Exactly 12,461 babies have cried in maternity wards in Bulgaria since the beginning of 2026 until the morning of April 10. Of these, 11,234 were born at term. This is shown by the operational data of the National Health Information System (NHIS). However, the statistics do not give cause for optimism, as our country continues to hit a historic low in the demographic crisis, and the birth rate is showing a permanent decline.
The most births are expected to be registered in the capital Sofia – 3,994, followed by Plovdiv with 1,659. At the bottom of the table are Vidin with only 32 babies born in more than three months and Pernik with 43.
The gender distribution retains its traditional levels - boys are slightly more (51%) than girls (49%). Twins make up only 2% of all newborns.
The NIS data also reveal another sustainable trend in obstetric medicine - the extremely high percentage of births by cesarean section. Almost half of the women in labor (48%) gave birth surgically, and 41% underwent natural childbirth without interventions. In 7% of women, emergency surgical intervention was required during normal childbirth.
The statistics show a clear correlation between the mother's age and the method of childbirth. The majority of young women between the ages of 19 and 25 give birth naturally, while after the age of 26 the preference or medical necessity for a cesarean section increases sharply.
The age profile of women giving birth also outlines serious social deficits. Since the beginning of the year, 1,008 mothers have been under the age of 18 or have just reached the age of majority, which represents over 8% of all cases.
The highest birth rate remains among women between the ages of 19 and 25 (nearly 27%), while women who decided to become mothers after the age of 40 are 517, or just over 4%.
Despite the thousands of crying babies since January, independent experts and the final figures refute any attempts to speculate about a possible "turn" in the demographic crisis.
The operational reports of the health system are often misinterpreted. The real picture, based on the annual reports of the National Statistical Institute (NSI), shows a severe collapse. In 2025, for the first time in our modern history, the total number of births fell below the psychological limit of 50,000.
A year earlier, in 2024, 53,428 live births were officially recorded, which is 6.6% less than in 2023. Against this background, the total fertility rate in our country has decreased from 1.81 to 1.72, and all 28 regions in the country are registering negative natural growth and a melting population.