Bulgaria - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Bulgaria was 5,248,079 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 5,900,092 in 1988 and a minimum value of 2,918,796 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 2,918,796
1961 3,080,500
1962 3,244,762
1963 3,411,401
1964 3,582,451
1965 3,753,817
1966 3,900,528
1967 4,030,377
1968 4,165,384
1969 4,304,295
1970 4,440,047
1971 4,555,020
1972 4,667,082
1973 4,782,137
1974 4,905,140
1975 5,019,834
1976 5,126,058
1977 5,232,150
1978 5,317,153
1979 5,402,887
1980 5,503,013
1981 5,566,106
1982 5,627,272
1983 5,685,942
1984 5,743,706
1985 5,787,617
1986 5,822,722
1987 5,862,424
1988 5,900,092
1989 5,861,908
1990 5,786,939
1991 5,759,256
1992 5,726,692
1993 5,704,408
1994 5,704,237
1995 5,697,800
1996 5,687,307
1997 5,671,407
1998 5,652,100
1999 5,638,810
2000 5,629,167
2001 5,539,603
2002 5,448,708
2003 5,433,321
2004 5,419,782
2005 5,406,009
2006 5,391,557
2007 5,378,166
2008 5,366,322
2009 5,357,245
2010 5,347,166
2011 5,337,678
2012 5,331,472
2013 5,326,274
2014 5,320,503
2015 5,310,996
2016 5,298,039
2017 5,283,539
2018 5,269,340
2019 5,256,027
2020 5,248,079

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization