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Population density: Bulgaria vs Germany compared

Updated on by Georank team

Bulgaria has a population density of 151.7 people per square mile compared to 612 people in Germany. Bulgaria has 185,475 sq ft of land per person vs 46,087 sq ft in Germany. Bulgaria and Germany rank 132nd and 50th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Bulgaria has 0.08% of the world's population and 0.07% of all countries' land area, compared to 1.03% of the population and 0.23% of the land area for Germany, making the population density in Bulgaria 75.2% lower than in Germany.

Population density by year

Bulgaria
Germany

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Bulgaria Germany
2026 151.7 612
2025 152.7 617
2024 153.7 619
2023 153.8 617
2022 154.2 617
2021 155.2 617
2020 156.3 616
2019 157.9 616
2018 160.1 615
2017 162.3 613
2016 164.5 610
2015 166.6 606
2014 168.8 601
2013 170.8 599
2012 174.3 598
2011 175.3 596
2010 176.4 608
2009 177.6 608
2008 178.7 610
2007 179.9 611
2006 181.2 612
2005 182.6 612
2004 183.8 613
2003 185.1 613
2002 186.6 612
2001 187.5 611
2000 191.3 610
1999 192.2 609
1998 193.3 609
1997 194.6 609
1996 195.8 608
1995 196.8 606
1994 197.7 604
1993 198.3 602
1992 199.9 598
1991 202.1 594
1990 204.1 589
1989 207.8 584
1988 210.3 580
1987 210 577
1986 209.7 577
1985 209.8 576
1984 209.8 578
1983 209.3 580
1982 208.8 581
1981 208.2 582
1980 207.5 581
1979 206.6 580
1978 206.3 579
1977 206.1 580
1976 205 581
1975 204.2 584
1974 203.2 586
1973 201.8 586
1972 200.8 584
1971 199.8 581
1970 198.8 580
1969 197.5 578
1968 195.9 573
1967 194.6 571
1966 193.3 568
1965 192.1 564
1964 190.7 559
1963 189.1 554
1962 187.6 549
1961 186 544

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bulgaria/germany | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Bulgaria decreased by 16.3%, compared to a 0.04% growth in Germany.

In 2006, Bulgaria ranked 103rd by population density and is 132nd now. Germany was 37th in 2006 and ranks 50th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Bulgaria
Germany
1x
Year Urban population
Bulgaria Germany
2024 73.9% 82%
2023 73.7% 81.9%
2022 73.5% 81.8%
2021 73.3% 81.6%
2020 73.3% 81.5%
2019 73.7% 81.3%
2018 73.6% 81.1%
2017 73.4% 81%
2016 73.2% 80.8%
2015 73.1% 80.7%
2014 73.1% 80.6%
2013 73% 80.5%
2012 72.8% 80.4%
2011 72.6% 80.3%
2010 71.5% 80.3%
2009 71.3% 80.3%
2008 70.9% 80.2%
2007 70.7% 80.2%
2006 70.5% 80.2%
2005 70.1% 80.2%
2004 69.9% 80.2%
2003 69.8% 80.1%
2002 69.5% 80.1%
2001 69.2% 80.1%
2000 68.3% 80.1%
1999 68% 80.1%
1998 67.9% 80.1%
1997 67.7% 80.1%
1996 67.7% 80.1%
1995 67.8% 80%
1994 67.7% 80%
1993 67.4% 80%
1992 67.2% 80%
1991 67.1% 80%
1990 67% 80%
1989 67.3% 80%
1988 66.7% 80%
1987 66% 80%
1986 65.3% 80%
1985 65% 80%
1984 65.6% 80%
1983 64.6% 80%
1982 63.9% 79.9%
1981 63% 79.9%
1980 62.1% 79.9%
1979 61.5% 79.9%
1978 60.5% 79.9%
1977 59.4% 79.9%
1976 58.5% 79.8%
1975 58% 79.8%
1974 58.1% 79.8%
1973 56.3% 79.8%
1972 55.2% 79.7%
1971 53.8% 79.7%
1970 52.3% 79.7%
1969 50.6% 79.6%
1968 49% 79.4%
1967 48% 79.1%
1966 47% 78.7%
1965 45.7% 78.3%
1964 43% 77.7%
1963 40.3% 77.2%
1962 39.3% 76.7%
1961 38.4% 76.2%
1960 37.1% 75.7%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bulgaria/germany | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 69.9% to 73.9% in Bulgaria and from 80.2% to 82% in Germany.

Densely populated cities

Bulgaria
City Population
Sofia 1.21M
Plovdiv 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
Germany
City Population
Berlin 3.78M
Hamburg 1.91M
Munich 1.51M
Cologne 1.09M
Frankfurt 776K
Stuttgart 633K
Dusseldorf 631K
Leipzig 620K
Dortmund 595K
Essen 587K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bulgaria/germany | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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