Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Average nitrate concentration in freshwater was 29.34 milligrams per liter in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
29.34 milligrams per liter
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
4th
of 34 countries
All-time high
29.34 milligrams per liter
in 2020
All-time low
20.26 milligrams per liter
in 2011
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Bulgaria, 2000–2021
Source: European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in milligrams per liter.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Bulgaria is 29.34 milligrams per liter, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 44.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Bulgaria peaked at 29.34 milligrams per liter in 2020 and was at its lowest, 20.26 milligrams per liter, in 2011.
Bulgaria ranks 4th of 34 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | milligrams per liter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 23.32 milligrams per liter | — |
| 2001 | 24.26 milligrams per liter | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 24.26 milligrams per liter | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 23.33 milligrams per liter | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 23.94 milligrams per liter | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 22.53 milligrams per liter | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 21.45 milligrams per liter | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 23.99 milligrams per liter | +11.8% |
| 2008 | 22.92 milligrams per liter | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 23.72 milligrams per liter | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 20.73 milligrams per liter | -12.6% |
| 2011 | 20.26 milligrams per liter | -2.2% |
| 2012 | 22.19 milligrams per liter | +9.5% |
| 2013 | 22.86 milligrams per liter | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 25.57 milligrams per liter | +11.9% |
| 2015 | 28.75 milligrams per liter | +12.4% |
| 2016 | 29.02 milligrams per liter | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 29.28 milligrams per liter | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 27.09 milligrams per liter | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 26.96 milligrams per liter | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 29.34 milligrams per liter | +8.8% |
| 2021 | 29.34 milligrams per liter | +0.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 29.34 milligrams per liter is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.9 milligrams per liter, 1.8× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 29.34 milligrams per liter is above the median for high income countries, which is 16.12 milligrams per liter, 1.8× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 23.37 milligrams per liter | 21.45 milligrams per liter | 24.26 milligrams per liter | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.27 milligrams per liter | 20.26 milligrams per liter | 29.28 milligrams per liter | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.34 milligrams per liter | 29.34 milligrams per liter | 29.34 milligrams per liter | 2 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More environment data for Bulgaria
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -1.39 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -1.52 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.573 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.18 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -6.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.7509 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Bulgaria?
- Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Bulgaria was 29.34 milligrams per liter in 2021, according to European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 29.34 milligrams per liter in 2020.
- What is the lowest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.26 milligrams per liter in 2011.
- How does Bulgaria rank for average nitrate concentration in freshwater?
- Bulgaria ranks 4th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
- Is average nitrate concentration in freshwater rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average nitrate concentration in freshwater. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average annual concentration of nitrate in groundwater.