Belief in the supernatural and in conspiracy theories is not a marginal occurrence, but an important element of Bulgarian culture and identity. This is one of the key findings of a new study by the Trend Research Centre, commissioned by the 24 Chasa daily, exploring public attitudes toward supernatural phenomena and conspiracy theories.
A total of 34% of adult Bulgarians believe in life after death, while 50% do not share this belief, and 16% are unsure. Women are significantly more likely than men to believe in an afterlife, the results show.
Thirty-one per cent of respondents in the survey believe in reincarnation, compared with 53% who do not. The share of those who believe in life after death increases with age, according to the data.
The most widespread conviction among Bulgarians is that "everything comes back" -- or in other words, belief in karma. Sixty-five per cent of respondents, equivalent to around 3.5 million people, believe in it. Women are more inclined to do so than men. Only 10% say they do not believe in karma at all, while 18% say they "rather do not" believe.
Almost half of adult Bulgarians (47%) think that destiny is partly predetermined and partly a result of personal choice, revealing a nuanced balance between faith and personal responsibility. Equal shares of 23% express the two extreme opinions -- that destiny is either completely predetermined or entirely in human hands. Seven per cent cannot decide.
Just over two million Bulgarians, or 38% of respondents, admit they have visited a fortune teller or clairvoyant, while 14% have consulted an astrologer. Women do so much more often than men. Visits to psychics (11%) and numerologists (9%) are relatively rare but nonetheless show an ongoing interest in alternative forms of prediction.
More than half of Bulgarians (58%) believe that some people possess supernatural abilities, compared with 30% who do not share this view, the sociologists note. A similar proportion -- 56% -- believe in curses and the evil eye, while 33% disagree.
Almost every second Bulgarian (47%) thinks there are secret societies that control the world, whereas 36% reject this idea.
Forty-four per cent believe in omens and signs that can predict the future, while 43% disagree. As for astrology, a majority (51%) do not believe that star signs determine personality or destiny, but 37% still believe there is a connection. Younger people aged 18 to 39 show a higher tendency to identify with belief in astrology, Trend adds.
The research was conducted between October 13 and 19, 2025, through semi-standardized face-to-face tablet interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,000 people aged 18 and over.