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Population in Albania compared to Bulgaria: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Albania was 2,349,580 in 2025 vs 6,433,302 people in Bulgaria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Albania's population is 2,332,078 people compared to 6,390,149 in Bulgaria.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 2.74 times bigger than Albania's.
  • Albania is ranked the 144th most populous country in the world, while Bulgaria is the 112th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.03% for Albania vs 0.08% for Bulgaria.
  • For the last 10 years, Albania has had an average growth rate of -1.5% per year vs -0.86% in Bulgaria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Albania has decreased from 2.99M people to 2.33M (22.1% decline), while Bulgaria has declined from 7.6M to 6.39M (15.9% decline).

Albania vs Bulgaria: population by year and forecast

Albania
Factual

Projection
Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Albania Bulgaria
2100 1,007,401 3,384,288
2099 1,020,801 3,408,821
2098 1,034,604 3,433,149
2097 1,048,803 3,457,549
2096 1,063,434 3,482,057
2095 1,078,498 3,506,060
2094 1,094,070 3,530,278
2093 1,110,138 3,554,432
2092 1,126,699 3,578,667
2091 1,143,691 3,602,907
2090 1,161,098 3,627,300
2089 1,178,925 3,652,188
2088 1,197,085 3,677,416
2087 1,215,294 3,703,460
2086 1,233,850 3,730,284
2085 1,252,611 3,757,953
2084 1,271,550 3,786,496
2083 1,290,612 3,815,548
2082 1,309,713 3,845,662
2081 1,328,652 3,876,344
2080 1,347,569 3,908,874
2079 1,366,124 3,942,344
2078 1,384,697 3,976,345
2077 1,403,421 4,011,440
2076 1,421,800 4,047,182
2075 1,440,364 4,083,977
2074 1,459,118 4,122,447
2073 1,477,286 4,161,511
2072 1,495,509 4,201,158
2071 1,513,666 4,241,639
2070 1,531,671 4,283,145
2069 1,549,614 4,325,083
2068 1,567,665 4,367,606
2067 1,585,847 4,411,116
2066 1,603,642 4,455,358
2065 1,621,885 4,500,141
2064 1,640,153 4,545,243
2063 1,658,561 4,590,439
2062 1,676,857 4,635,634
2061 1,695,153 4,681,315
2060 1,713,670 4,727,089
2059 1,732,288 4,772,667
2058 1,750,766 4,817,532
2057 1,769,493 4,862,597
2056 1,788,106 4,907,646
2055 1,807,040 4,953,105
2054 1,826,070 4,998,650
2053 1,845,139 5,044,397
2052 1,864,095 5,089,817
2051 1,882,592 5,135,505
2050 1,901,517 5,181,635
2049 1,920,402 5,228,058
2048 1,939,175 5,274,692
2047 1,957,603 5,322,212
2046 1,976,486 5,369,645
2045 1,995,320 5,417,381
2044 2,013,616 5,465,818
2043 2,032,321 5,514,902
2042 2,050,944 5,564,573
2041 2,069,916 5,615,489
2040 2,088,692 5,667,076
2039 2,107,936 5,719,506
2038 2,126,229 5,771,452
2037 2,144,493 5,824,628
2036 2,162,466 5,877,980
2035 2,179,783 5,930,517
2034 2,197,495 5,983,205
2033 2,214,803 6,036,049
2032 2,231,467 6,088,107
2031 2,248,104 6,140,619
2030 2,265,270 6,193,318
2029 2,281,932 6,244,785
2028 2,298,632 6,294,981
2027 2,314,980 6,343,732
2026 2,332,078 6,390,149
2025 2,349,580 6,433,302
2024 2,377,128 6,441,421
2023 2,411,658 6,446,596
2022 2,451,636 6,465,097
2021 2,489,762 6,507,301
2020 2,528,480 6,550,696
2019 2,567,801 6,616,726
2018 2,607,733 6,710,798
2017 2,648,285 6,803,468
2016 2,689,469 6,894,139
2015 2,731,293 6,984,225
2014 2,773,767 7,073,572
2013 2,816,902 7,160,005
2012 2,860,708 7,305,888
2011 2,905,195 7,348,328
2010 2,913,021 7,395,599
2009 2,927,519 7,444,443
2008 2,947,314 7,492,561
2007 2,970,017 7,545,338
2006 2,992,547 7,601,022
2005 3,011,487 7,658,972
2004 3,026,939 7,716,860
2003 3,039,616 7,775,327
2002 3,051,010 7,837,161
2001 3,060,173 8,009,142
2000 3,089,027 8,170,172
1999 3,108,778 8,210,624
1998 3,128,530 8,256,786
1997 3,148,281 8,312,068
1996 3,168,033 8,362,826
1995 3,187,784 8,406,067
1994 3,207,536 8,443,591
1993 3,227,287 8,472,313
1992 3,247,039 8,540,164
1991 3,266,790 8,632,367
1990 3,286,542 8,718,289
1989 3,227,943 8,876,972
1988 3,142,336 8,981,446
1987 3,083,605 8,971,359
1986 3,022,635 8,958,171
1985 2,964,762 8,960,547
1984 2,904,429 8,960,679
1983 2,843,960 8,939,738
1982 2,784,278 8,917,457
1981 2,726,056 8,891,117
1980 2,671,997 8,861,535
1979 2,617,832 8,825,940
1978 2,566,266 8,814,032
1977 2,513,546 8,804,183
1976 2,458,526 8,758,599
1975 2,404,831 8,720,742
1974 2,350,124 8,678,745
1973 2,296,752 8,620,967
1972 2,243,126 8,576,200
1971 2,187,853 8,536,395
1970 2,135,479 8,489,574
1969 2,081,695 8,434,172
1968 2,022,272 8,369,603
1967 1,965,598 8,310,226
1966 1,914,573 8,258,057
1965 1,864,791 8,204,168
1964 1,814,135 8,144,340
1963 1,762,621 8,078,145
1962 1,711,319 8,012,946
1961 1,659,800 7,943,118
1960 1,608,800 7,867,374

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/albania/bulgaria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Albania decreased by 303,078 people (a 10.1% decline), while Bulgaria lost 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Albania lost 357,391 people (a 13.3% decline), while Bulgaria's population decreased by 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline).

Albania was ranked 133rd most populous country in 2006 and is 144th in 2026. Bulgaria was ranked 95th in 2006 and ranked 112th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Albania's population will shrink by 18.5% to 1,901,517 people with a rank change from 144th to 148th. The population of Bulgaria will decrease by 18.9% to 5,181,635 people and rank change from 112th to 128th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 39% of the population in Albania and 36.7% in Bulgaria.

Population growth rate by year

Albania
Factual

Projection
Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Albania Bulgaria
2100 -1.31% -0.72%
2099 -1.33% -0.71%
2098 -1.35% -0.71%
2097 -1.38% -0.7%
2096 -1.4% -0.68%
2095 -1.42% -0.69%
2094 -1.45% -0.68%
2093 -1.47% -0.68%
2092 -1.49% -0.67%
2091 -1.5% -0.67%
2090 -1.51% -0.68%
2089 -1.52% -0.69%
2088 -1.5% -0.7%
2087 -1.5% -0.72%
2086 -1.5% -0.74%
2085 -1.49% -0.75%
2084 -1.48% -0.76%
2083 -1.46% -0.78%
2082 -1.43% -0.79%
2081 -1.4% -0.83%
2080 -1.36% -0.85%
2079 -1.34% -0.86%
2078 -1.33% -0.87%
2077 -1.29% -0.88%
2076 -1.29% -0.9%
2075 -1.29% -0.93%
2074 -1.23% -0.94%
2073 -1.22% -0.94%
2072 -1.2% -0.95%
2071 -1.18% -0.97%
2070 -1.16% -0.97%
2069 -1.15% -0.97%
2068 -1.15% -0.99%
2067 -1.11% -0.99%
2066 -1.12% -1%
2065 -1.11% -0.99%
2064 -1.11% -0.98%
2063 -1.09% -0.97%
2062 -1.08% -0.98%
2061 -1.08% -0.97%
2060 -1.07% -0.95%
2059 -1.06% -0.93%
2058 -1.06% -0.93%
2057 -1.04% -0.92%
2056 -1.05% -0.92%
2055 -1.04% -0.91%
2054 -1.03% -0.91%
2053 -1.02% -0.89%
2052 -0.98% -0.89%
2051 -1% -0.89%
2050 -0.98% -0.89%
2049 -0.97% -0.88%
2048 -0.94% -0.89%
2047 -0.96% -0.88%
2046 -0.94% -0.88%
2045 -0.91% -0.89%
2044 -0.92% -0.89%
2043 -0.91% -0.89%
2042 -0.92% -0.91%
2041 -0.9% -0.91%
2040 -0.91% -0.92%
2039 -0.86% -0.9%
2038 -0.85% -0.91%
2037 -0.83% -0.91%
2036 -0.79% -0.89%
2035 -0.81% -0.88%
2034 -0.78% -0.88%
2033 -0.75% -0.86%
2032 -0.74% -0.86%
2031 -0.76% -0.85%
2030 -0.73% -0.82%
2029 -0.73% -0.8%
2028 -0.71% -0.77%
2027 -0.73% -0.73%
2026 -0.74% -0.67%
2025 -1.16% -0.13%
2024 -1.43% -0.08%
2023 -1.63% -0.29%
2022 -1.53% -0.65%
2021 -1.53% -0.66%
2020 -1.53% -1%
2019 -1.53% -1.4%
2018 -1.53% -1.36%
2017 -1.53% -1.32%
2016 -1.53% -1.29%
2015 -1.53% -1.26%
2014 -1.53% -1.21%
2013 -1.53% -2%
2012 -1.53% -0.58%
2011 -0.27% -0.64%
2010 -0.5% -0.66%
2009 -0.67% -0.64%
2008 -0.76% -0.7%
2007 -0.75% -0.73%
2006 -0.63% -0.76%
2005 -0.51% -0.75%
2004 -0.42% -0.75%
2003 -0.37% -0.79%
2002 -0.3% -2.15%
2001 -0.93% -1.97%
2000 -0.64% -0.49%
1999 -0.63% -0.56%
1998 -0.63% -0.67%
1997 -0.62% -0.61%
1996 -0.62% -0.51%
1995 -0.62% -0.44%
1994 -0.61% -0.34%
1993 -0.61% -0.79%
1992 -0.6% -1.07%
1991 -0.6% -0.99%
1990 1.82% -1.79%
1989 2.72% -1.16%
1988 1.9% 0.11%
1987 2.02% 0.15%
1986 1.95% -0.03%
1985 2.08% -0.001%
1984 2.13% 0.23%
1983 2.14% 0.25%
1982 2.14% 0.3%
1981 2.02% 0.33%
1980 2.07% 0.4%
1979 2.01% 0.14%
1978 2.1% 0.11%
1977 2.24% 0.52%
1976 2.23% 0.43%
1975 2.33% 0.48%
1974 2.32% 0.67%
1973 2.39% 0.52%
1972 2.53% 0.47%
1971 2.45% 0.55%
1970 2.58% 0.66%
1969 2.94% 0.77%
1968 2.88% 0.71%
1967 2.67% 0.63%
1966 2.67% 0.66%
1965 2.79% 0.73%
1964 2.92% 0.82%
1963 3% 0.81%
1962 3.1% 0.88%
1961 3.17% 0.96%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/albania/bulgaria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Albania declined by 1.16%, while Bulgaria's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Albania Bulgaria
Current population
2332078
6390149
Population rank 144/197 112/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.08%
One net population change
19.1 minutes
1.08 hours
One birth every
21.8 minutes
9.83 minutes
One death every
26.1 minutes
5.23 minutes
Daily growth/decline -75 -22
Annual growth/decline -27,548 -8,119
Annual growth/decline rate -1.16% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 194/197 168/197
One migration net change every
21.8 minutes
2.97 hours
Annual migration change -24,230 -2,961
Net migration rank 156/196 106/196
Foreign-born residents 46,377 299,100
Foreign-born residents rank 153/195 98/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.7% 4.4%
Foreign-born share rank 138/195 99/195

Natural population change vs migration

Albania
Natural

Migration
Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Albania Bulgaria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -24,230 - -2,961
2024 3,979 -24,472 -47,023 524
2023 4,612 -25,357 -43,837 5,173
2022 3,913 -16,426 -62,065 26,498
2021 623 -32,848 -90,452 11,756
2020 3,682 -16,680 -65,507 30,167
2019 8,432 -23,094 -46,317 -2,156
2018 9,187 -15,032 -46,304 -3,873
2017 10,707 -14,901 -45,583 -6,109
2016 12,332 -9,347 -42,744 -9,482
2015 14,164 -20,500 -44,699 -4,227
2014 16,185 -21,706 -41,027 -2,180
2013 17,234 -20,681 -37,948 -1,324
2012 17,565 -19,845 -40,183 -26,334
2011 17,564 -18,630 -37,477 -23,360
2010 18,404 -51,907 -34,759 -21,668
2009 19,336 -51,657 -26,800 -19,060
2008 19,526 -50,619 -32,967 -17,595
2007 20,286 -49,770 -37,727 -16,366
2006 21,732 -48,882 -39,526 -15,184
2005 24,390 -48,893 -42,124 -14,435
2004 26,989 -48,654 -40,128 -13,604
2003 29,907 -48,517 -44,319 -13,183
2002 30,189 -45,178 -46,240 -12,735
2001 33,573 -48,070 -44,050 -30,726
2000 36,741 -60,531 -41,668 -26,211
1999 40,047 -63,093 -39,411 -23,846
1998 43,884 -66,087 -52,844 -23,262
1997 46,979 -66,188 -58,185 -22,963
1996 52,745 -68,076 -45,159 -21,520
1995 56,784 -69,785 -42,030 -22,020
1994 59,086 -70,165 -32,086 -20,984
1993 60,602 -68,445 -24,569 -19,973
1992 63,376 -66,538 -18,789 -120,552
1991 65,639 -63,689 -14,675 -119,356
1990 67,355 -60,173 -3,487 -116,817
1989 66,351 -38,835 5,326 -114,705
1988 64,616 658 9,879 215
1987 63,334 -3,250 8,971 357
1986 61,925 -2,309 16,125 1,104
1985 60,798 -183 11,649 -19,230
1984 59,396 64 20,610 -1,032
1983 57,647 66 21,455 -1,872
1982 56,443 -225 24,077 -1,860
1981 54,595 -374 29,341 -1,830
1980 53,803 -601 30,129 -2,045
1979 54,139 -1,871 40,599 -872
1978 55,463 3,230 44,070 -62,769
1977 56,319 -1,417 47,543 -11,955
1976 56,428 -1,684 56,055 -2,522
1975 56,920 -2,610 54,941 -38,071
1974 56,133 -1,880 64,223 -1,402
1973 55,439 -1,419 57,760 -5,409
1972 54,966 -1,588 47,169 -11,296
1971 53,797 -911 52,925 -7,654
1970 52,293 92 61,125 -11,315
1969 51,407 2,665 63,256 -3,204
1968 49,258 10,490 69,468 -132
1967 46,494 12,252 49,861 -420
1966 44,507 11,858 54,504 -144
1965 43,953 9,617 58,249 -1,406
1964 44,205 6,604 66,783 505
1963 44,040 4,091 66,241 500
1962 43,124 2,325 64,104 499
1961 41,802 829 75,460 378
1960 40,436 13,734 76,314 -1,112

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/albania/bulgaria | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 26.5% of the population change in Albania is from natural causes (a gain of 71,631 people) and 73.5% is from migration (a loss of 198,657 people). In Bulgaria 91.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 534,531 people) and 8.28% is from migration (a gain of 48,271 people).

As of 2024, 46,377 residents or 1.7% of the population were not native-born in Albania, compared to 299,100 people or 4.4% in Bulgaria.

Biggest cities by population

Albania
City Population
Tirana 389K
Durres 102K
Elbasan 66.8K
Vlore 66.3K
Kamez 61.7K
Shkoder 61.6K
Fier 52.9K
Korce 43.3K
Berat 40.7K
Sarande 22.6K
Bulgaria
City Population
Sofia 1.21M
Plovdiv 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/albania/bulgaria | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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