Eurostat: Sliven and Yambol have highest fertility rates in mainland EU
In 2024, the Sliven region recorded 2.58 children per woman and Yambol 2.42. Bulgaria's national rate fell to 1.72. Pernik and Sofia had the lowest figures.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
The Sliven region has the highest fertility rate in the continental part of the EU for the third year in a row, according to Eurostat data for 2024 reported by the BTA news agency. It recorded 2.58 live births per woman, unchanged from 2023. Yambol ranked second in the mainland EU with 2.42. Including outermost regions, Sliven placed third behind Mayotte (3.51) and French Guiana (3.10).
Only Sliven and Yambol exceed the threshold of 2.1 children per woman that Bulgaria's national demographic strategy cites as the minimum for simple population replacement. Lovech (2.07) and Pazardzhik (2.01) are also above 2.
Nationally, the rate fell to 1.72 in 2024 from 1.81 in 2023, the highest since 1990. According to BTA, Bulgaria had the EU's highest national fertility rate in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The lowest figures were in Pernik (1.39), Sofia City (1.47), Razgrad (1.48) and Kardzhali (1.50).