Population in largest city in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Population in largest city was 1.29 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population in largest city in Bulgaria, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
In 2025, population in largest city in Bulgaria stood at 1.29 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in largest city in Bulgaria peaked at 1.29 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 708,061, in 1960.
That places Bulgaria 116th out of 153 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 792,567 | 708,061 | 871,726 | 10 |
| 1970s | 969,212 | 888,449 | 1.05 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.15 million | 1.07 million | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.17 million | 1.14 million | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.16 million | 1.12 million | 1.21 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.25 million | 1.22 million | 1.28 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.29 million | 1.28 million | 1.29 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More urban development data for Bulgaria
- Population in the largest city 27.0% (2025)
- Population density 59.38 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 19.68 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.29 million (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guidel 99.9% (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in largest city in Bulgaria?
- Population in largest city in Bulgaria was 1.29 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in largest city recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.29 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest population in largest city recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 708,061 in 1960.
- How does Bulgaria rank for population in largest city?
- Bulgaria ranks 116th out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in largest city rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the urban population living in the country's largest metropolitan area.