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Population in Bulgaria compared to the Central African Republic: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 5,513,282 people in the Central African Republic in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 5,798,457 in the Central African Republic.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 1.1 times bigger than the Central African Republic's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while the Central African Republic is the 117th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.07% for the Central African Republic.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +1.62% in the Central African Republic.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while the Central African Republic has grown from 4.38M to 5.8M (32.5% growth).

Bulgaria vs Central African Republic: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria CAR
2100 3,384,288 19,061,127
2099 3,408,821 18,981,009
2098 3,433,149 18,896,319
2097 3,457,549 18,810,793
2096 3,482,057 18,719,993
2095 3,506,060 18,621,666
2094 3,530,278 18,521,650
2093 3,554,432 18,420,299
2092 3,578,667 18,311,751
2091 3,602,907 18,200,580
2090 3,627,300 18,083,097
2089 3,652,188 17,968,298
2088 3,677,416 17,844,377
2087 3,703,460 17,717,148
2086 3,730,284 17,581,447
2085 3,757,953 17,447,157
2084 3,786,496 17,306,435
2083 3,815,548 17,159,818
2082 3,845,662 17,010,036
2081 3,876,344 16,860,592
2080 3,908,874 16,704,486
2079 3,942,344 16,552,105
2078 3,976,345 16,392,201
2077 4,011,440 16,224,015
2076 4,047,182 16,051,483
2075 4,083,977 15,877,563
2074 4,122,447 15,706,759
2073 4,161,511 15,526,382
2072 4,201,158 15,346,626
2071 4,241,639 15,158,906
2070 4,283,145 14,964,276
2069 4,325,083 14,768,967
2068 4,367,606 14,572,130
2067 4,411,116 14,369,861
2066 4,455,358 14,167,129
2065 4,500,141 13,963,573
2064 4,545,243 13,758,257
2063 4,590,439 13,545,150
2062 4,635,634 13,332,625
2061 4,681,315 13,120,271
2060 4,727,089 12,903,195
2059 4,772,667 12,684,791
2058 4,817,532 12,464,271
2057 4,862,597 12,242,308
2056 4,907,646 12,020,446
2055 4,953,105 11,797,986
2054 4,998,650 11,575,058
2053 5,044,397 11,351,527
2052 5,089,817 11,128,939
2051 5,135,505 10,908,122
2050 5,181,635 10,686,324
2049 5,228,058 10,468,520
2048 5,274,692 10,249,810
2047 5,322,212 10,034,764
2046 5,369,645 9,819,986
2045 5,417,381 9,606,504
2044 5,465,818 9,394,614
2043 5,514,902 9,185,941
2042 5,564,573 8,980,018
2041 5,615,489 8,774,893
2040 5,667,076 8,567,893
2039 5,719,506 8,358,128
2038 5,771,452 8,149,514
2037 5,824,628 7,942,721
2036 5,877,980 7,734,436
2035 5,930,517 7,525,805
2034 5,983,205 7,314,741
2033 6,036,049 7,105,166
2032 6,088,107 6,897,152
2031 6,140,619 6,690,066
2030 6,193,318 6,486,667
2029 6,244,785 6,286,290
2028 6,294,981 6,085,426
2027 6,343,732 5,890,999
2026 6,390,149 5,700,718
2025 6,433,302 5,513,282
2024 6,441,421 5,330,690
2023 6,446,596 5,152,421
2022 6,465,097 5,098,039
2021 6,507,301 5,112,100
2020 6,550,696 5,026,628
2019 6,616,726 4,944,703
2018 6,710,798 4,878,657
2017 6,803,468 4,793,511
2016 6,894,139 4,713,663
2015 6,984,225 4,629,320
2014 7,073,572 4,623,182
2013 7,160,005 4,642,419
2012 7,305,888 4,610,848
2011 7,348,328 4,565,021
2010 7,395,599 4,492,995
2009 7,444,443 4,529,047
2008 7,492,561 4,558,984
2007 7,545,338 4,462,770
2006 7,601,022 4,377,579
2005 7,658,972 4,288,810
2004 7,716,860 4,192,826
2003 7,775,327 4,103,086
2002 7,837,161 4,006,077
2001 8,009,142 3,919,487
2000 8,170,172 3,833,416
1999 8,210,624 3,729,450
1998 8,256,786 3,628,827
1997 8,312,068 3,531,700
1996 8,362,826 3,435,965
1995 8,406,067 3,348,052
1994 8,443,591 3,257,954
1993 8,472,313 3,157,839
1992 8,540,164 3,058,831
1991 8,632,367 2,963,191
1990 8,718,289 2,871,910
1989 8,876,972 2,783,970
1988 8,981,446 2,713,965
1987 8,971,359 2,669,155
1986 8,958,171 2,634,258
1985 8,960,547 2,600,932
1984 8,960,679 2,568,610
1983 8,939,738 2,537,399
1982 8,917,457 2,507,375
1981 8,891,117 2,478,402
1980 8,861,535 2,450,535
1979 8,825,940 2,423,794
1978 8,814,032 2,397,961
1977 8,804,183 2,372,930
1976 8,758,599 2,348,566
1975 8,720,742 2,313,916
1974 8,678,745 2,269,338
1973 8,620,967 2,226,008
1972 8,576,200 2,183,769
1971 8,536,395 2,141,450
1970 8,489,574 2,097,505
1969 8,434,172 2,051,515
1968 8,369,603 2,005,100
1967 8,310,226 1,960,444
1966 8,258,057 1,918,082
1965 8,204,168 1,877,854
1964 8,144,340 1,839,583
1963 8,078,145 1,803,063
1962 8,012,946 1,768,115
1961 7,943,118 1,734,580
1960 7,867,374 1,702,346

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/bulgaria/central-african-republic | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while the Central African Republic gained 336,084 people (a 7.68% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while the Central African Republic's population increased by 1,084,794 people (a 23% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. The Central African Republic was ranked 118th in 2006 and ranked 117th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bulgaria's population will shrink by 18.9% to 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of the Central African Republic will increase by 84.3% to 10,686,324 people and rank change from 117th to 96th.

The Central African Republic is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 19.1M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.38M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Central African Republic
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria CAR
2100 -0.72% 0.42%
2099 -0.71% 0.45%
2098 -0.71% 0.45%
2097 -0.7% 0.49%
2096 -0.68% 0.53%
2095 -0.69% 0.54%
2094 -0.68% 0.55%
2093 -0.68% 0.59%
2092 -0.67% 0.61%
2091 -0.67% 0.65%
2090 -0.68% 0.64%
2089 -0.69% 0.69%
2088 -0.7% 0.72%
2087 -0.72% 0.77%
2086 -0.74% 0.77%
2085 -0.75% 0.81%
2084 -0.76% 0.85%
2083 -0.78% 0.88%
2082 -0.79% 0.89%
2081 -0.83% 0.93%
2080 -0.85% 0.92%
2079 -0.86% 0.98%
2078 -0.87% 1.04%
2077 -0.88% 1.07%
2076 -0.9% 1.1%
2075 -0.93% 1.09%
2074 -0.94% 1.16%
2073 -0.94% 1.17%
2072 -0.95% 1.24%
2071 -0.97% 1.3%
2070 -0.97% 1.32%
2069 -0.97% 1.35%
2068 -0.99% 1.41%
2067 -0.99% 1.43%
2066 -1% 1.46%
2065 -0.99% 1.49%
2064 -0.98% 1.57%
2063 -0.97% 1.59%
2062 -0.98% 1.62%
2061 -0.97% 1.68%
2060 -0.95% 1.72%
2059 -0.93% 1.77%
2058 -0.93% 1.81%
2057 -0.92% 1.85%
2056 -0.92% 1.89%
2055 -0.91% 1.93%
2054 -0.91% 1.97%
2053 -0.89% 2%
2052 -0.89% 2.02%
2051 -0.89% 2.08%
2050 -0.89% 2.08%
2049 -0.88% 2.13%
2048 -0.89% 2.14%
2047 -0.88% 2.19%
2046 -0.88% 2.22%
2045 -0.89% 2.26%
2044 -0.89% 2.27%
2043 -0.89% 2.29%
2042 -0.91% 2.34%
2041 -0.91% 2.42%
2040 -0.92% 2.51%
2039 -0.9% 2.56%
2038 -0.91% 2.6%
2037 -0.91% 2.69%
2036 -0.89% 2.77%
2035 -0.88% 2.89%
2034 -0.88% 2.95%
2033 -0.86% 3.02%
2032 -0.86% 3.1%
2031 -0.85% 3.14%
2030 -0.82% 3.19%
2029 -0.8% 3.3%
2028 -0.77% 3.3%
2027 -0.73% 3.34%
2026 -0.67% 3.4%
2025 -0.13% 3.43%
2024 -0.08% 3.46%
2023 -0.29% 1.07%
2022 -0.65% -0.28%
2021 -0.66% 1.7%
2020 -1% 1.66%
2019 -1.4% 1.35%
2018 -1.36% 1.78%
2017 -1.32% 1.69%
2016 -1.29% 1.82%
2015 -1.26% 0.13%
2014 -1.21% -0.41%
2013 -2% 0.68%
2012 -0.58% 1%
2011 -0.64% 1.6%
2010 -0.66% -0.8%
2009 -0.64% -0.66%
2008 -0.7% 2.16%
2007 -0.73% 1.95%
2006 -0.76% 2.07%
2005 -0.75% 2.29%
2004 -0.75% 2.19%
2003 -0.79% 2.42%
2002 -2.15% 2.21%
2001 -1.97% 2.25%
2000 -0.49% 2.79%
1999 -0.56% 2.77%
1998 -0.67% 2.75%
1997 -0.61% 2.79%
1996 -0.51% 2.63%
1995 -0.44% 2.77%
1994 -0.34% 3.17%
1993 -0.79% 3.24%
1992 -1.07% 3.23%
1991 -0.99% 3.18%
1990 -1.79% 3.16%
1989 -1.16% 2.58%
1988 0.11% 1.68%
1987 0.15% 1.32%
1986 -0.03% 1.28%
1985 -0.001% 1.26%
1984 0.23% 1.23%
1983 0.25% 1.2%
1982 0.3% 1.17%
1981 0.33% 1.14%
1980 0.4% 1.1%
1979 0.14% 1.08%
1978 0.11% 1.05%
1977 0.52% 1.04%
1976 0.43% 1.5%
1975 0.48% 1.96%
1974 0.67% 1.95%
1973 0.52% 1.93%
1972 0.47% 1.98%
1971 0.55% 2.1%
1970 0.66% 2.24%
1969 0.77% 2.31%
1968 0.71% 2.28%
1967 0.63% 2.21%
1966 0.66% 2.14%
1965 0.73% 2.08%
1964 0.82% 2.03%
1963 0.81% 1.98%
1962 0.88% 1.93%
1961 0.96% 1.89%

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/bulgaria/central-african-republic | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while the Central African Republic's population grew by 3.43%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria CAR
Current population
6390149
5798457
Population rank 112/197 117/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.07%
One net population change
1.08 hours
2.89 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
10.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +500
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +182,592
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +3.43%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 7/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
35.9 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -14,693
Net migration rank 106/196 143/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 94,556
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 132/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 1.8%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 135/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Central African Republic
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria CAR
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -14,693
2024 -47,023 524 196,244 -15,357
2023 -43,837 5,173 190,325 -14,682
2022 -62,065 26,498 -49,456 -17,430
2021 -90,452 11,756 124,408 -85,646
2020 -65,507 30,167 156,911 -24,745
2019 -46,317 -2,156 68,523 -36,849
2018 -46,304 -3,873 153,361 -52,954
2017 -45,583 -6,109 128,461 -58,584
2016 -42,744 -9,482 142,419 -52,607
2015 -44,699 -4,227 141,912 -63,045
2014 -41,027 -2,180 107,448 -174,051
2013 -37,948 -1,324 140,489 -112,382
2012 -40,183 -26,334 146,791 -111,764
2011 -37,477 -23,360 142,913 -86,281
2010 -34,759 -21,668 130,539 -43,126
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -130,613 -28,899
2008 -32,967 -17,595 128,627 -28,983
2007 -37,727 -16,366 123,137 -30,352
2006 -39,526 -15,184 118,882 -41,282
2005 -42,124 -14,435 113,534 -13,604
2004 -40,128 -13,604 108,548 -16,510
2003 -44,319 -13,183 105,540 -18,097
2002 -46,240 -12,735 100,588 5,992
2001 -44,050 -30,726 99,598 -33,006
2000 -41,668 -26,211 97,468 8,079
1999 -39,411 -23,846 96,108 6,284
1998 -52,844 -23,262 94,361 4,479
1997 -58,185 -22,963 93,378 2,034
1996 -45,159 -21,520 93,369 2,697
1995 -42,030 -22,020 92,748 -12,986
1994 -32,086 -20,984 90,943 9,496
1993 -24,569 -19,973 89,873 9,930
1992 -18,789 -120,552 88,939 9,269
1991 -14,675 -119,356 88,688 4,381
1990 -3,487 -116,817 87,507 1,995
1989 5,326 -114,705 85,969 409
1988 9,879 215 84,654 -31,016
1987 8,971 357 83,408 -47,428
1986 16,125 1,104 81,149 -47,332
1985 11,649 -19,230 79,266 -46,427
1984 20,610 -1,032 77,395 -45,591
1983 21,455 -1,872 75,399 -44,780
1982 24,077 -1,860 73,330 -43,908
1981 29,341 -1,830 71,391 -42,872
1980 30,129 -2,045 68,759 -41,539
1979 40,599 -872 66,104 -39,850
1978 44,070 -62,769 63,285 -37,874
1977 47,543 -11,955 60,436 -35,782
1976 56,055 -2,522 57,725 -33,645
1975 54,941 -38,071 55,106 -9,895
1974 64,223 -1,402 53,777 -9,838
1973 57,760 -5,409 52,525 -9,800
1972 47,169 -11,296 51,390 -9,634
1971 52,925 -7,654 50,142 -7,259
1970 61,125 -11,315 48,690 -3,693
1969 63,256 -3,204 47,066 -80
1968 69,468 -132 45,377 474
1967 49,861 -420 42,979 474
1966 54,504 -144 40,804 474
1965 58,249 -1,406 38,710 474
1964 66,783 505 36,878 474
1963 66,241 500 35,218 474
1962 64,104 499 33,731 474
1961 75,460 378 32,383 474
1960 76,314 -1,112 31,131 474

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/central-african-republic | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 91.7% of the population change in Bulgaria is from natural causes (a loss of 534,531 people) and 8.28% is from migration (a gain of 48,271 people). In the Central African Republic 74.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,253,108 people) and 25.2% is from migration (a loss of 421,899 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 94,556 people or 1.8% in the Central African Republic.

Biggest cities by population

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
CAR
City Population
Bangui 889K
Berberati 76.9K
Bria 35.2K

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/bulgaria/central-african-republic | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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