Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 4.98 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in urban and rural areas 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 people.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 4.98 million people for number of people living in urban and rural areas in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bulgaria peaked at 6.02 million people in 1989 and was at its lowest, 1.97 million people, in 1950.
That places Bulgaria 100th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.36 million people | 1.97 million people | 2.78 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.59 million people | 2.92 million people | 4.27 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.98 million people | 4.44 million people | 5.43 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.81 million people | 5.51 million people | 6.02 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.68 million people | 5.49 million people | 5.91 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.41 million people | 5.34 million people | 5.49 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.25 million people | 5.14 million people | 5.36 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.02 million people | 4.98 million people | 5.08 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More population data for Bulgaria
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.72 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.72 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 108,747 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.72 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.75 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.73 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bulgaria?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bulgaria was 4.98 million people 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 6.02 million people in 1989.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.97 million people in 1950.
- How does Bulgaria rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Bulgaria ranks 100th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.