Urban population growth in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Urban population growth was 0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population growth in Bulgaria, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, urban population growth in Bulgaria stood at 0.2%.
The figure is down 18.5% on the previous year and up 114.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population growth in Bulgaria peaked at 7.4% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -2.2%, in 1990.
That places Bulgaria 175th out of 217 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population growth in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 4.4% | — |
| 1962 | 3.2% | -28.4% |
| 1963 | 3.3% | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 7.4% | +127.9% |
| 1965 | 6.7% | -9.5% |
| 1966 | 3.5% | -48.5% |
| 1967 | 2.7% | -21.3% |
| 1968 | 2.8% | +2.1% |
| 1969 | 4.0% | +41.8% |
| 1970 | 4.0% | +1.5% |
| 1971 | 3.4% | -16.1% |
| 1972 | 3.0% | -12.3% |
| 1973 | 2.5% | -15.6% |
| 1974 | 3.8% | +54.1% |
| 1975 | 0.4% | -90.9% |
| 1976 | 1.3% | +261.2% |
| 1977 | 2.1% | +64.9% |
| 1978 | 1.9% | -6.8% |
| 1979 | 1.7% | -12.0% |
| 1980 | 1.5% | -13.9% |
| 1981 | 1.7% | +16.8% |
| 1982 | 1.7% | -2.5% |
| 1983 | 1.4% | -15.0% |
| 1984 | 1.7% | +20.1% |
| 1985 | -1.0% | -158.5% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | -142.5% |
| 1987 | 1.3% | +203.0% |
| 1988 | 1.2% | -9.4% |
| 1989 | -0.3% | -122.2% |
| 1990 | -2.2% | +752.1% |
| 1991 | -0.9% | -58.5% |
| 1992 | -1.0% | +6.9% |
| 1993 | -0.4% | -60.6% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -125.1% |
| 1995 | -0.3% | -390.4% |
| 1996 | -0.7% | +154.1% |
| 1997 | -0.7% | -6.9% |
| 1998 | -0.4% | -45.4% |
| 1999 | -0.3% | -19.7% |
| 2000 | -0.2% | -39.0% |
| 2001 | -0.6% | +254.8% |
| 2002 | -1.8% | +177.3% |
| 2003 | -0.4% | -79.0% |
| 2004 | -0.6% | +51.0% |
| 2005 | -0.5% | -7.7% |
| 2006 | -0.2% | -68.6% |
| 2007 | -0.5% | +200.6% |
| 2008 | -0.4% | -18.6% |
| 2009 | -0.1% | -79.2% |
| 2010 | -0.4% | +337.5% |
| 2011 | 0.9% | -344.3% |
| 2012 | -0.4% | -141.1% |
| 2013 | -1.7% | +384.1% |
| 2014 | -1.0% | -40.1% |
| 2015 | -1.2% | +18.8% |
| 2016 | -1.2% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | -1.0% | -14.2% |
| 2018 | -1.1% | +5.5% |
| 2019 | -1.3% | +15.5% |
| 2020 | -1.5% | +22.5% |
| 2021 | -0.6% | -58.8% |
| 2022 | -0.5% | -25.9% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | -112.0% |
| 2024 | 0.2% | +281.3% |
| 2025 | 0.2% | -18.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.2% | 2.7% | 7.4% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.4% | 0.4% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.0% | -1.0% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.7% | -2.2% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.5% | -1.8% | -0.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.8% | -1.7% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.4% | -1.5% | 0.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 172 Nepal 0.2% compare
- 173 Antigua and Barbuda 0.2% compare
- 174 Saint Lucia 0.2% compare
- 176 Germany 0.1% compare
- 177 Dominica 0.1% compare
- 178 Kosovo 0.1% compare
- 178 Kosovo (UNSCR 1244) 0.1% compare
More climate change data for Bulgaria
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,923 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 704.34 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,219 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 2.66 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 79.24 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,439 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,346 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 92.96 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 5.08 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 3.32 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population growth in Bulgaria?
- Urban population growth in Bulgaria was 0.2% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 7.4% in 1964.
- What is the lowest urban population growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.2% in 1990.
- How does Bulgaria rank for urban population growth?
- Bulgaria ranks 175th out of 217 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population growth rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 114.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual urban population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear urban population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank total population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.