Demographic characteristics 

Balchik municipality has a total population of 22 010 inhabitants[1]. Among the settlements in the municipality, the town of Balchik stands out with favorable age structure, which is due to the high share of its 15-16 year inhabitants. The share of young people is 11,4 % and that of adults is relatively high – about 16 %. In the population living in villages a steady trend of ageing is observed, which is more pronounced in the very small and small villages[2]. Unfortunately, for the seven-year period from 2004 to 2011 the population in Balchik municipality shows a continuous trend of reduction, which applies to both urban and rural population[3].

The educational structure of the population of Balchik municipality shows that the share of people with higher education in the municipality is below the average for the country and region of Dobrich, as the same applies for the relative share of people with secondary education.

In terms of ethnic structure Balchik municipality differs from that of the country and region. In percentage expression, the Bulgarian ethnic group is below the average values for the country and district, while the Turkish and Roma ethnic groups are characterized with a higher percentage. On the territory of the municipality there are settlements, in which the Roma ethnic group predominates. Villages as Lyahovo, Bobovets, Strazhitsa, Trigortsi, Kremena, Obrochishte, Sokolovo and Bezvoditsa are characterized by a high percentage of ethnicity, other than Bulgarian[4].

[1]Census of NSI - 01.02.2013.

[2]Situation analysis and needs assessment in Balchik municipality: Report, 2010, http://www.balchik.bg/bg/infopage/606

[3]Natural Geography of Bulgaria, Bulvest, 2000.

[4]Quoted source; Situation analysis and needs assessment in Balchik municipality: Report, 2010, http://www.balchik.bg/bg/infopage/606.