Shumen Population 2026

Shumen has a population of 72,342, making it the #10 biggest city in 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, located in Shumen. Roughly 1.1% of Bulgaria's population lives here. It is about 16× smaller than Sofia, the country's biggest city.

Location of Shumen (capital Sofia shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.

Population (city proper)

72,342

Rank in Bulgaria

#10

Coordinates

43.27°N, 26.92°E

~237 m elevation · Europe/Sofia

Distance to capital (Sofia)

300 km

186 miles, straight line

Cities near Shumen

Targovishte34,793 people · ~28 km away
Razgrad28,931 people · ~44 km away
Popovo16,571 people · ~56 km away
Aytos20,986 people · ~69 km away
Karnobat19,709 people · ~69 km away
Varna318,737 people · ~80 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Shumen?

Shumen has a population of 72,342 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #10 biggest city in Bulgaria.

What region is Shumen in?

Shumen is located in Shumen, Bulgaria.

Is Shumen the capital of Bulgaria?

No, the capital of Bulgaria is Sofia, about 300 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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