Share of population living in rural areas in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Share of population living in rural areas was 39.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in rural areas in Bulgaria, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of population living in rural areas in Bulgaria stood at 39.9%.
The figure is up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in rural areas in Bulgaria peaked at 46.9% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 38.6%, in 1985.
That places Bulgaria 59th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in rural areas in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 46.9% | — |
| 1955 | 45.3% | -3.3% |
| 1960 | 43.8% | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 42.2% | -3.6% |
| 1970 | 41.0% | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 40.0% | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 39.5% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 38.6% | -2.3% |
| 1990 | 38.8% | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 39.1% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 39.5% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 39.8% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 39.8% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 40.0% | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 39.9% | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 46.1% | 45.3% | 46.9% | 2 |
| 1960s | 43.0% | 42.2% | 43.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 40.5% | 40.0% | 41.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 39.1% | 38.6% | 39.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 38.9% | 38.8% | 39.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 39.7% | 39.5% | 39.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 39.9% | 39.8% | 40.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 39.9% | 39.9% | 39.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
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 share of population living in rural areas in Bulgaria?
- Share of population living in rural areas in Bulgaria was 39.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 46.9% in 1950.
- What is the lowest share of population living in rural areas recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.6% in 1985.
- How does Bulgaria rank for share of population living in rural areas?
- Bulgaria ranks 59th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.