Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 1,408,975,000 people in China in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 1,402,578,808 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 220.6 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while China is the 2nd.
  • The countries together account for 17% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 16.9% for China.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.3% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (6.98% growth).

Bulgaria vs China: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria China
2100 3,368,029 633,320,628
2099 3,392,444 643,959,697
2098 3,416,655 654,691,595
2097 3,440,938 665,517,335
2096 3,465,328 676,438,150
2095 3,489,216 687,457,915
2094 3,513,318 698,589,897
2093 3,537,356 709,852,629
2092 3,561,475 721,251,520
2091 3,585,597 732,791,748
2090 3,609,873 744,501,355
2089 3,634,642 756,404,299
2088 3,659,749 768,478,316
2087 3,685,668 780,707,622
2086 3,712,363 793,081,006
2085 3,739,898 805,608,315
2084 3,768,305 818,268,277
2083 3,797,217 830,972,107
2082 3,827,186 843,721,746
2081 3,857,721 856,534,631
2080 3,890,095 869,351,919
2079 3,923,403 882,146,959
2078 3,957,241 894,889,246
2077 3,992,168 907,592,919
2076 4,027,738 920,280,380
2075 4,064,356 932,956,157
2074 4,102,642 945,631,173
2073 4,141,518 958,352,980
2072 4,180,975 971,115,895
2071 4,221,261 983,938,054
2070 4,262,568 996,853,418
2069 4,304,304 1,009,905,851
2068 4,346,623 1,023,081,790
2067 4,389,924 1,036,420,010
2066 4,433,953 1,049,887,382
2065 4,478,521 1,063,477,623
2064 4,523,406 1,077,206,695
2063 4,568,385 1,090,982,303
2062 4,613,363 1,104,833,556
2061 4,658,825 1,118,682,849
2060 4,704,379 1,132,504,136
2059 4,749,738 1,146,199,736
2058 4,794,388 1,159,714,746
2057 4,839,236 1,172,963,523
2056 4,884,068 1,185,938,083
2055 4,929,309 1,198,550,408
2054 4,974,635 1,210,749,681
2053 5,020,162 1,222,500,569
2052 5,065,364 1,233,808,926
2051 5,110,833 1,244,584,333
2050 5,156,741 1,254,824,040
2049 5,202,941 1,264,598,914
2048 5,249,351 1,273,885,471
2047 5,296,642 1,282,701,271
2046 5,343,848 1,291,133,690
2045 5,391,354 1,299,154,327
2044 5,439,559 1,306,805,350
2043 5,488,407 1,314,176,710
2042 5,537,839 1,321,319,298
2041 5,588,510 1,328,219,755
2040 5,639,850 1,334,857,481
2039 5,692,028 1,341,265,381
2038 5,743,725 1,347,407,165
2037 5,796,645 1,353,377,505
2036 5,849,741 1,359,133,287
2035 5,902,025 1,364,651,508
2034 5,954,460 1,369,940,557
2033 6,007,050 1,375,003,005
2032 6,058,858 1,379,784,204
2031 6,111,118 1,384,301,522
2030 6,163,564 1,388,520,533
2029 6,214,784 1,392,490,007
2028 6,264,738 1,396,163,778
2027 6,313,255 1,399,515,824
2026 6,359,449 1,402,578,808
2025 6,402,394 1,405,826,385
2024 6,441,421 1,408,975,000
2023 6,446,596 1,410,710,000
2022 6,465,097 1,412,175,000
2021 6,507,301 1,412,360,000
2020 6,550,696 1,411,100,000
2019 6,616,726 1,407,745,000
2018 6,710,798 1,402,760,000
2017 6,803,468 1,396,215,000
2016 6,894,139 1,387,790,000
2015 6,984,225 1,379,860,000
2014 7,073,572 1,371,860,000
2013 7,160,005 1,363,240,000
2012 7,305,888 1,354,190,000
2011 7,348,328 1,345,035,000
2010 7,395,599 1,337,705,000
2009 7,444,443 1,331,260,000
2008 7,492,561 1,324,655,000
2007 7,545,338 1,317,885,000
2006 7,601,022 1,311,020,000
2005 7,658,972 1,303,720,000
2004 7,716,860 1,296,075,000
2003 7,775,327 1,288,400,000
2002 7,837,161 1,280,400,000
2001 8,009,142 1,271,850,000
2000 8,170,172 1,262,645,000
1999 8,210,624 1,252,735,000
1998 8,256,786 1,241,935,000
1997 8,312,068 1,230,075,000
1996 8,362,826 1,217,550,000
1995 8,406,067 1,204,855,000
1994 8,443,591 1,191,835,000
1993 8,472,313 1,178,440,000
1992 8,540,164 1,164,970,000
1991 8,632,367 1,150,780,000
1990 8,718,289 1,135,185,000
1989 8,876,972 1,118,650,000
1988 8,981,446 1,101,630,000
1987 8,971,359 1,084,035,000
1986 8,958,171 1,066,790,000
1985 8,960,547 1,051,040,000
1984 8,960,679 1,036,825,000
1983 8,939,738 1,023,310,000
1982 8,917,457 1,008,630,000
1981 8,891,117 993,885,000
1980 8,861,535 981,235,000
1979 8,825,940 969,005,000
1978 8,814,032 956,165,000
1977 8,804,183 943,455,000
1976 8,758,599 930,685,000
1975 8,720,742 916,395,000
1974 8,678,745 900,350,000
1973 8,620,967 881,940,000
1972 8,576,200 862,030,000
1971 8,536,395 841,105,000
1970 8,489,574 818,315,000
1969 8,434,172 796,025,000
1968 8,369,603 774,510,000
1967 8,310,226 754,550,000
1966 8,258,057 735,400,000
1965 8,204,168 715,185,000
1964 8,144,340 698,355,000
1963 8,078,145 682,335,000
1962 8,012,946 665,770,000
1961 7,943,118 660,330,000
1960 7,867,374 667,070,000

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/china | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while China gained 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while China's population increased by 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. China was ranked 1st in 2006 and ranked 2nd 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 China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 34.4% in China.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria China
2100 -0.72% -1.65%
2099 -0.71% -1.64%
2098 -0.71% -1.63%
2097 -0.7% -1.61%
2096 -0.68% -1.6%
2095 -0.69% -1.59%
2094 -0.68% -1.59%
2093 -0.68% -1.58%
2092 -0.67% -1.57%
2091 -0.67% -1.57%
2090 -0.68% -1.57%
2089 -0.69% -1.57%
2088 -0.7% -1.57%
2087 -0.72% -1.56%
2086 -0.74% -1.56%
2085 -0.75% -1.55%
2084 -0.76% -1.53%
2083 -0.78% -1.51%
2082 -0.79% -1.5%
2081 -0.83% -1.47%
2080 -0.85% -1.45%
2079 -0.86% -1.42%
2078 -0.87% -1.4%
2077 -0.88% -1.38%
2076 -0.9% -1.36%
2075 -0.93% -1.34%
2074 -0.94% -1.33%
2073 -0.94% -1.31%
2072 -0.95% -1.3%
2071 -0.97% -1.3%
2070 -0.97% -1.29%
2069 -0.97% -1.29%
2068 -0.99% -1.29%
2067 -0.99% -1.28%
2066 -1% -1.28%
2065 -0.99% -1.27%
2064 -0.98% -1.26%
2063 -0.97% -1.25%
2062 -0.98% -1.24%
2061 -0.97% -1.22%
2060 -0.95% -1.19%
2059 -0.93% -1.17%
2058 -0.93% -1.13%
2057 -0.92% -1.09%
2056 -0.92% -1.05%
2055 -0.91% -1.01%
2054 -0.91% -0.96%
2053 -0.89% -0.92%
2052 -0.89% -0.87%
2051 -0.89% -0.82%
2050 -0.89% -0.77%
2049 -0.88% -0.73%
2048 -0.89% -0.69%
2047 -0.88% -0.65%
2046 -0.88% -0.62%
2045 -0.89% -0.59%
2044 -0.89% -0.56%
2043 -0.89% -0.54%
2042 -0.91% -0.52%
2041 -0.91% -0.5%
2040 -0.92% -0.48%
2039 -0.9% -0.46%
2038 -0.91% -0.44%
2037 -0.91% -0.42%
2036 -0.89% -0.4%
2035 -0.88% -0.39%
2034 -0.88% -0.37%
2033 -0.86% -0.35%
2032 -0.86% -0.33%
2031 -0.85% -0.3%
2030 -0.82% -0.29%
2029 -0.8% -0.26%
2028 -0.77% -0.24%
2027 -0.73% -0.22%
2026 -0.67% -0.23%
2025 -0.61% -0.22%
2024 -0.08% -0.12%
2023 -0.29% -0.1%
2022 -0.65% -0.01%
2021 -0.66% 0.09%
2020 -1% 0.24%
2019 -1.4% 0.36%
2018 -1.36% 0.47%
2017 -1.32% 0.61%
2016 -1.29% 0.57%
2015 -1.26% 0.58%
2014 -1.21% 0.63%
2013 -2% 0.67%
2012 -0.58% 0.68%
2011 -0.64% 0.55%
2010 -0.66% 0.48%
2009 -0.64% 0.5%
2008 -0.7% 0.51%
2007 -0.73% 0.52%
2006 -0.76% 0.56%
2005 -0.75% 0.59%
2004 -0.75% 0.6%
2003 -0.79% 0.62%
2002 -2.15% 0.67%
2001 -1.97% 0.73%
2000 -0.49% 0.79%
1999 -0.56% 0.87%
1998 -0.67% 0.96%
1997 -0.61% 1.03%
1996 -0.51% 1.05%
1995 -0.44% 1.09%
1994 -0.34% 1.14%
1993 -0.79% 1.16%
1992 -1.07% 1.23%
1991 -0.99% 1.37%
1990 -1.79% 1.48%
1989 -1.16% 1.54%
1988 0.11% 1.62%
1987 0.15% 1.62%
1986 -0.03% 1.5%
1985 -0.001% 1.37%
1984 0.23% 1.32%
1983 0.25% 1.46%
1982 0.3% 1.48%
1981 0.33% 1.29%
1980 0.4% 1.26%
1979 0.14% 1.34%
1978 0.11% 1.35%
1977 0.52% 1.37%
1976 0.43% 1.56%
1975 0.48% 1.78%
1974 0.67% 2.09%
1973 0.52% 2.31%
1972 0.47% 2.49%
1971 0.55% 2.78%
1970 0.66% 2.8%
1969 0.77% 2.78%
1968 0.71% 2.65%
1967 0.63% 2.6%
1966 0.66% 2.83%
1965 0.73% 2.41%
1964 0.82% 2.35%
1963 0.81% 2.49%
1962 0.88% 0.82%
1961 0.96% -1.01%

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/china | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while China's population declined by 0.12%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria China
Current population
6359449
1402578808
Population rank 112/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 16.9%
One net population change
1.69 hours
18.2 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
3.5 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
2.84 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 -4,753
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -1,735,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.12%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 173/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.97 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -268,126
Net migration rank 106/196 189/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,638,718
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 43/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.1%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 192/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
China
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria China
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -268,126
2024 - 524 - -318,992
2023 -43,837 5,173 -2,087,851 -567,724
2022 -62,065 26,498 -847,305 -293,846
2021 -90,452 11,756 480,203 -379,749
2020 -65,507 30,167 2,046,095 -91,577
2019 -46,317 -2,156 4,673,713 -656,091
2018 -46,304 -3,873 5,302,433 -198,206
2017 -45,583 -6,109 7,790,880 -94,625
2016 -42,744 -9,482 9,062,269 -153,056
2015 -44,699 -4,227 6,788,911 -646,941
2014 -41,027 -2,180 9,205,180 -371,108
2013 -37,948 -1,324 8,043,116 -188,951
2012 -40,183 -26,334 10,075,174 -58,864
2011 -37,477 -23,360 8,245,065 -416,189
2010 -34,759 -21,668 6,407,607 -184,144
2009 -26,800 -19,060 6,483,236 -177,135
2008 -32,967 -17,595 6,729,247 -764,370
2007 -37,727 -16,366 6,813,465 -1,042,019
2006 -39,526 -15,184 6,922,185 -759,559
2005 -42,124 -14,435 7,678,911 -103,701
2004 -40,128 -13,604 7,607,960 -770,977
2003 -44,319 -13,183 7,743,284 -613,223
2002 -46,240 -12,735 8,258,580 -761,291
2001 -44,050 -30,726 8,839,358 -176,419
2000 -41,668 -26,211 9,570,849 -62,622
1999 -39,411 -23,846 10,247,372 -96,102
1998 -52,844 -23,262 11,351,286 -40,472
1997 -58,185 -22,963 12,374,554 -279,251
1996 -45,159 -21,520 12,686,872 -250,750
1995 -42,030 -22,020 12,711,220 -365,986
1994 -32,086 -20,984 13,360,470 -723,641
1993 -24,569 -19,973 13,493,138 -373,316
1992 -18,789 -120,552 13,548,601 -142,985
1991 -14,675 -119,356 14,937,124 -544,650
1990 -3,487 -116,817 16,335,313 -11,187
1989 5,326 -114,705 16,824,495 -313,476
1988 9,879 215 17,328,640 -282,194
1987 8,971 357 18,005,821 -169,170
1986 16,125 1,104 16,609,920 -79,190
1985 11,649 -19,230 14,987,830 -60,929
1984 20,610 -1,032 13,561,671 -51,961
1983 21,455 -1,872 13,599,789 -43,756
1982 24,077 -1,860 15,815,318 -36,181
1981 29,341 -1,830 14,461,027 -28,016
1980 30,129 -2,045 11,647,260 -20,129
1979 40,599 -872 11,250,148 -13,704
1978 44,070 -62,769 11,473,980 -9,916
1977 47,543 -11,955 11,378,068 -15,323
1976 56,055 -2,522 11,782,472 -55,109
1975 54,941 -38,071 14,378,237 -115,173
1974 64,223 -1,402 15,738,118 -175,239
1973 57,760 -5,409 18,423,727 -214,997
1972 47,169 -11,296 19,102,585 -215,650
1971 52,925 -7,654 19,622,980 -180,153
1970 61,125 -11,315 21,137,076 -126,510
1969 63,256 -3,204 20,760,332 -72,836
1968 69,468 -132 21,206,083 -37,290
1967 49,861 -420 19,263,662 1,246,654
1966 54,504 -144 19,282,187 4,165
1965 58,249 -1,406 20,296,950 -130,900
1964 66,783 505 19,302,532 -1,250,441
1963 66,241 500 22,742,225 -31,383
1962 64,104 499 17,969,132 -31,305
1961 75,460 378 2,496,047 -25,578
1960 76,314 -1,112 -3,048,510 -16,927

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/china | 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 China 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,638,718 people or 0.1% in China.

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
China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M

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/china | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.