Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is the country’s economic, cultural, and administrative heart. With a rich history and a continuously growing population, the city stands out not just for its size, but for its extremely high population density. Although it is not the largest locality in Romania by area, Bucharest holds the national record for the highest number of inhabitants per square kilometer — a characteristic that directly impacts urban life, infrastructure, and quality of life.

The surface area of Bucharest: official figures and comparisons

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Bucharest covers an area of 240 square kilometers and is administratively divided into six sectors. For comparison:

• Timișoara – 129.3 km²
• Constanța – 124.9 km²
• Cluj-Napoca – 179.5 km²
• Iași – 93.9 km²

While Bucharest is not the largest city in the country in terms of land area — it is surpassed by places such as Brașov (267.3 km²) or Broșteni, Suceava County (594.66 km²) — what sets it apart is its population density, which places it in a league of its own.

Record population density: a crowded city

With a population of over 1.88 million inhabitants (according to the 2021 census), Bucharest has an average density of about 8,260.6 inhabitants per square kilometer. In some central areas, such as Sector 1 or Sector 3, this figure can exceed 10,000–12,000 inhabitants/km², a level comparable to major European capitals.

For perspective:

• Budapest: ~3,300 inhabitants/km²
• Berlin: ~4,200 inhabitants/km²
• Paris: ~20,000 inhabitants/km² (in the compact city center only)

This high concentration of people is driven both by internal migration (many Romanians from other regions move to the capital for better opportunities) and by the lack of efficient urban expansion.

Why isn’t Bucharest bigger? Expansion limits

A legitimate question is: Why hasn’t Bucharest expanded more? Unlike cities such as Los Angeles or Beijing, which have massive horizontal sprawl, Bucharest is constrained by:

1. Administrative limits – The city is surrounded by Ilfov County, and expansion into nearby localities (Voluntari, Buftea, Otopeni) has led to urban growth without centralized planning.
2. Deficient infrastructure – The absence of an efficient metropolitan transport system (extended metro lines, dense commuter trains) makes further expansion difficult.
3. Chaotic urban planning policies – New developments (apartment blocks, residential areas) are concentrated in already dense zones instead of being decentralized.

The challenges of such high density

A population packed so tightly brings multiple challenges:

✅ Traffic congestion – Bucharest is notorious for endless traffic jams, and the ratio of cars to road capacity is among the worst in Europe.
✅ Pressure on public services – Schools, hospitals, and public transport are overburdened.
✅ Pollution and insufficient green space – With just 26 m² of green space per resident, Bucharest lags far behind the WHO’s recommended 50 m².

Bucharest — a city that must grow smart

Bucharest may not be Romania’s largest city by surface area, but it is certainly its most densely populated. To handle this demographic pressure, authorities need to invest in:

✔ Metropolitan public transport (extended metro, suburban rail)
 ✔ Development of surrounding areas (with proper infrastructure)
 ✔ Increasing green spaces and improving air quality

If these measures are not implemented, the capital risks becoming increasingly suffocating for its inhabitants. The question is not only “What is the surface area of Bucharest?” but also “How can it adapt to the future?”