Annual growth rate of urban population share in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Annual growth rate of urban population share was 0.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.3%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
112th
of 236 countries
All-time high
6.7%
in 1964
All-time low
-0.9%
in 1985
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Annual growth rate of urban population share in Bulgaria, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual growth rate of urban population share in Bulgaria is 0.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 528.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual growth rate of urban population share in Bulgaria peaked at 6.7% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -0.9%, in 1985.
That places Bulgaria 112th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual growth rate of urban population share in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.1% | — |
| 1951 | 3.0% | -5.1% |
| 1952 | 3.0% | +0.5% |
| 1953 | 3.4% | +12.0% |
| 1954 | 3.0% | -9.0% |
| 1955 | 3.5% | +16.1% |
| 1956 | 4.0% | +12.9% |
| 1957 | 2.1% | -47.4% |
| 1958 | 2.4% | +16.1% |
| 1959 | 3.3% | +34.6% |
| 1960 | 3.9% | +17.5% |
| 1961 | 2.8% | -27.3% |
| 1962 | 2.2% | -22.6% |
| 1963 | 4.4% | +103.3% |
| 1964 | 6.7% | +52.8% |
| 1965 | 4.7% | -29.9% |
| 1966 | 2.0% | -57.5% |
| 1967 | 2.0% | +1.7% |
| 1968 | 2.6% | +27.0% |
| 1969 | 3.4% | +30.8% |
| 1970 | 3.1% | -8.2% |
| 1971 | 2.7% | -14.7% |
| 1972 | 2.1% | -19.3% |
| 1973 | 2.9% | +35.8% |
| 1974 | 1.2% | -57.9% |
| 1975 | -0.1% | -107.6% |
| 1976 | 1.6% | -1831.1% |
| 1977 | 1.7% | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 1.8% | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 1.3% | -27.2% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | -6.2% |
| 1981 | 1.4% | +18.5% |
| 1982 | 1.3% | -11.3% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | +18.9% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | -85.6% |
| 1985 | -0.9% | -516.8% |
| 1986 | 1.3% | -244.0% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | -15.1% |
| 1988 | 1.1% | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 0.1% | -88.2% |
| 1990 | -0.2% | -239.0% |
| 1991 | 0.1% | -149.8% |
| 1992 | 0.1% | +65.8% |
| 1993 | 0.6% | +285.0% |
| 1994 | 0.3% | -47.9% |
| 1995 | -0.0% | -112.4% |
| 1996 | -0.2% | +312.0% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | -165.6% |
| 1998 | 0.3% | +224.9% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -19.3% |
| 2000 | 1.1% | +320.7% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -37.7% |
| 2002 | 0.4% | -36.7% |
| 2003 | 0.3% | -31.3% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -33.4% |
| 2005 | 0.4% | +120.4% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -41.6% |
| 2008 | 0.5% | +77.4% |
| 2009 | 0.4% | -9.7% |
| 2010 | 1.4% | +247.0% |
| 2011 | 0.4% | -72.3% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | -36.8% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -66.7% |
| 2015 | 0.0% | -36.9% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | +299.6% |
| 2017 | 0.3% | +66.0% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | -25.9% |
| 2019 | -0.2% | -190.3% |
| 2020 | -0.3% | +21.5% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -128.7% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | +328.4% |
| 2023 | 0.3% | -6.0% |
| 2024 | 0.3% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 0.3% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.1% | 2.1% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.5% | 2.0% | 6.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.8% | -0.1% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | -0.9% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | -0.2% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.5% | 0.2% | 1.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | -0.2% | 1.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | -0.3% | 0.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 109 Barbados 0.3% compare
- 110 Switzerland 0.3% compare
- 111 Netherlands 0.3% compare
- 113 Palestine, State of 0.3% compare
- 114 Equatorial Guinea 0.3% compare
- 115 Norway 0.3% compare
More population data for Bulgaria
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,187 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.8803 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.921 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 32.53 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 146,527 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual growth rate of urban population share in Bulgaria?
- Annual growth rate of urban population share in Bulgaria was 0.3% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 6.7% in 1964.
- What is the lowest annual growth rate of urban population share recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.9% in 1985.
- How does Bulgaria rank for annual growth rate of urban population share?
- Bulgaria ranks 112th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual growth rate of urban population share rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 528.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual growth rate of urban population share. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average annual rate of change of the share of the population living in urban areas.