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Fig. 19.2
Average annual increase of the population number of the main ethnic groups in Eastern
Stara planina region (1965-2001)
Roma was approximately four times higher than that of the Bulgarians. In recent
years however, the demographic behavior of Turks began to resemble more and
more that of Bulgarians, while that of Roma remains quite conservative. The eco-
nomic stabilization which began after the 1996-1997 crisis period, together with
tolerant policy toward minority groups, limited migration to Turkey etc. resulted in
reduction of Turkish birth rate growth in recent years. Despite that, an insignificant
growth of the natural increase is observed in only few of the municipalities of the
Eastern Stara planina region.
19.2 The Turkish Ethnic Group
The Turkish ethnic group is the second largest after the Bulgarian group in the
observed region and in the country as a whole (according to the official data). During
the period between 1965 and 1992, unlike the rest parts of the country with Turkish
population, the number of Turks grew in the Eastern Stara planina region. This is a
result of a smaller scale emigration to Turkey in the period 1969-1978 and in the
late 1980s, compared to that in other parts of the country, such as the Eastern Rodopi
and the North-eastern region. Thus, the Turkish population in Eastern Stara planina
had an average annual increase of 0.4% per year during the period 1965-1992 and
from 76,000 in the beginning of that period, reached 84,000 by 1992. The growth
in number led to a growth of the relative share of Turks by 5%, which by 1992
reached 40.5% of the total population in the region. An exception of that dynam-
ics were the municipalities of Kotel, Smyadovo, Omurtag, and Varbitsa, where an
insignificant decline of the number of Turks was observed (-0.5% average annual
decrease). During that period of time, the Turkish population grew in both rural and
urban settlements of the region.
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