| Bulgaria |
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Since 1999, Bulgaria has been divided into 28 provinces (Bulgarian: области, oblasti; singular област, oblast; also translated as "region") which correspond approximately to the 28 districts (okrugs) that existed before 1987. In 1987, during the Communist regime of Todor Zhivkov, the districts were consolidated into nine larger provinces (oblasts), which survived until 1999.[1]
Each province is named after its capital. In the case of Sofia Province and Sofia Capital, Sofia is the capital of both, but its territory is only included in Sofia Capital.
The provinces are further subdivided into 264 municipalities (община, obshtina).
| Province | Population (Census 2001)[2][3] | Population (Census 2011)[2][3] | Population growth (2001/2011)[2] | Land area (km²) | Population density (/km²) | Municipalities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blagoevgrad | 341,173 | 323,552 | -5.2% | 6,478 | 49.95 | 14 |
| Burgas | 423,547 | 415,817 | -1.8% | 7,618 | 54.58 | 13 |
| Dobrich | 215,217 | 189,677 | -11.9% | 4,700 | 40.36 | 8 |
| Gabrovo | 144,125 | 122,702 | -14.9% | 2,053 | 59.77 | 4 |
| Haskovo | 277,478 | 246,238 | -11.3% | 4,033 | 61.06 | 11 |
| Kardzhali | 164,019 | 152,808 | -6.8% | 4,032 | 37.90 | 6 |
| Kyustendil | 162,534 | 136,686 | -15.9% | 3,027 | 45.16 | 9 |
| Lovech | 169,951 | 141,422 | -16.8% | 4,134 | 34.21 | 8 |
| Montana | 182,258 | 148,098 | -18.7% | 3,595 | 41.20 | 11 |
| Pazardzhik | 310,723 | 275,548 | -11.3% | 4,393 | 62.72 | 11 |
| Pernik | 149,832 | 133,530 | -10.9% | 2,377 | 56.18 | 6 |
| Pleven | 311,985 | 269,752 | -13.5% | 4,216 | 63.98 | 11 |
| Plovdiv | 715,816 | 683,027 | -4.6% | 5,973 | 114.35 | 18 |
| Razgrad | 152,417 | 125,190 | -17.9% | 2,648 | 47.28 | 7 |
| Ruse | 266,157 | 235,252 | -11.6% | 2,616 | 89.93 | 8 |
| Shumen | 204,378 | 180,528 | -11.7% | 3,365 | 53.65 | 10 |
| Silistra | 142,000 | 119,474 | -15.9% | 2,862 | 41.74 | 7 |
| Sliven | 218,474 | 197,473 | -9.6% | 3,646 | 54.16 | 4 |
| Smolyan | 140,066 | 121,752 | -13.1% | 3,532 | 34.47 | 10 |
| Sofia-Capital | 1,170,842 | 1,291,591 | +10.3% | 1,349 | 957.44 | 24 |
| Sofia (province) | 273,240 | 247,489 | -9.4% | 7,277 | 34.01 | 22 |
| Stara Zagora | 370,615 | 333,265 | -10.1% | 4,959 | 67.20 | 11 |
| Targovishte | 137,689 | 120,818 | -12.3% | 2,735 | 44.17 | 5 |
| Varna | 462,013 | 475,074 | +2.8% | 3,819 | 124.40 | 12 |
| Veliko Tarnovo | 293,172 | 258,494 | -11.8% | 4,684 | 55.19 | 10 |
| Vidin | 130,074 | 101,018 | -22.3% | 3,071 | 32.89 | 11 |
| Vratsa | 243,036 | 186,848 | -23.1% | 4,098 | 45.59 | 10 |
| Yambol | 156,070 | 131,447 | -15.8% | 4,209 | 31.23 | 5 |
In 1987, the then-existing twenty-eight districts were transformed into nine large provinces. In 1999, the old districts were restored, but the designation "province" ("oblast") was kept. The nine large provinces are listed below, along with the pre-1987 districts (post-1999 provinces) 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 |
| Varna | Dobrich, Shumen, Varna |
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