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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 1,406,585,000 people in China in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 1,403,335,670 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 219.6 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 -0.86% per year vs +0.23% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (7.04% growth).

Bulgaria vs China: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria China
2100 3,384,288 633,662,382
2099 3,408,821 644,307,192
2098 3,433,149 655,044,881
2097 3,457,549 665,876,462
2096 3,482,057 676,803,171
2095 3,506,060 687,828,883
2094 3,530,278 698,966,872
2093 3,554,432 710,235,681
2092 3,578,667 721,640,723
2091 3,602,907 733,187,178
2090 3,627,300 744,903,105
2089 3,652,188 756,812,472
2088 3,677,416 768,893,004
2087 3,703,460 781,128,909
2086 3,730,284 793,508,970
2085 3,757,953 806,043,039
2084 3,786,496 818,709,832
2083 3,815,548 831,420,518
2082 3,845,662 844,177,036
2081 3,876,344 856,996,835
2080 3,908,874 869,821,040
2079 3,942,344 882,622,985
2078 3,976,345 895,372,147
2077 4,011,440 908,082,676
2076 4,047,182 920,776,984
2075 4,083,977 933,459,600
2074 4,122,447 946,141,456
2073 4,161,511 958,870,128
2072 4,201,158 971,639,931
2071 4,241,639 984,469,009
2070 4,283,145 997,391,342
2069 4,325,083 1,010,450,818
2068 4,367,606 1,023,633,867
2067 4,411,116 1,036,979,285
2066 4,455,358 1,050,453,924
2065 4,500,141 1,064,051,499
2064 4,545,243 1,077,787,979
2063 4,590,439 1,091,571,021
2062 4,635,634 1,105,429,748
2061 4,681,315 1,119,286,514
2060 4,727,089 1,133,115,260
2059 4,772,667 1,146,818,251
2058 4,817,532 1,160,340,554
2057 4,862,597 1,173,596,480
2056 4,907,646 1,186,578,041
2055 4,953,105 1,199,197,172
2054 4,998,650 1,211,403,028
2053 5,044,397 1,223,160,257
2052 5,089,817 1,234,474,716
2051 5,135,505 1,245,255,938
2050 5,181,635 1,255,501,171
2049 5,228,058 1,265,281,319
2048 5,274,692 1,274,572,888
2047 5,322,212 1,283,393,445
2046 5,369,645 1,291,830,414
2045 5,417,381 1,299,855,379
2044 5,465,818 1,307,510,531
2043 5,514,902 1,314,885,869
2042 5,564,573 1,322,032,311
2041 5,615,489 1,328,936,491
2040 5,667,076 1,335,577,799
2039 5,719,506 1,341,989,157
2038 5,771,452 1,348,134,255
2037 5,824,628 1,354,107,817
2036 5,877,980 1,359,866,705
2035 5,930,517 1,365,387,904
2034 5,983,205 1,370,679,807
2033 6,036,049 1,375,744,986
2032 6,088,107 1,380,528,766
2031 6,140,619 1,385,048,521
2030 6,193,318 1,389,269,809
2029 6,244,785 1,393,241,425
2028 6,294,981 1,396,917,178
2027 6,343,732 1,400,271,033
2026 6,390,149 1,403,335,670
2025 6,433,302 1,406,585,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while China's population increased by 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 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 -0.13% -0.17%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while China's population declined by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria China
Current population
6390149
1403335670
Population rank 112/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 16.9%
One net population change
1.08 hours
13.2 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
3.31 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
2.88 seconds
Daily growth/decline -22 -6,548
Annual growth/decline -8,119 -2,390,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.17%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 174/197
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 -47,023 524 -1,394,886 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/china | 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 China 90.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/china | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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