Sofia, June 1, 2026 – The Europe Today: Life expectancy in Bulgaria has increased slightly, according to new data released by the National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria on May 29, reflecting gradual improvements in population health, although significant disparities between demographic groups continue to persist.
For the 2023–2025 period, life expectancy at birth has reached 75.9 years, marking a 0.3-year increase compared to the 2022–2024 period.
The data shows a continued gender gap in longevity. Life expectancy for men stands at 72.2 years, while women live significantly longer at 79.6 years, resulting in a difference of 7.4 years in favour of females.
Over the longer term, both men and women have experienced improvements compared to 2015. Male life expectancy has risen by 1.1 years over the past decade, while female life expectancy has increased by 1.6 years.
A clear divide also remains between urban and rural populations. People living in cities have an average life expectancy of 76.7 years, which is 2.9 years higher than in rural areas, where it stands at 73.8 years. Both urban and rural populations recorded a modest increase of 0.3 years compared to the previous year.
The trend is also visible among older age groups. Life expectancy at age 65 is now 17 years on average, with men expected to live an additional 14.7 years and women 18.8 years after reaching that age. This figure has also increased by 0.3 years compared to 2024.
Overall, the findings indicate a slow but steady improvement in longevity across Bulgaria, while highlighting persistent inequalities based on gender and place of residence within the country’s demographic structure.
