site.btaDrought-affected Area in Bulgaria Reached 17-Year High in 2024

In 2024, 156,703 square kilometers of the European Union’s territory were affected by drought, according to data from Eurostat, published on Wednesday. Over the period 2014–2024, there were significant increases in areas affected by drought, particularly in 2018 (520,817 sq km) and 2022 (558,313 sq km).

Despite the smaller areas exposed to drought in 2023 and 2024, data over the 10-year period show that the affected territories have increased over time.

Eurostat also reports a substantial increase in the area of Bulgaria affected by drought - from 4,302 square kilometers in 2023 to 22,061 square kilometers in 2024, an increase of 17,759 square kilometers. This brings the drought-affected areas in the country to their highest level since 2007, according to the statistical agency. Among EU countries, only Romania (30,831 sq km) and Italy (28,892 sq km) recorded a larger increase in drought-affected territory in 2024 compared to the previous year.