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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Albania was 2,377,128 in 2024 vs 6,441,421 people in Bulgaria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Albania's population is 2,342,753 people compared to 6,359,449 in Bulgaria.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 2.71 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 -1.53% per year vs -0.96% in Bulgaria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Albania has decreased from 2.99M people to 2.34M (21.7% decline), while Bulgaria has declined from 7.6M to 6.36M (16.3% decline).

Albania vs Bulgaria: population by year and forecast

Albania
Factual

Projection
Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Albania Bulgaria
2100 1,012,012 3,368,029
2099 1,025,473 3,392,444
2098 1,039,339 3,416,655
2097 1,053,604 3,440,938
2096 1,068,302 3,465,328
2095 1,083,434 3,489,216
2094 1,099,077 3,513,318
2093 1,115,220 3,537,356
2092 1,131,856 3,561,475
2091 1,148,926 3,585,597
2090 1,166,413 3,609,873
2089 1,184,321 3,634,642
2088 1,202,564 3,659,749
2087 1,220,857 3,685,668
2086 1,239,498 3,712,363
2085 1,258,345 3,739,898
2084 1,277,370 3,768,305
2083 1,296,519 3,797,217
2082 1,315,707 3,827,186
2081 1,334,733 3,857,721
2080 1,353,737 3,890,095
2079 1,372,377 3,923,403
2078 1,391,035 3,957,241
2077 1,409,844 3,992,168
2076 1,428,308 4,027,738
2075 1,446,956 4,064,356
2074 1,465,797 4,102,642
2073 1,484,047 4,141,518
2072 1,502,354 4,180,975
2071 1,520,594 4,221,261
2070 1,538,681 4,262,568
2069 1,556,707 4,304,304
2068 1,574,841 4,346,623
2067 1,593,106 4,389,924
2066 1,610,982 4,433,953
2065 1,629,308 4,478,521
2064 1,647,661 4,523,406
2063 1,666,152 4,568,385
2062 1,684,532 4,613,363
2061 1,702,912 4,658,825
2060 1,721,513 4,704,379
2059 1,740,217 4,749,738
2058 1,758,780 4,794,388
2057 1,777,592 4,839,236
2056 1,796,291 4,884,068
2055 1,815,311 4,929,309
2054 1,834,428 4,974,635
2053 1,853,584 5,020,162
2052 1,872,627 5,065,364
2051 1,891,209 5,110,833
2050 1,910,221 5,156,741
2049 1,929,192 5,202,941
2048 1,948,051 5,249,351
2047 1,966,563 5,296,642
2046 1,985,533 5,343,848
2045 2,004,453 5,391,354
2044 2,022,832 5,439,559
2043 2,041,623 5,488,407
2042 2,060,331 5,537,839
2041 2,079,391 5,588,510
2040 2,098,252 5,639,850
2039 2,117,584 5,692,028
2038 2,135,961 5,743,725
2037 2,154,309 5,796,645
2036 2,172,363 5,849,741
2035 2,189,761 5,902,025
2034 2,207,553 5,954,460
2033 2,224,941 6,007,050
2032 2,241,680 6,058,858
2031 2,258,394 6,111,118
2030 2,275,638 6,163,564
2029 2,292,376 6,214,784
2028 2,309,153 6,264,738
2027 2,325,576 6,313,255
2026 2,342,753 6,359,449
2025 2,360,334 6,402,394
2024 2,377,128 6,441,421
2023 2,414,095 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 346,716 people (a 12.9% decline), while Bulgaria's population decreased by 534,690 people (a 7.76% 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 1,910,221 people with a rank change from 144th to 148th. The population of Bulgaria will decrease by 18.9% to 5,156,741 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 -0.71% -0.61%
2024 -1.53% -0.08%
2023 -1.53% -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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Albania declined by 1.53%, while Bulgaria's population declined by 0.08%.

Live population counters

Albania Bulgaria
Current population
2342753
6359449
Population rank 144/197 112/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.08%
One net population change
14.2 minutes
1.69 hours
One birth every
21.3 minutes
9.16 minutes
One death every
26.1 minutes
5.19 minutes
Daily growth/decline -101 -14
Annual growth/decline -36,967 -5,175
Annual growth/decline rate -1.53% -0.08%
Population growth rate rank 194/197 171/197
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 - -24,472 - 524
2023 4,615 -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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 30% of the population change in Albania is from natural causes (a gain of 83,840 people) and 70% is from migration (a loss of 195,891 people). In Bulgaria 92.1% is from natural causes (a loss of 528,535 people) and 7.94% is from migration (a gain of 45,567 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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