Bulgarian Americans
Bulgarian Americans are Americans who trace their roots to Bulgaria. Population numbers vary. The 2019 U.S. Census counted about 100,600 people with Bulgarian ancestry. Bulgarian officials estimate there are about 250,000 Bulgarians living in the United States, including more than 30,000 students.
Immigration began in the mid-1800s, and many Bulgarians settled in Slavic communities in the Midwest and Northeast. Today, the largest Bulgarian American population is in Illinois, followed by California, New York, Florida, Ohio, and Indiana, with smaller communities in many other states.
Bulgarian Americans typically speak Bulgarian and English. The community is mostly Orthodox Christian, with minorities practicing Islam (mainly Pomaks) or Judaism.
Education and income: about 60% of Bulgarian Americans over 25 have a bachelor's degree or higher, and the median household income is around $76,900.
Major cities with many Bulgarian Americans include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. The United States has one of the largest Bulgarian communities outside Bulgaria.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:32 (CET).