Roma in Bulgaria
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (325,343 (2011 Census; 4.4%) 600,000 - 800,000 (2013 estimates; 6-11%)) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| nationwide, rural and urban | |
| Languages | |
| (by mother tongue; 2011 census) | |
| Religion | |
|
2011 census in Bulgaria on those identified ss Romani: |
Romani (84%)
Bulgarian (7%)
Turkish (7%)
2011 census in Bulgaria on those identified ss Romani:
Irreligious (over 50%)
Bulgarian Orthodox (26%)
Islam (13%)
Romani people (Bulgarian: цигани [tsiɡɐni], роми [rɔmi]) in Bulgaria constitute one of the country's largest ethnic minorities. The Romani are the third or second largest ethnic group, depending on the data. According to the census in 2011, in which 90% of the population stated their ethnic group, the total number of Romani is 325,343 or 4.4%, making Bulgaria the country with highest percentage of Romani in Europe. The 2011 census recorded a lower figure than that in 2001.
While Romani have the highest birth rate in Europe and are considered the fastest growing group, and the largest minority, there is controversy about their number. They also tend to have high death and immigration rates. The majority of the estimated 200,000-400,000 Muslim Romani tend to identify themselves as ethnic Turks, others deny their origin, especially if they are well integrated within the Bulgarian culture and society, also if they are children of mixed couples since they usually have limited to even possibly zero connections to Romani culture, traditions, society or language. It is possible that the number of Romani does not decrease along with the rest of Bulgaria's population and, according to some estimates, their number may have risen to 600,000 or 800,000 including those who prefer to identify as ethnic Turks or ethnic Bulgarians. The Romani people in Bulgaria "speak Bulgarian, Turkish or Romani, depending on the region and their religious affiliations." The Romani people have darker pigmentation than most of Bulgaria's ethnic groups as a result of their Indian descent. They are not concentrated in specific regions, but are rather spread throughout the country in similar frequencies, not constituting a majority in any Bulgarian province or municipality. However, there are villages with Romani majority.
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