14 |
[edit] History
In 1987, the then-existing twenty-eight okrugs were transformed into nine large oblasts. In 1999, the old okrugs were restored, but the name "oblast" was kept. The nine large oblasts are listed below, along with the pre-1987 okrugs or post-1999 oblasts comprising them.
| 1987-1999 oblasts |
Comprising |
|---|---|
| Burgas | Burgas, Sliven, Yambol |
| Haskovo | Haskovo, Kardzhali, Stara Zagora |
| Lovech | Gabrovo, Lovech, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo |
| Montana | Montana, Vidin, Vratsa |
| Plovdiv | Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Smolyan |
| Razgrad | Razgrad, Ruse, Silistra, Targovishte |
| Sofia | Sofia City |
| Sofia | Blagoevgrad, Kyustendil, Pernik, Sofia City |
| Varna | Dobrich, Shumen, Varna |
[edit] References
- ^ Government Structure of Bulgaria at countrystudies.us, a website affiliated with the Library of Congress
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