Plovdiv Province

Plovdiv Province is a province in central southern Bulgaria. It comprises 18 municipalities (общини, obshtini, sing. общинa, obshtina) on a territory of 5,972.9 km² with a population, as of February 2011, of 683,027 inhabitants. The province is named after its administrative and industrial centre — the city of Plovdiv.

Geography

Plovdiv Province includes parts of the Upper Thracian Plain, the Rhodopes, Sredna Gora, the Sub-Balkan valleys and Stara Planina, including its highest peak, Botev (2,376m). The main rivers in the province are Maritsa, Stryama, Pyasachnik. There are numerous dams, the most important of which is Pyasachnik. Mineral springs are abundant; there are several major spa resorts — Hisarya, Narechen, Banya and minor spas at Klisura, Asenovgrad, Kuklen, Rosino, Krasnovo, Stoletovo and others. There are many natural landmarks, especially in the Central Balkan National Park, including the spectacular waterfall Raysko Praskalo, the highest in the Balkans.

Towns

The province's capital is the city of Plovdiv; other towns include Karlovo, Sopot, Klisura, Kalofer, Hisarya, Saedinenie, Rakovski, Brezovo, Stamboliyski, Krichim, Perushtitsa, Sadovo, Parvomay, Asenovgrad, Laki, Katunica, Yiagodovo.

Population

Plovdiv Province had a population of 715,904 (715,816 also given) according to a 2001 census, of which 7001484000000000000♠48.4% were male and 7001516000000000000♠51.6% were female. As of the end of 2009, the population, announced by the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute, numbered 701,684 of which 7001241000000000000♠24.1% are over 60 years of age.

The following table represents the change of the population in the province after World War II:

Plovdiv Province Year 1946 1956 1965 1975 1985 1992 2001 2005 2007 2009 2011 Population 515,887 564,910 647,653 725,452 760,076 734,495 715,904 707,570 705,121 701,684 683,027 Sources: National Statistical Institute, „Census 2001“, „Census 2011“, „pop-stat.mashke.org“,??

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in Plovdiv Province (2011 census) Ethnic group Percentage Bulgarians   87.1% Turks   6.5% Gypsies   4.9% others and indefinable   1.5%

Total population (2011 census): 683 027
Ethnic groups (2011 census): Identified themselves: 620 373 persons:

• Bulgarians: 540 303 (87,09%)
• Turks: 40 255 (6,49%)
• Gypsies: 30 202 (4,87%)
• Others and indefinable: 9 613 (1,54%)

A further 60,000 persons in Plovdiv Province did not declare their ethnic group at the 2011 census.

Ethnic groups according to the 2001 census, when 715 816 people of the population of 715,904 of Plovdiv Province identified themselves (with percentage of total population):

• Bulgarians: 621 338 (86.8%)
• Turks: 52 499 (7.3%)
• Gypsies: 30 196 (4.2%)
• Armenians: 3 140 (0.4%)
• Russians: 1 151 (0.2%)
• Greeks: 766 (0.1%)

Religion

Religions in Plovdiv Province (2001 census) Religious group Percentage Orthodox Christian   85.0% Muslim   8.7% Roman Catholic Christian   3.2% Protestant Christian   0.6% others and indefinable   2.4%

Religious adherence in the province according to 2001 census:

Census 2001 religious adherence population % Orthodox Christians 608,226 84.97% Muslims 62,595 8.74% Roman Catholics 23,122 3.23% Protestants 3,913 0.55% Other 4,412 0.62% Religion not mentioned 13,548 1.89% total 715,816 100%