In 1927, Bucharest already counted 472,000 inhabitants, and the next year, when 12 outlying communes became part of the city, the figure went up to 569,000. From then on, the city would grow fast, to reach 870,000 inhabitants in 1939 and well-nigh one million two years later. In 22 years, Bucharest's population grew almost 2.5 times. It was the most vigorous population growth in its history.
The expansion of city's area matched at a lower pace the population's growth. Bucharest's territory grew in the same period of time from 5,600 hectares to 7,800 hectares - by "only" 40 per cent. But its shape changed in a spectacular way, the dwellings density grew, the city grew on the height, although it has remained a sprawling one to this day.
