Bulgaria’s housing inventory increased by a paltry 0.1% in 2008 from the previous year, showed figures of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) released on Friday. Last year the country had 2.13 million home buildings containing 3.76 million residential units. The data includes numbers from the 2001 housing census as well as new and demolished residential buildings by the end of 2008.

Towns and cities accommodate around 63.5% of the total housing stock. Nearly 49 percent of the urban homes are in steel/concrete buildings while 47.5 percent are in brick developments. On the other hand, almost 70 percent of the rural homes are in brick buildings.

Two- or three-room units account for 65.3 percent of the total stock, making up the largest portion. Next come units with over four rooms, which represent 23 percent of all. Single-room units are 11.7 percent of all.

Pernik and Sofia boast the most homes per 1,000 people, a respective 718 and 707. Vidin, Lovech and Gabrovo have more than 600 homes per 1,000 people.

The total housing inventory added up to 240.706 million square metres, which is a 0.7% increase from a year earlier.