Bulgarian DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Bulgaria · Eastern Europe
Bulgaria stretches from the Danube to the Rhodope mountains and the Black Sea. In antiquity it was the land of the Thracians; in 681 the First Bulgarian Empire was founded here by the Bulgars, a Turkic-speaking people from the steppe who merged with a much larger Slavic population, and the Cyrillic alphabet took shape in its schools in the 9th and 10th centuries. In our model, the Bulgarian average is 52.8% Anatolian Neolithic farmer, 42.4% steppe and 4.8% Western hunter-gatherer, with no East Asian share above 1%, so the steppe Bulgars left little East Asian trace at this scale. The nearest modern averages are the Pomaks (distance 0.0094), the Slavic-speaking Muslims of the Rhodopes, then other Bulgarian samples, Moldovans from Stefan Voda, Pomaks from Greece and Romanians. Early medieval individuals with a South Balkan profile buried in Avar-period Austria are the closest ancient group (0.0145), with a South Slavic group from Nustar in Croatia next (0.0158).
- Ancient components in our model: Anatolian Neolithic farmers 52.8%, Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 42.4%, Western hunter-gatherers 4.8%
- Closest modern population in our data: Pomak, distance 0.0094
- Closest ancient group in our data: Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (South Balkan Profile), distance 0.0145
Bulgarian is one of the 335 modern populations in our population genetics atlas. The numbers on this page describe the average Global25 (G25) genome of the Bulgarian individuals sampled in Bulgaria. Like every population average, it smooths over a lot of variation between individuals.
Ancient make-up of the Bulgarian average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Bulgarian average, 52.8%, goes to Anatolian Neolithic farmers, ahead of Steppe herders (Yamnaya) (42.4%) and Western hunter-gatherers (4.8%). The Anatolian Neolithic farmers component reflects the Neolithic farmers of Anatolia, who carried agriculture into Europe from about 6500 BC. The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) share (42.4%) reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC.
Smaller traces of Western hunter-gatherers (under 5%) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.031): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. The model draws on West Eurasian ancient genomes, with modern West African and East Asian stand-ins.
Balkan Frontier – Serbian, Croatian & Balkan Slavic Report
Closest modern populations to Bulgarian
Ranking every modern population by genetic distance puts Pomak first for Bulgarian, at 0.009, then Bulgarian (Sofia) and Moldovan (Stefan Voda). Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Pomak (0.009), Moldovan (Stefan Voda) (0.012) and Pomak (Greece) (0.012). Even the tenth closest, Gagauz, is only 0.016 away: Bulgarian belongs to a dense cluster of related populations, so small differences inside that cluster should not be over-interpreted.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pomak | 0.0094 | Very close |
| 2 | Bulgarian (Sofia) | 0.0113 | Very close |
| 3 | Moldovan (Stefan Voda) | 0.0116 | Very close |
| 4 | Pomak (Greece) | 0.0118 | Very close |
| 5 | Romanian (Arges) | 0.0121 | Very close |
| 6 | Romanian | 0.0138 | Very close |
| 7 | Macedonian | 0.0146 | Very close |
| 8 | Bulgarian (Varna) | 0.0147 | Very close |
| 9 | Pomak (Danubian Plain) | 0.0150 | Very close |
| 10 | Gagauz | 0.0157 | Very close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Bulgarian
Among ancient genomes, the closest match to the modern Bulgarian average is Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (South Balkan Profile) (Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD), at 0.015, followed by Croatia Early Medieval Avar Period Late Nustar (South Slavic Profile) and Hungary Early Medieval Avar Period Late (South Balkan Profile). That is a very close match, which suggests strong genetic continuity between those ancient people (or close relatives of theirs) and the modern population. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (South Balkan Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0145 |
| 2 | Croatia Early Medieval Avar Period Late Nustar (South Slavic Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0158 |
| 3 | Hungary Early Medieval Avar Period Late (South Balkan Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0198 |
| 4 | Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (South Slavic Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0203 |
| 5 | Hungary Early Medieval Conqueror Period (South Slavic Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0207 |
| 6 | Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (North Adriatic Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0212 |
| 7 | Italy Apulia High Medieval Foggia (North Balkans Profile) | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0219 |
| 8 | Serbia Early Medieval Ravna Kuline (South Slavic Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0220 |
| 9 | Hungary Late Antiquity Sarmatian (South Balkan Profile) | Late Antiquity, c. 250-600 AD | 0.0220 |
| 10 | Croatia Early Medieval Old Croat Velim (South Slavic Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0250 |
Ancient DNA from Bulgaria
Our ancient DNA database holds 251 individuals excavated in present-day Bulgaria, dated from about 43,421 BC to 1153 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are G2a (19), I2a (19) and R1b (18), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are K1 (28), T2 (28) and H (26). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Bulgarian population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Ancient DNA studies on Bulgaria
- Paleogenomic evidence for genetic heterogeneity and prior admixture in Gothic-associated communities of late antique Bulgaria (2026)
- Gothic Identity as Cultural Practice: Paleogenomic Evidence for Multi - Ethnic Assemblages Under Gothic Material Culture in Late Antique Bulgaria (4th - 6th centuries CE) (2026)
- Great Bolgar’s historical genetics: a genomic study of individuals from burials close to the Greek Chamber in the 14th century (2025)
- The Genetic Variability of Present-Day Bulgarians Captures Ancient and Recent Ancestral Contributions (2025)
- Ancient human mitochondrial genomes from Bronze Age Bulgaria: new insights into the genetic history of Thracians (2019)
- Genetic evidence suggests relationship between contemporary Bulgarian population and Iron Age steppe dwellers from Pontic-Caspian steppe (2019)
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 251 from Bulgaria.
Compare yourself with Bulgarian
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Bulgarian average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Bulgarian and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
Keep in mind that a population average is a statistical summary of a limited number of sampled individuals. Real people inside any group vary, some carry more of one ancestry and some less, and no genetic profile decides who is or is not Bulgarian. Use these numbers as a map of deep ancestry, not as a label.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Bulgarian average. Your own DNA has its own story: Balkan Frontier – Serbian, Croatian & Balkan Slavic Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people of Balkan ancestry: ancient regional core (Illyrian, Thracian, Dacian, Paeonian, Scordisci Celtic, Proto-Slavic, Roman-provincial Dalmatia/Moesia/Macedonia, Sarmatian) versus non-regional outside admixture, across...
More populations from Eastern Europe
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Bulgarian?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Bulgarian average is about 52.8% Anatolian Neolithic farmers, 42.4% Steppe herders (Yamnaya) and 4.8% Western hunter-gatherers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Bulgarian?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Bulgarian (Sofia)), the closest modern populations to the Bulgarian average are Pomak, Moldovan (Stefan Voda) and Pomak (Greece). The closest ancient matches are Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (South Balkan Profile), Croatia Early Medieval Avar Period Late Nustar (South Slavic Profile) and Hungary Early Medieval Avar Period Late (South Balkan Profile).
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Bulgarian?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Bulgarian average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Bulgarian ancestry?
For the Bulgarian average, the regional report to choose is Balkan Frontier – Serbian, Croatian & Balkan Slavic Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.