Sliven remains EU's most fertile continental region

According to the latest Eurostat data for 2024, the Sliven region in Bulgaria has maintained its position as the region with the highest total fertility rate in mainland Europe for the third consecutive year. The fertility rate in Sliven remains unchanged from 2023 at 2.58 children per woman.

Bulgaria's Yambol region ranks second in mainland Europe with a rate of 2.42 children per woman. While French overseas territories like Mayotte and French Guiana report higher figures, Sliven and Yambol are the only two Bulgarian regions to exceed the replacement level of approximately 2.1 children per woman.

Despite these regional successes, the overall fertility rate in Bulgaria has declined from 1.81 in 2023 to 1.72 in 2024. However, Bulgaria continues to hold the highest overall fertility rate in the European Union for the third year running. This comes as the EU as a whole faces a demographic decline, with its total fertility rate dropping to 1.34 children per woman, the lowest recorded since 2001.