Bulgaria Urban Population
Urban population as % of total SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS
Bulgaria's urban population was 74.06% in 2025, ranked 76th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Bulgaria's urban population stood at 74.06% in 2025, a rise of +0.11% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 74.06% by 2025. Bulgaria ranked 76th globally.
Bulgaria’s urban population share has risen steadily from 37.11 percent in 1960 to an all‑time peak of 74.06 percent in 2025, placing the country 76th globally out of more than 190 economies. The 66‑year trajectory reflects the combined impact of post‑World‑War II industrialisation, internal migration to cities, and the gradual decline of agricultural employment, mirroring patterns observed in other transition economies. Bulgaria’s 2025 figure is only slightly below Finland’s 74.58 percent and Brunei Darussalam’s 74.90 percent, indicating convergence toward the high‑urbanisation end of the spectrum. The near‑doubling of the urban share since the 1960 trough underscores a structural shift toward service‑oriented and knowledge‑based sectors, while the modest gap with the leading peers suggests limited remaining room for rapid growth. Continued urban expansion will likely depend on demographic dynamics, housing policy and the capacity of municipal infrastructure to accommodate further migration from rural areas.
Data & projection
| Year | Urban Population | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 74.39% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 74.22% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 74.06% | - | - |
| 2025 | 74.06% | +0.11% | #76 |
| 2024 | 73.95% | +0.22% | #141 |
| 2023 | 73.73% | +0.25% | #141 |
| 2022 | 73.48% | +0.13% | #141 |
| 2021 | 73.35% | +0.02% | #141 |
| 2020 | 73.32% | −0.39% | #144 |
| 2019 | 73.72% | +0.12% | #144 |
| 2018 | 73.60% | +0.21% | #143 |
| 2017 | 73.39% | +0.22% | #143 |
| 2016 | 73.18% | +0.07% | #143 |
| 2015 | 73.10% | +0.02% | #143 |
| 2014 | 73.08% | +0.12% | #144 |
| 2013 | 72.96% | +0.19% | #144 |
| 2012 | 72.77% | +0.16% | #145 |
| 2011 | 72.61% | +1.10% | #146 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Bulgaria matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2022. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw urban population improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Bulgaria's urban population was 74.06% in 2025. Ranked 76th globally. This represents a 0.1% increase from the previous year.
Bulgaria's urban population peaked at 74.06% in 2025.
The lowest urban population in Bulgaria was 37.11% in 1960.
Bulgaria ranks 76th globally in urban population as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Bulgaria's urban population is projected to reach 74.06% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The urban population of Bulgaria in 2025 was 74.06%. This ranks 76th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_bulgaria_urban-population,
title = {Bulgaria Urban Population},
url = {https://historysaid.com/bulgaria/urban-population/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}