Sofia Province

Sofia Province is a province (oblast) of Bulgaria. The province does not include Sofia in its territories, but Sofia remains its administrative center. The province borders on the provinces of Pernik, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, Plovdiv, Lovech, Vratsa, Montana and "Sofia-Capital" (which is in a separate oblast, see Sofia Administration), to the northwest there is border with Serbia.

A waterfall near the village of Kostenets

The province's territory is 7 059 km² and has 247,489 inhabitants according to the 2011 Bulgarian Census. The land is predominantly mountainous. To the north are the southern slopes of the Balkan Mountains and to the south rises Rila with the highest point in the peninsula Musala. There are also several smaller mountains and spacious valleys. One of the most important ski resorts in Bulgaria, Borovets, is located here close to Samokov.

Industry is well developed. Mining and ferrous metallurgy are the backbone of the economy with the largest copper refinery in South Eastern Europe in Pirdop and important copper mines at Chelopech and Etropole. Machinery is well developed in Botevgrad (buses, car components, electronics), Pravets (computers), Etropole, Samokov, Elin Pelin, Ihtiman, Slivnitsa, Godech. The centre of food and sugar industry is Svoge.

Population

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

Sofia Province Year 1946 1956 1965 1975 1985 1992 2001 2005 2007 2009 2011 Population 319,045 313,906 306,913 310,975 305,358 289,962 273,240 262,032 258,397 253,010 247,489 Sources: National Statistical Institute, „Census 2001“, „Census 2011“, „pop-stat.mashke.org“,??

The province had a population of 273 252 (also given as 273,240) according to a 2001 census, of which 7001492000000000000♠49.2% were male and 7001508000000000000♠50.8% were female.

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in Sofia Province (2011 census) Ethnic group Percentage Bulgarians   91.4% Gypsies   7.4% others and indefinable   1.2%

Total population (2011 census): 247 489

Ethnic groups (2011 census): Identified themselves: 230 781 persons:

• Bulgarians: 210 974 (91,42%)
• Gypsies: 17 079 (7,40%)
• Others and indefinable: 2 728 (1,18%)

Ethnic groups in the province according to 2001 census: 253 536 Bulgarians (7001928000000000000♠92.8%),
16 748 Roma (Gypsy) (7000610000000000000♠6.1%) and 2956 others and unspecified (7000110000000000000♠1.1%).

Religion

Religions in Sofia Province (2001 census) Religious group Percentage Orthodox Christian   95.9% Muslim   1.2% Protestant Christian   0.8% Roman Catholic Christian   0.1% others and indefinable   2.0%

Religious adherence in the province according to 2001 census:

Census 2001 religious adherence population % Orthodox Christians 261 996 7001959000000000000♠95.9% Muslims 3 368 7000120000000000000♠1.2% Protestants 2 320 6999800000000000000♠0.8% Roman Catholics 186 6999100000000000000♠0.1% Other 1027 6999400000000000000♠0.4% Religion not mentioned 4 343 7000160000000000000♠1.6% total 273,240 100%