Since 1999, Bulgaria has been divided into twenty-eight provinces (Bulgarian: области, oblasti; singular област, oblast; also translated as "region") which correspond approximately to the twenty-eight okrugs (districts) that existed before 1987. From 1987 until 1999, under the Communist administration of Todor Zhivkov the okrugs were consolidated into nine larger oblasts.
     Each oblast is named after its capital. In the case of Sofia Oblast and Sofia City, Sofia is the capital of both provinces, but its territory is only included in Sofia City.
     The provinces are further subdivided into municipalities (община, obshtina).

          Sofia (city)     -     population 1,231,622 (2006)
          Plovdiv     -     population 707,570
          Varna     -     population 457,922
          Burgas     -     population 418,925
          Stara Zagora     -     population 362,090

           Blagoevgrad     -     population 334,907
           Pleven     -     population 305,025
           Pazardzhik     -     population 300,092
           Veliko Tarnovo     -     population 283,599
           Haskovo     -     population 268,335

           Sofia (province)     -     population 262,032
           Ruse     -     population 256,835
           Sliven     -     population 211,005
           Vratsa     -     population 209,124
           Dobrich     -     population 206,893

           Shumen     -     population 199,577
           Montana     -     population 166,775
           Kardzhali     -     population 159,878
           Lovech     -     population 159,214
           Kyustendil     -     population 154,468

           Yambol     -     population 147,906
           Pernik     -     population 142,251
           Razgrad     -     population 140,743
           Targovishte     -     population 136,806
           Gabrovo     -     population 135,780

           Silistra     -     population 135,701
           Smolyan     -     population 133,015
           Vidin     -     population 117,809