Pomaks according to the Bulgarian ethno-demographic statistics  Cover Image
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Помаците според българската етнодемографска статистика
Pomaks according to the Bulgarian ethno-demographic statistics

Author(s): Mihail I. Ivanov
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Институт за изследване на населението и човека - Българска академия на науките
Keywords: ethno-demography; censuses; identity; Bulgarian-speaking Muslims; Pomaks; Bulgarian-Mahometans;

Summary/Abstract: This study presents how Bulgarian ethno-demographic statistics has represented the identities of Bulgarian speaking Muslims (including Pomak identity) throughout its existence. A comparative analysis of the available data for this specific group is provided. It is noted that official information about the Pomaks exists only in the publications of the censuses of 1900, 1905, 1910 and 1920 and partly in the 1926 census, although this population is observed (under the name of Bulgarian-Mahometans) also in the censuses of 1956, 1992, 2001 and possibly 1934. Thus, it becomes evident that Bulgarian official statistics ignores the existence of the Pomaks for a very long period – from the 1926 census until now. The comparison of the data shows that, at the beginning of the 20th century (until 1920), the group of the Bulgarian-speaking Muslims largely coincided with that of the Pomaks, especially in the districts and counties of Southern Bulgaria, where more than 90 % of both groups lived. However, at present, the group of the Bulgarian-speaking Muslims is split into several subgroups according to ethnic self-identification, the main of which are Pomaks, Bulgarians and Turks. The article ends with a recommendation to consider the Pomaks separately and in an adequate manner at future censuses and to publicize officially the relevant data concerning them.

  • Issue Year: 2012
  • Issue No: 1-2
  • Page Range: 163-197
  • Page Count: 35
  • Language: Bulgarian