Bulgaria’s Life Expectancy Rises to 75.6 Years, Marking Return to Pre-Pandemic Trends
Sofia, The Gulf Observer: The average life expectancy in Bulgaria has climbed to 75.6 years for the period 2022–2024, according to new data released by the National Statistical Institute (NSI). This reflects a notable increase of 2.1 years compared to the previous period (2021–2023), indicating a gradual recovery from the pandemic’s impact on public health.
Gender and Regional Disparities Remain
Despite the overall improvement, the gender gap in longevity persists, with Bulgarian women living significantly longer than men. The average life expectancy for men stands at 71.9 years, while women live 7.4 years longer, reaching 79.3 years. Compared to data from 2014, this marks a rise of 0.7 years for men and 1.0 year for women.
Urban residents continue to outlive their rural counterparts. City dwellers now have an average life expectancy of 76.4 years, while those in rural areas average 73.5 years—a 2.9-year difference. Encouragingly, both urban and rural populations saw increases over the past year, with life expectancy rising by 2.0 years in cities and 2.2 years in villages.
Older Population Also Sees Gains
Among Bulgarians aged 65 and older, the average remaining life expectancy has risen to 16.7 years, up 1.5 years from 2023. For men in this age group, the figure stands at 14.5 years, while women can expect 18.6 more years of life on average.
Regional Differences Highlight Inequalities
The Vidin district recorded the lowest life expectancy at 71.9 years, while the Sofia (capital) district leads with the highest life expectancy of 77.3 years. In every region, women live longer than men, though the extent of the gap varies. Vidin shows the widest gender disparity at 9.2 years, while the narrowest gaps of 6.6 years are observed in Sofia (capital) and Shumen districts.
The rising figures mark a return to pre-COVID-19 health trends, offering cautious optimism. However, ongoing gender and regional disparities underscore the need for targeted health and social policies to ensure more equitable health outcomes across the country.
