Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: May 27, 2026
Bulgaria is divided into 12 Provinces, or qarks, each named after their capital city. Here is a list of the 12 Provinces in alphabetical order:
Bulgaria is a country in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, and the Black Sea. The country is divided into 28 provinces, officially called oblasts, and those provinces are further divided into municipalities. Sofia is the national capital and also the largest city in Bulgaria.
The landscape changes from mountains and forests in the west and center to broad plains and Black Sea beaches in the east. Bulgaria has a long history shaped by Thracian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman influences, and many cities still carry traces of those periods today.
Key Facts
- National capital: Sofia
- Total population: 6,445,481 (Official estimate 2024)
- Total area: 110,994 km² (42,855 sq miles)
- Currency: Bulgarian Lev (лв, BGN)
- Bordering countries: Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Turkey
- Total Provinces (Oblasts): 28
- Total Municipalities: 265
List of Provinces and Capitals of Bulgaria
Total provinces shown: 28 | Combined population: 6,445,481 | Combined area: 110,994 km²
| # | Province Name | Capital City | Region | Area (km²) | Population (Latest Census) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blagoevgrad | Blagoevgrad | Southwest | 6,449 | 291,000 |
| 2 | Burgas | Burgas | Black Sea Coast | 7,748 | 380,286 |
| 3 | Dobrich | Dobrich | Northeast | 4,719 | 169,000 |
| 4 | Gabrovo | Gabrovo | Central North | 2,023 | 95,000 |
| 5 | Haskovo | Haskovo | South | 5,533 | 207,000 |
| 6 | Kardzhali | Kardzhali | South Central | 3,209 | 148,000 |
| 7 | Kyustendil | Kyustendil | West | 3,084 | 111,000 |
| 8 | Lovech | Lovech | Central North | 4,128 | 117,000 |
| 9 | Montana | Montana | Northwest | 3,635 | 124,000 |
| 10 | Pazardzhik | Pazardzhik | South Central | 4,458 | 251,000 |
| 11 | Pernik | Pernik | West | 2,390 | 114,000 |
| 12 | Pleven | Pleven | North Central | 4,653 | 228,000 |
| 13 | Plovdiv | Plovdiv | South Central | 5,973 | 634,497 |
| 14 | Razgrad | Razgrad | Northeast | 2,639 | 108,000 |
| 15 | Ruse | Ruse | North | 2,803 | 193,000 |
| 16 | Shumen | Shumen | Northeast | 3,390 | 172,000 |
| 17 | Silistra | Silistra | Northeast | 2,846 | 101,000 |
| 18 | Sliven | Sliven | East Central | 3,544 | 180,000 |
| 19 | Smolyan | Smolyan | South Mountains | 3,192 | 98,000 |
| 20 | Sofia Province | Sofia | West Central | 7,020 | 235,000 |
| 21 | Sofia City | Sofia | Capital Region | 1,349 | 1,295,931 |
| 22 | Stara Zagora | Stara Zagora | Central South | 5,151 | 304,000 |
| 23 | Targovishte | Targovishte | Northeast | 2,558 | 96,000 |
| 24 | Varna | Varna | Black Sea Coast | 3,820 | 432,198 |
| 25 | Veliko Tarnovo | Veliko Tarnovo | Central North | 4,662 | 206,000 |
| 26 | Vidin | Vidin | Northwest | 3,032 | 74,000 |
| 27 | Vratsa | Vratsa | Northwest | 3,620 | 152,000 |
| 28 | Yambol | Yambol | Southeast | 3,356 | 113,569 |
Largest Provinces by Area
- Burgas - 2,991 sq mi (7,748 km²)
- Sofia Province - 2,710 sq mi (7,020 km²)
- Blagoevgrad - 2,490 sq mi (6,449 km²)
- Plovdiv - 2,306 sq mi (5,973 km²)
- Haskovo - 2,136 sq mi (5,533 km²)
- Stara Zagora - 1,989 sq mi (5,151 km²)
- Dobrich - 1,822 sq mi (4,719 km²)
- Veliko Tarnovo - 1,800 sq mi (4,662 km²)
Most Populous Provinces
- Sofia City - Population: 1,295,931 (Official Estimate 2024)
- Plovdiv - Population: 634,497 (Official Estimate 2024)
- Varna - Population: 432,198 (Official Estimate 2024)
- Burgas - Population: 380,286 (Official Estimate 2024)
- Stara Zagora - Population: 304,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
- Blagoevgrad - Population: 291,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
- Pazardzhik - Population: 251,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
- Sofia Province - Population: 235,000 (Official Estimate 2024)
Smallest Provinces by Area
- Sofia City - 521 sq mi (1,349 km²)
- Gabrovo - 781 sq mi (2,023 km²)
- Pernik - 923 sq mi (2,390 km²)
- Targovishte - 988 sq mi (2,558 km²)
- Razgrad - 1,019 sq mi (2,639 km²)
- Ruse - 1,082 sq mi (2,803 km²)
Provinces by Regional Grouping
- Capital Region: Sofia City
- West: Kyustendil, Pernik
- West Central: Sofia Province
- Southwest: Blagoevgrad
- South: Haskovo
- South Central: Kardzhali, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv
- South Mountains: Smolyan
- Central South: Stara Zagora
- Central North: Gabrovo, Lovech, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo
- North: Ruse
- Northwest: Montana, Vidin, Vratsa
- Northeast: Dobrich, Razgrad, Shumen, Silistra, Targovishte
- East Central: Sliven
- Southeast: Yambol
- Black Sea Coast: Burgas, Varna
Landlocked Provinces
- Blagoevgrad
- Gabrovo
- Haskovo
- Kardzhali
- Kyustendil
- Lovech
- Montana
- Pazardzhik
- Pernik
- Pleven
- Plovdiv
- Razgrad
- Ruse
- Shumen
- Silistra
- Sliven
- Smolyan
- Sofia Province
- Sofia City
- Stara Zagora
- Targovishte
- Veliko Tarnovo
- Vidin
- Vratsa
- Yambol
Provinces with Coastline
- Burgas
- Varna
- Dobrich
Provinces Sharing Borders with Other Countries
- Romania: Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Silistra, Dobrich
- Serbia: Vidin, Montana, Sofia Province, Pernik, Kyustendil
- North Macedonia: Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad
- Greece: Blagoevgrad, Smolyan, Kardzhali, Haskovo
- Turkey: Haskovo, Yambol, Burgas
Sources
- National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria
- World Bank - Bulgaria Data
- CIA World Factbook - Bulgaria
- Encyclopaedia Britannica - Bulgaria
- Eurostat
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