Creches - 2025

The number of detached crèches and groups in kindergartens functioning in the country as of 31.12.2025 was 872, with 34 692 places in them (see Table 1). The number of places in the country had increased by 1 212, or by 3.6%, compared to 2024 year.

There were 763 crèches in the urban areas with 32 424 places and 109 crèches with 2 268 places in the rural areas, respectively. Compared to the previous year, the number of places in crèches in urban areas increased by 3.7%, and those in rural areas increased by 2.7%.

As of 31.12.2025, the number of places per 100 children aged up to 3 years¹ was 21.4. The highest values were registered in the following districts: Pleven - 27.7 per 100 children, Blagoevgrad and Sofia (stolitsa) - 26.2 per 100 children each (Figure 1).

¹ The indicator is calculated with preliminary data on the population.

31 098 children were accommodated there at the end of the year. 16 142 of them were boys and 14 956 were girls. Compared to the last year, the number of children in crèches increased by 731, or by 2.4%.

The coverage^2,3 of children brought up in crèches at the end of 2025 was 19.2%. The highest was the indicator for the districts of Sofia (stolitsa) - 25.6%, Gabrovo - 23.4%, Pleven - 23.0%, and Ruse - 22.0% (Figure 2).

The distribution of children raised in crèches by age remained unchanged in 2025. The highest was the share of children aged 2 years - 79.9%, and the smallest was the share of children aged up to 1 year - 0.1%.

8 028 medical and non-medical specialists worked on a basic labour contract in crèches at the end of 2025 in order to raise, educate and train the children. The number of Health care professionals and other medical specialists was 3 370, as 91.3% of them were nurses.

² The indicator was expressed by the ratio of the number of children aged up to 3 years brought up in detached crèches and groups in kindergartens per 100 children of the same age group in the total population.

³ The indicator is calculated with preliminary data on the population.

Methodological notes

The survey ‘Crèches’ is an exhaustive survey carried out by the National Statistical Institute annually. Detached crèches as well as groups in kindergartens are covered.

The sources of data are detached crèches and groups in kindergartens. Data on personnel, places in crèches and the number of children, as well as their distribution by age, are collected.

Crèches are set up to support families in raising children up to the age of three years and to ensure their normal physical and mental development in accordance with the Law on Health and Ordinance No. 26/18.11.2008 of the Minister of Health.

Crèches are organizationally distinct structures, where medical and other specialists raise, educate and train children aged from three months to three years. Groups for children aged between 3 months and 3 years could be opened at daily and weekly kindergartens as the organization of work there does not differ from the work of detached crèches.

When analyzing crèches data, the following has to be taken into account that the number of establishments and places in them changes not only as a result of openings and closures, but also due to conversions or mergers of establishments or groups.