Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Bulgaria

Rural population share in Bulgaria in 2025 — 25.8%. Ranked 142 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 37.1 pp.

2025 25.8% −0.2 pp vs 2024
World rank 142of 217
Period maximum 62.9%1960
Period minimum 25.8%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Bulgaria, 1960–202520304050607019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 62.9%1962: 60.7%1964: 57%1966: 53%1968: 51%1970: 47.7%1972: 44.8%1974: 41.9%1976: 41.5%1978: 39.5%1980: 37.9%1982: 36.1%1984: 34.4%1986: 34.7%1988: 33.3%1990: 33%1992: 32.8%1994: 32.3%1996: 32.3%1998: 32.1%2000: 31.7%2002: 30.5%2004: 30.1%2006: 29.5%2008: 29.1%2010: 28.5%2012: 27.2%2014: 26.9%2016: 26.8%2018: 26.4%2020: 26.7%2022: 26.5%2024: 26.1%2025: 25.8%
Change over the period: −37.1 pp Annual average: -0.57 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Bulgaria

Bulgaria 25.8%
World 42.2%
Eastern Europe computed 29.9%
Rural population share — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 25.8 −0.2 pp
2024 26.1 −0.2 pp
2023 26.3 −0.3 pp
2022 26.5 −0.1 pp
2021 26.7 −0 pp
2020 26.7 +0.4 pp
2019 26.3 −0.1 pp
2018 26.4 −0.2 pp
2017 26.6 −0.2 pp
2016 26.8 −0.1 pp
2015 26.9 −0 pp
2014 26.9 −0.1 pp
2013 27 −0.2 pp
2012 27.2 −0.2 pp
2011 27.4 −1.1 pp
2010 28.5 −0.2 pp
2009 28.7 −0.4 pp
2008 29.1 −0.2 pp
2007 29.3 −0.2 pp
2006 29.5 −0.4 pp
2005 29.9 −0.2 pp
2004 30.1 −0.1 pp
2003 30.2 −0.3 pp
2002 30.5 −0.3 pp
2001 30.8 −0.9 pp
2000 31.7 −0.2 pp
1999 32 −0.2 pp
1998 32.1 −0.2 pp
1997 32.3 +0 pp
1996 32.3 +0.1 pp
1995 32.2 −0.1 pp
1994 32.3 −0.3 pp
1993 32.6 −0.3 pp
1992 32.8 −0.1 pp
1991 32.9 −0 pp
1990 33 +0.3 pp
1989 32.7 −0.6 pp
1988 33.3 −0.7 pp
1987 34 −0.8 pp
1986 34.7 −0.3 pp
1985 35 +0.7 pp
1984 34.4 −1 pp
1983 35.4 −0.8 pp
1982 36.1 −0.9 pp
1981 37 −0.9 pp
1980 37.9 −0.7 pp
1979 38.5 −1 pp
1978 39.5 −1.1 pp
1977 40.6 −0.9 pp
1976 41.5 −0.5 pp
1975 42 +0.1 pp
1974 41.9 −1.8 pp
1973 43.7 −1.1 pp
1972 44.8 −1.4 pp
1971 46.2 −1.5 pp
1970 47.7 −1.7 pp
1969 49.4 −1.6 pp
1968 51 −1 pp
1967 52 −1 pp
1966 53 −1.3 pp
1965 54.3 −2.7 pp
1964 57 −2.8 pp
1963 59.7 −1 pp
1962 60.7 −0.9 pp
1961 61.6 −1.3 pp
1960 62.9

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.