Urban area over the long-term in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Urban area over the long-term was 960.21 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
960.21 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
94th
of 202 countries
All-time high
960.21 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0.0017 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Bulgaria, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 960.21 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Bulgaria peaked at 960.21 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0017 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
That places Bulgaria 94th out of 202 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.
Urban area over the long-term in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0.0057 km² per grid cell | +226.3% |
| 1200 | 0.0182 km² per grid cell | +220.7% |
| 1300 | 0.0587 km² per grid cell | +222.6% |
| 1400 | 0.0969 km² per grid cell | +65.0% |
| 1500 | 0.4227 km² per grid cell | +336.4% |
| 1600 | 1.98 km² per grid cell | +368.8% |
| 1700 | 5.94 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 6.15 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1720 | 6.44 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1730 | 6.75 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1740 | 7.07 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1750 | 7.4 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1760 | 7.76 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1770 | 8.12 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1780 | 8.51 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1790 | 8.92 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1800 | 9.34 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1810 | 11.87 km² per grid cell | +27.1% |
| 1820 | 15.55 km² per grid cell | +31.0% |
| 1830 | 20.05 km² per grid cell | +29.0% |
| 1840 | 26.38 km² per grid cell | +31.6% |
| 1850 | 34.72 km² per grid cell | +31.6% |
| 1860 | 44.15 km² per grid cell | +27.2% |
| 1870 | 56.12 km² per grid cell | +27.1% |
| 1880 | 81.62 km² per grid cell | +45.4% |
| 1890 | 116.11 km² per grid cell | +42.3% |
| 1900 | 134.49 km² per grid cell | +15.8% |
| 1910 | 181.55 km² per grid cell | +35.0% |
| 1920 | 216.64 km² per grid cell | +19.3% |
| 1930 | 254.69 km² per grid cell | +17.6% |
| 1940 | 302.15 km² per grid cell | +18.6% |
| 1950 | 330.6 km² per grid cell | +9.4% |
| 1951 | 336.54 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1952 | 343.32 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1953 | 350.88 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1954 | 359.26 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1955 | 368.41 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1956 | 378.35 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 388.74 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1958 | 399.68 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1959 | 411.27 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1960 | 423.48 km² per grid cell | +3.0% |
| 1961 | 444.04 km² per grid cell | +4.9% |
| 1962 | 465.5 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1963 | 487.87 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1964 | 511.22 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1965 | 535.54 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 557.05 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 1967 | 576.29 km² per grid cell | +3.5% |
| 1968 | 595.8 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1969 | 615.51 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 635.49 km² per grid cell | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 653.9 km² per grid cell | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 672.41 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 690.83 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 709 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1975 | 726.79 km² per grid cell | +2.5% |
| 1976 | 744.3 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 760.57 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1978 | 776.55 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 792.61 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 809 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 821.67 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 834.51 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 847.01 km² per grid cell | +1.5% |
| 1984 | 858.45 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 868.21 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1986 | 879.91 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 889.16 km² per grid cell | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 896.19 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 900.25 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 900.94 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 904.47 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 904.71 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 902.03 km² per grid cell | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 898.56 km² per grid cell | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 896.39 km² per grid cell | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 893.68 km² per grid cell | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 892.62 km² per grid cell | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 892.93 km² per grid cell | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 894.09 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 895.66 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 896.93 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 898.46 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 900.19 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 902.03 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 903.93 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 905.84 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 907.75 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 909.73 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 911.89 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 914.3 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 918.5 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 922.9 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 927.39 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 931.8 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 935.99 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 939.9 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 943.52 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 946.89 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 950.04 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 953 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 954.94 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 956.66 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 958.13 km² per grid cell | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 959.32 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 960.21 km² per grid cell | +0.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 960.21 km² per grid cell is below the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 95% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 960.21 km² per grid cell is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,372 km² per grid cell, 70% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Bulgaria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | +368.8% | 0.4227 km² per grid cell | 1.98 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +336.4% | 0.0969 km² per grid cell | 0.4227 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +226.3% | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | 0.0057 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +222.6% | 0.0182 km² per grid cell | 0.0587 km² per grid cell |
| 1200 | +220.7% | 0.0057 km² per grid cell | 0.0182 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +200.0% | 1.98 km² per grid cell | 5.94 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | 0.0017 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0057 km² per grid cell | 0.0057 km² per grid cell | 0.0057 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0182 km² per grid cell | 0.0182 km² per grid cell | 0.0182 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0587 km² per grid cell | 0.0587 km² per grid cell | 0.0587 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0969 km² per grid cell | 0.0969 km² per grid cell | 0.0969 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.4227 km² per grid cell | 0.4227 km² per grid cell | 0.4227 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.98 km² per grid cell | 1.98 km² per grid cell | 1.98 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 5.94 km² per grid cell | 5.94 km² per grid cell | 5.94 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 6.15 km² per grid cell | 6.15 km² per grid cell | 6.15 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 6.44 km² per grid cell | 6.44 km² per grid cell | 6.44 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 6.75 km² per grid cell | 6.75 km² per grid cell | 6.75 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 7.07 km² per grid cell | 7.07 km² per grid cell | 7.07 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 7.4 km² per grid cell | 7.4 km² per grid cell | 7.4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 7.76 km² per grid cell | 7.76 km² per grid cell | 7.76 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 8.12 km² per grid cell | 8.12 km² per grid cell | 8.12 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 8.51 km² per grid cell | 8.51 km² per grid cell | 8.51 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 8.92 km² per grid cell | 8.92 km² per grid cell | 8.92 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 9.34 km² per grid cell | 9.34 km² per grid cell | 9.34 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 11.87 km² per grid cell | 11.87 km² per grid cell | 11.87 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 15.55 km² per grid cell | 15.55 km² per grid cell | 15.55 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 20.05 km² per grid cell | 20.05 km² per grid cell | 20.05 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 26.38 km² per grid cell | 26.38 km² per grid cell | 26.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 34.72 km² per grid cell | 34.72 km² per grid cell | 34.72 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 44.15 km² per grid cell | 44.15 km² per grid cell | 44.15 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 56.12 km² per grid cell | 56.12 km² per grid cell | 56.12 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 81.62 km² per grid cell | 81.62 km² per grid cell | 81.62 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 116.11 km² per grid cell | 116.11 km² per grid cell | 116.11 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 134.49 km² per grid cell | 134.49 km² per grid cell | 134.49 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 181.55 km² per grid cell | 181.55 km² per grid cell | 181.55 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 216.64 km² per grid cell | 216.64 km² per grid cell | 216.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 254.69 km² per grid cell | 254.69 km² per grid cell | 254.69 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 302.15 km² per grid cell | 302.15 km² per grid cell | 302.15 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 366.7 km² per grid cell | 330.6 km² per grid cell | 411.27 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 521.23 km² per grid cell | 423.48 km² per grid cell | 615.51 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 716.24 km² per grid cell | 635.49 km² per grid cell | 792.61 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 860.44 km² per grid cell | 809 km² per grid cell | 900.25 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 898.04 km² per grid cell | 892.62 km² per grid cell | 904.71 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 903.24 km² per grid cell | 895.66 km² per grid cell | 911.89 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 933.12 km² per grid cell | 914.3 km² per grid cell | 950.04 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 957.04 km² per grid cell | 953 km² per grid cell | 960.21 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 91 Jordan 1,109 km² per grid cell compare
- 92 Slovakia 1,086 km² per grid cell compare
- 93 Costa Rica 1,053 km² per grid cell compare
- 95 North Korea 954.94 km² per grid cell compare
- 96 Afghanistan 947.56 km² per grid cell compare
- 97 Greece 894.56 km² per grid cell compare
More reference data data for Bulgaria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3067 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2728 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2506 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.36 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Bulgaria?
- Urban area over the long-term in Bulgaria was 960.21 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 960.21 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0017 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Bulgaria rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Bulgaria ranks 94th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.