Rural population growth in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Rural population growth was -1.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Bulgaria, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in Bulgaria stood at -1.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 8.0% on the previous year and up 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Bulgaria peaked at 1.9% in 1985 and was at its lowest, -5.0%, in 2001.
Bulgaria ranks 167th of 209 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -1.1% | — |
| 1962 | -0.6% | -49.4% |
| 1963 | -0.8% | +41.2% |
| 1964 | -3.9% | +381.9% |
| 1965 | -4.1% | +3.5% |
| 1966 | -1.8% | -56.2% |
| 1967 | -1.3% | -28.4% |
| 1968 | -1.2% | -2.2% |
| 1969 | -2.4% | +92.3% |
| 1970 | -2.9% | +21.4% |
| 1971 | -2.6% | -9.2% |
| 1972 | -2.5% | -4.6% |
| 1973 | -2.0% | -22.0% |
| 1974 | -3.6% | +82.0% |
| 1975 | 0.7% | -118.7% |
| 1976 | -0.7% | -209.3% |
| 1977 | -1.7% | +138.1% |
| 1978 | -2.6% | +51.9% |
| 1979 | -2.3% | -11.5% |
| 1980 | -1.3% | -42.9% |
| 1981 | -2.0% | +49.4% |
| 1982 | -2.1% | +5.9% |
| 1983 | -1.9% | -11.3% |
| 1984 | -2.5% | +35.5% |
| 1985 | 1.9% | -174.4% |
| 1986 | -0.9% | -146.2% |
| 1987 | -2.0% | +133.9% |
| 1988 | -2.0% | -3.2% |
| 1989 | -3.0% | +53.1% |
| 1990 | -1.0% | -67.9% |
| 1991 | -1.1% | +17.7% |
| 1992 | -1.3% | +10.9% |
| 1993 | -1.6% | +30.0% |
| 1994 | -1.2% | -24.0% |
| 1995 | -0.8% | -36.8% |
| 1996 | -0.1% | -87.9% |
| 1997 | -0.5% | +410.2% |
| 1998 | -1.3% | +167.2% |
| 1999 | -1.1% | -13.5% |
| 2000 | -1.2% | +3.5% |
| 2001 | -5.0% | +325.5% |
| 2002 | -3.1% | -37.4% |
| 2003 | -1.8% | -43.4% |
| 2004 | -1.2% | -31.1% |
| 2005 | -1.3% | +8.0% |
| 2006 | -2.2% | +65.8% |
| 2007 | -1.3% | -38.5% |
| 2008 | -1.4% | +8.3% |
| 2009 | -2.0% | +40.1% |
| 2010 | -1.4% | -30.7% |
| 2011 | -4.6% | +224.9% |
| 2012 | -1.2% | -74.6% |
| 2013 | -2.7% | +136.0% |
| 2014 | -1.7% | -39.2% |
| 2015 | -1.3% | -19.5% |
| 2016 | -1.6% | +16.9% |
| 2017 | -2.1% | +36.0% |
| 2018 | -2.2% | +1.5% |
| 2019 | -1.9% | -14.4% |
| 2020 | 0.5% | -125.8% |
| 2021 | -0.8% | -256.8% |
| 2022 | -1.2% | +53.5% |
| 2023 | -1.2% | +7.9% |
| 2024 | -0.9% | -26.6% |
| 2025 | -1.0% | +8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -1.9% | -4.1% | -0.6% | 9 |
| 1970s | -2.0% | -3.6% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | -1.6% | -3.0% | 1.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.0% | -1.6% | -0.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | -2.1% | -5.0% | -1.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.1% | -4.6% | -1.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.8% | -1.2% | 0.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More agriculture & rural data for Bulgaria
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 21.46 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0247 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 503.12 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9803 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2583 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 2.47 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 2.47 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.7% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.8% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Bulgaria?
- Rural population growth in Bulgaria was -1.0% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.9% in 1985.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.0% in 2001.
- How does Bulgaria rank for rural population growth?
- Bulgaria ranks 167th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.