The current population of Bulgaria is 6,359,449 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 6,441,421 in 2024.
- Since 2006, population has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (-16.3% decline in 20 years).
- Bulgaria is ranked 112/197 by population and was ranked 95th in 2006.
- Bulgaria's population peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and has been in decline since.
- For the last 20 years, Bulgaria has had an average decline rate of -0.82% per year.
- Bulgaria accounts for 0.08% of the world's population.
- The UN estimates that Bulgaria's population is going to decline by -18.9% to 5.16M people by 2050.
Bulgaria population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 3,368,029 | -0.72% |
| 2099 | 3,392,444 | -0.71% |
| 2098 | 3,416,655 | -0.71% |
| 2097 | 3,440,938 | -0.7% |
| 2096 | 3,465,328 | -0.68% |
| 2095 | 3,489,216 | -0.69% |
| 2094 | 3,513,318 | -0.68% |
| 2093 | 3,537,356 | -0.68% |
| 2092 | 3,561,475 | -0.67% |
| 2091 | 3,585,597 | -0.67% |
| 2090 | 3,609,873 | -0.68% |
| 2089 | 3,634,642 | -0.69% |
| 2088 | 3,659,749 | -0.7% |
| 2087 | 3,685,668 | -0.72% |
| 2086 | 3,712,363 | -0.74% |
| 2085 | 3,739,898 | -0.75% |
| 2084 | 3,768,305 | -0.76% |
| 2083 | 3,797,217 | -0.78% |
| 2082 | 3,827,186 | -0.79% |
| 2081 | 3,857,721 | -0.83% |
| 2080 | 3,890,095 | -0.85% |
| 2079 | 3,923,403 | -0.86% |
| 2078 | 3,957,241 | -0.87% |
| 2077 | 3,992,168 | -0.88% |
| 2076 | 4,027,738 | -0.9% |
| 2075 | 4,064,356 | -0.93% |
| 2074 | 4,102,642 | -0.94% |
| 2073 | 4,141,518 | -0.94% |
| 2072 | 4,180,975 | -0.95% |
| 2071 | 4,221,261 | -0.97% |
| 2070 | 4,262,568 | -0.97% |
| 2069 | 4,304,304 | -0.97% |
| 2068 | 4,346,623 | -0.99% |
| 2067 | 4,389,924 | -0.99% |
| 2066 | 4,433,953 | -1% |
| 2065 | 4,478,521 | -0.99% |
| 2064 | 4,523,406 | -0.98% |
| 2063 | 4,568,385 | -0.97% |
| 2062 | 4,613,363 | -0.98% |
| 2061 | 4,658,825 | -0.97% |
| 2060 | 4,704,379 | -0.95% |
| 2059 | 4,749,738 | -0.93% |
| 2058 | 4,794,388 | -0.93% |
| 2057 | 4,839,236 | -0.92% |
| 2056 | 4,884,068 | -0.92% |
| 2055 | 4,929,309 | -0.91% |
| 2054 | 4,974,635 | -0.91% |
| 2053 | 5,020,162 | -0.89% |
| 2052 | 5,065,364 | -0.89% |
| 2051 | 5,110,833 | -0.89% |
| 2050 | 5,156,741 | -0.89% |
| 2049 | 5,202,941 | -0.88% |
| 2048 | 5,249,351 | -0.89% |
| 2047 | 5,296,642 | -0.88% |
| 2046 | 5,343,848 | -0.88% |
| 2045 | 5,391,354 | -0.89% |
| 2044 | 5,439,559 | -0.89% |
| 2043 | 5,488,407 | -0.89% |
| 2042 | 5,537,839 | -0.91% |
| 2041 | 5,588,510 | -0.91% |
| 2040 | 5,639,850 | -0.92% |
| 2039 | 5,692,028 | -0.9% |
| 2038 | 5,743,725 | -0.91% |
| 2037 | 5,796,645 | -0.91% |
| 2036 | 5,849,741 | -0.89% |
| 2035 | 5,902,025 | -0.88% |
| 2034 | 5,954,460 | -0.88% |
| 2033 | 6,007,050 | -0.86% |
| 2032 | 6,058,858 | -0.86% |
| 2031 | 6,111,118 | -0.85% |
| 2030 | 6,163,564 | -0.82% |
| 2029 | 6,214,784 | -0.8% |
| 2028 | 6,264,738 | -0.77% |
| 2027 | 6,313,255 | -0.73% |
| 2026 | 6,359,449 | -0.67% |
| 2025 | 6,402,394 | -0.61% |
| 2024 | 6,441,421 | -0.08% |
| 2023 | 6,446,596 | -0.29% |
| 2022 | 6,465,097 | -0.65% |
| 2021 | 6,507,301 | -0.66% |
| 2020 | 6,550,696 | -1% |
| 2019 | 6,616,726 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 6,710,798 | -1.36% |
| 2017 | 6,803,468 | -1.32% |
| 2016 | 6,894,139 | -1.29% |
| 2015 | 6,984,225 | -1.26% |
| 2014 | 7,073,572 | -1.21% |
| 2013 | 7,160,005 | -2% |
| 2012 | 7,305,888 | -0.58% |
| 2011 | 7,348,328 | -0.64% |
| 2010 | 7,395,599 | -0.66% |
| 2009 | 7,444,443 | -0.64% |
| 2008 | 7,492,561 | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 7,545,338 | -0.73% |
| 2006 | 7,601,022 | -0.76% |
| 2005 | 7,658,972 | -0.75% |
| 2004 | 7,716,860 | -0.75% |
| 2003 | 7,775,327 | -0.79% |
| 2002 | 7,837,161 | -2.15% |
| 2001 | 8,009,142 | -1.97% |
| 2000 | 8,170,172 | -0.49% |
| 1999 | 8,210,624 | -0.56% |
| 1998 | 8,256,786 | -0.67% |
| 1997 | 8,312,068 | -0.61% |
| 1996 | 8,362,826 | -0.51% |
| 1995 | 8,406,067 | -0.44% |
| 1994 | 8,443,591 | -0.34% |
| 1993 | 8,472,313 | -0.79% |
| 1992 | 8,540,164 | -1.07% |
| 1991 | 8,632,367 | -0.99% |
| 1990 | 8,718,289 | -1.79% |
| 1989 | 8,876,972 | -1.16% |
| 1988 | 8,981,446 | 0.11% |
| 1987 | 8,971,359 | 0.15% |
| 1986 | 8,958,171 | -0.03% |
| 1985 | 8,960,547 | -0.001% |
| 1984 | 8,960,679 | 0.23% |
| 1983 | 8,939,738 | 0.25% |
| 1982 | 8,917,457 | 0.3% |
| 1981 | 8,891,117 | 0.33% |
| 1980 | 8,861,535 | 0.4% |
| 1979 | 8,825,940 | 0.14% |
| 1978 | 8,814,032 | 0.11% |
| 1977 | 8,804,183 | 0.52% |
| 1976 | 8,758,599 | 0.43% |
| 1975 | 8,720,742 | 0.48% |
| 1974 | 8,678,745 | 0.67% |
| 1973 | 8,620,967 | 0.52% |
| 1972 | 8,576,200 | 0.47% |
| 1971 | 8,536,395 | 0.55% |
| 1970 | 8,489,574 | 0.66% |
| 1969 | 8,434,172 | 0.77% |
| 1968 | 8,369,603 | 0.71% |
| 1967 | 8,310,226 | 0.63% |
| 1966 | 8,258,057 | 0.66% |
| 1965 | 8,204,168 | 0.73% |
| 1964 | 8,144,340 | 0.82% |
| 1963 | 8,078,145 | 0.81% |
| 1962 | 8,012,946 | 0.88% |
| 1961 | 7,943,118 | 0.96% |
| 1960 | 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/bulgaria | CC BY 
Bulgaria has a population of 6.36M as of 2026, compared to 6.89M in 2016, 7.6M in 2006, and 8.36M in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to decrease by an average of 0.78% per year. Bulgaria is ranked 190th out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Bulgaria will have 5,343,848 people (-16% decline) with a rank change from 112th to 128th.
By the year 2100, Bulgaria's population is projected to decline by 47% from its current level to 3.37M people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -2,961 |
| 2024 | - | - | 524 |
| 2023 | -38,664 | -43,837 | 5,173 |
| 2022 | -35,567 | -62,065 | 26,498 |
| 2021 | -78,696 | -90,452 | 11,756 |
| 2020 | -35,340 | -65,507 | 30,167 |
| 2019 | -48,473 | -46,317 | -2,156 |
| 2018 | -50,177 | -46,304 | -3,873 |
| 2017 | -51,692 | -45,583 | -6,109 |
| 2016 | -52,226 | -42,744 | -9,482 |
| 2015 | -48,926 | -44,699 | -4,227 |
| 2014 | -43,207 | -41,027 | -2,180 |
| 2013 | -39,272 | -37,948 | -1,324 |
| 2012 | -66,517 | -40,183 | -26,334 |
| 2011 | -60,837 | -37,477 | -23,360 |
| 2010 | -56,427 | -34,759 | -21,668 |
| 2009 | -45,860 | -26,800 | -19,060 |
| 2008 | -50,562 | -32,967 | -17,595 |
| 2007 | -54,093 | -37,727 | -16,366 |
| 2006 | -54,710 | -39,526 | -15,184 |
| 2005 | -56,559 | -42,124 | -14,435 |
| 2004 | -53,732 | -40,128 | -13,604 |
| 2003 | -57,502 | -44,319 | -13,183 |
| 2002 | -58,975 | -46,240 | -12,735 |
| 2001 | -74,776 | -44,050 | -30,726 |
| 2000 | -67,879 | -41,668 | -26,211 |
| 1999 | -63,257 | -39,411 | -23,846 |
| 1998 | -76,106 | -52,844 | -23,262 |
| 1997 | -81,148 | -58,185 | -22,963 |
| 1996 | -66,679 | -45,159 | -21,520 |
| 1995 | -64,050 | -42,030 | -22,020 |
| 1994 | -53,070 | -32,086 | -20,984 |
| 1993 | -44,542 | -24,569 | -19,973 |
| 1992 | -139,341 | -18,789 | -120,552 |
| 1991 | -134,031 | -14,675 | -119,356 |
| 1990 | -120,304 | -3,487 | -116,817 |
| 1989 | -109,379 | 5,326 | -114,705 |
| 1988 | 10,094 | 9,879 | 215 |
| 1987 | 9,328 | 8,971 | 357 |
| 1986 | 17,229 | 16,125 | 1,104 |
| 1985 | -7,581 | 11,649 | -19,230 |
| 1984 | 19,578 | 20,610 | -1,032 |
| 1983 | 19,583 | 21,455 | -1,872 |
| 1982 | 22,217 | 24,077 | -1,860 |
| 1981 | 27,511 | 29,341 | -1,830 |
| 1980 | 28,084 | 30,129 | -2,045 |
| 1979 | 39,727 | 40,599 | -872 |
| 1978 | -18,699 | 44,070 | -62,769 |
| 1977 | 35,588 | 47,543 | -11,955 |
| 1976 | 53,533 | 56,055 | -2,522 |
| 1975 | 16,870 | 54,941 | -38,071 |
| 1974 | 62,821 | 64,223 | -1,402 |
| 1973 | 52,351 | 57,760 | -5,409 |
| 1972 | 35,873 | 47,169 | -11,296 |
| 1971 | 45,271 | 52,925 | -7,654 |
| 1970 | 49,810 | 61,125 | -11,315 |
| 1969 | 60,052 | 63,256 | -3,204 |
| 1968 | 69,336 | 69,468 | -132 |
| 1967 | 49,441 | 49,861 | -420 |
| 1966 | 54,360 | 54,504 | -144 |
| 1965 | 56,843 | 58,249 | -1,406 |
| 1964 | 67,288 | 66,783 | 505 |
| 1963 | 66,741 | 66,241 | 500 |
| 1962 | 64,603 | 64,104 | 499 |
| 1961 | 75,838 | 75,460 | 378 |
| 1960 | 75,202 | 76,314 | -1,112 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 92.1% of the population change in Bulgaria 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, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 76,287 and 1% in 2010.
Bulgaria population clock
Bulgaria
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
6359449
|
112/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.08% | 112/197 |
| One net population change |
1.69 hours
|
178/197 |
| One birth every |
9.16 minutes
|
127/196 |
| One death every |
5.19 minutes
|
81/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | -14 | 178/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | -5,175 | 178/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.08% | 171/197 |
| One migration net change every |
2.97 hours
|
106/196 |
| Annual migration change | -2,961 | 106/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 299,100 | 98/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 4.4% | 99/195 |
Largest cities by population
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Bulgaria population statistics
|
Bulgaria
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 76.1 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 44.1 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 45.5 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.4:51.6 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.81 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 151.7 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/bulgaria | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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