Bulgaria’s population at the end of 2009 was 7 563 710, a figure 0.6 per cent lower than in 2008 but representing the lowest rate of population decrease since 1993, according to National Statistical Institute figures released on March 24 2010.
 
The decrease in the population was ascribed to emigration and a continued negative birth rate. The deficit between deaths and births was 27 112.
 
However, birth rates have been increasing in recent years. In 2009, 81 572 children were born in Bulgaria, an increase of 3244 over 2008.
 
More than half of those who left the country were aged from 20 to 39 years.
 
Women were 51.6 per cent of the population in Bulgaria, which as a whole had an average age of 41.8 years.
 
In Bulgaria, 71.4 per cent of people were living in cities, according to the National Statistical Institute.
 
The working-age population at the end of 2009 accounted for 63.1 per cent, but the figure was 32 000 lower than the previous year.
 
The numbers of deaths in 2009 was lower than in 2008 – 108 068, a decrease of 2455.
 
Life expectancy for those born in 2007 to 2009 was slightly higher, by three months: an average of 73.4 years, for men 69.9 and for women 77.1.
 
The number of marriages continued to decline, with 25 923 registered in 2009, which was 1799 less than in 2008.
 
The age at which Bulgarians marry is also continuing to increase, from 28.1 years for men in 2001 to 29.6 years in 2009, while for women, the average age rose from 24.8 in 2001 to 26.4 years in 2009.
 
There were 11 662 divorces in 2009, 2442 less than the previous year; 83 per cent of those who divorced were city-dwellers, according to the statistics. Most divorces were by mutual consent (56 per cent), but 29 per cent were blamed on incompatible differences, while the remainder were written off to sundry other reasons.
 
In the past five years, according to the National Statistical Institute, the average marriage in Bulgaria has lasted 14 years.