language knowledge /eu publishes the latest language knowledge statistics for Bulgarian in Bulgaria using European Commission data published in 2024. Compare native with foreign speakers, and compare age groups to understand whether Bulgarian is gaining or losing popularity.
According to European Commission Eurobarometer survey data (2024), 96.8% of the population in Bulgaria speaks Bulgarian (86.2% native speakers and 10.6% foreign speakers).
In Bulgaria, 86.2% of the population speaks Bulgarian as a native language, and 10.6% speaks it as a foreign language.
In Bulgaria, 95.1% of 15–34 year olds speak Bulgarian, compared to 97.8% of residents aged 55 and over.