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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 5,330,690 people in the Central African Republic in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 5,753,659 in the Central African Republic.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 1.11 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 118th.
  • 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 -0.96% per year vs +1.27% in the Central African Republic.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while the Central African Republic has grown from 4.38M to 5.75M (31.4% 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 3,368,029 19,066,004
2099 3,392,444 18,985,867
2098 3,416,655 18,901,154
2097 3,440,938 18,815,607
2096 3,465,328 18,724,783
2095 3,489,216 18,626,431
2094 3,513,318 18,526,390
2093 3,537,356 18,425,013
2092 3,561,475 18,316,437
2091 3,585,597 18,205,237
2090 3,609,873 18,087,725
2089 3,634,642 17,972,896
2088 3,659,749 17,848,943
2087 3,685,668 17,721,681
2086 3,712,363 17,585,946
2085 3,739,898 17,451,621
2084 3,768,305 17,310,863
2083 3,797,217 17,164,209
2082 3,827,186 17,014,388
2081 3,857,721 16,864,906
2080 3,890,095 16,708,761
2079 3,923,403 16,556,341
2078 3,957,241 16,396,395
2077 3,992,168 16,228,166
2076 4,027,738 16,055,590
2075 4,064,356 15,881,626
2074 4,102,642 15,710,778
2073 4,141,518 15,530,355
2072 4,180,975 15,350,553
2071 4,221,261 15,162,785
2070 4,262,568 14,968,105
2069 4,304,304 14,772,746
2068 4,346,623 14,575,859
2067 4,389,924 14,373,538
2066 4,433,953 14,170,754
2065 4,478,521 13,967,146
2064 4,523,406 13,761,777
2063 4,568,385 13,548,616
2062 4,613,363 13,336,037
2061 4,658,825 13,123,628
2060 4,704,379 12,906,496
2059 4,749,738 12,688,037
2058 4,794,388 12,467,461
2057 4,839,236 12,245,441
2056 4,884,068 12,023,522
2055 4,929,309 11,801,006
2054 4,974,635 11,578,020
2053 5,020,162 11,354,432
2052 5,065,364 11,131,786
2051 5,110,833 10,910,913
2050 5,156,741 10,689,058
2049 5,202,941 10,471,199
2048 5,249,351 10,252,433
2047 5,296,642 10,037,332
2046 5,343,848 9,822,499
2045 5,391,354 9,608,962
2044 5,439,559 9,397,018
2043 5,488,407 9,188,292
2042 5,537,839 8,982,316
2041 5,588,510 8,777,138
2040 5,639,850 8,570,085
2039 5,692,028 8,360,267
2038 5,743,725 8,151,599
2037 5,796,645 7,944,754
2036 5,849,741 7,736,415
2035 5,902,025 7,527,731
2034 5,954,460 7,316,613
2033 6,007,050 7,106,984
2032 6,058,858 6,898,917
2031 6,111,118 6,691,778
2030 6,163,564 6,488,327
2029 6,214,784 6,287,899
2028 6,264,738 6,086,983
2027 6,313,255 5,892,506
2026 6,359,449 5,702,177
2025 6,402,394 5,514,692
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while the Central African Republic's population increased by 1,039,996 people (a 22.1% 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 still ranked 118th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bulgaria's population will shrink by 18.9% to 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of the Central African Republic will increase by 85.8% to 10,689,058 people and rank change from 118th 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 3.37M 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 -0.61% 3.45%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while the Central African Republic's population grew by 3.46%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria CAR
Current population
6359449
5753659
Population rank 112/197 118/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.07%
One net population change
1.69 hours
2.95 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
2.2 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
10.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +488
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +178,269
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +3.46%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 9/197
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 - 524 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/central-african-republic | 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). In the Central African Republic 66.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,164,312 people) and 33.3% is from migration (a loss of 580,593 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 (1960–2024, 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/central-african-republic | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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