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Population in Bulgaria compared to the Congo: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 6,484,437 people in the Congo in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 6,718,789 in the Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The Congo's population is 1.05 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while the Congo is the 109th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.08% for the Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +2.44% in the Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while the Congo has grown from 3.84M to 6.72M (75.1% growth).

Bulgaria vs Congo: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Congo
2100 3,384,288 20,194,267
2099 3,408,821 20,053,234
2098 3,433,149 19,906,909
2097 3,457,549 19,760,110
2096 3,482,057 19,610,521
2095 3,506,060 19,459,493
2094 3,530,278 19,306,835
2093 3,554,432 19,151,289
2092 3,578,667 18,990,577
2091 3,602,907 18,828,222
2090 3,627,300 18,663,146
2089 3,652,188 18,497,842
2088 3,677,416 18,325,571
2087 3,703,460 18,153,731
2086 3,730,284 17,979,773
2085 3,757,953 17,807,843
2084 3,786,496 17,631,386
2083 3,815,548 17,453,221
2082 3,845,662 17,270,773
2081 3,876,344 17,093,270
2080 3,908,874 16,910,570
2079 3,942,344 16,728,955
2078 3,976,345 16,542,829
2077 4,011,440 16,357,926
2076 4,047,182 16,173,005
2075 4,083,977 15,981,904
2074 4,122,447 15,791,626
2073 4,161,511 15,597,321
2072 4,201,158 15,402,110
2071 4,241,639 15,205,567
2070 4,283,145 15,009,147
2069 4,325,083 14,808,250
2068 4,367,606 14,609,790
2067 4,411,116 14,412,802
2066 4,455,358 14,211,022
2065 4,500,141 14,010,661
2064 4,545,243 13,810,933
2063 4,590,439 13,609,626
2062 4,635,634 13,405,080
2061 4,681,315 13,204,362
2060 4,727,089 13,004,957
2059 4,772,667 12,806,162
2058 4,817,532 12,609,233
2057 4,862,597 12,413,395
2056 4,907,646 12,217,406
2055 4,953,105 12,022,740
2054 4,998,650 11,824,813
2053 5,044,397 11,627,983
2052 5,089,817 11,431,875
2051 5,135,505 11,235,188
2050 5,181,635 11,039,311
2049 5,228,058 10,844,973
2048 5,274,692 10,650,230
2047 5,322,212 10,453,401
2046 5,369,645 10,258,550
2045 5,417,381 10,063,886
2044 5,465,818 9,871,213
2043 5,514,902 9,676,000
2042 5,564,573 9,482,485
2041 5,615,489 9,287,235
2040 5,667,076 9,096,577
2039 5,719,506 8,907,177
2038 5,771,452 8,719,250
2037 5,824,628 8,532,935
2036 5,877,980 8,348,719
2035 5,930,517 8,166,676
2034 5,983,205 7,985,679
2033 6,036,049 7,805,748
2032 6,088,107 7,628,440
2031 6,140,619 7,453,476
2030 6,193,318 7,284,111
2029 6,244,785 7,117,929
2028 6,294,981 6,955,268
2027 6,343,732 6,794,778
2026 6,390,149 6,638,532
2025 6,433,302 6,484,437
2024 6,441,421 6,332,961
2023 6,446,596 6,182,885
2022 6,465,097 6,035,104
2021 6,507,301 5,892,183
2020 6,550,696 5,752,791
2019 6,616,726 5,616,661
2018 6,710,798 5,483,118
2017 6,803,468 5,351,011
2016 6,894,139 5,222,536
2015 6,984,225 5,097,581
2014 7,073,572 4,975,880
2013 7,160,005 4,857,099
2012 7,305,888 4,740,450
2011 7,348,328 4,609,724
2010 7,395,599 4,462,290
2009 7,444,443 4,281,219
2008 7,492,561 4,113,517
2007 7,545,338 3,980,430
2006 7,601,022 3,837,409
2005 7,658,972 3,696,393
2004 7,716,860 3,565,554
2003 7,775,327 3,445,753
2002 7,837,161 3,350,771
2001 8,009,142 3,272,537
2000 8,170,172 3,151,345
1999 8,210,624 3,032,874
1998 8,256,786 2,952,061
1997 8,312,068 2,887,862
1996 8,362,826 2,826,785
1995 8,406,067 2,749,461
1994 8,443,591 2,673,144
1993 8,472,313 2,595,124
1992 8,540,164 2,519,465
1991 8,632,367 2,449,229
1990 8,718,289 2,380,560
1989 8,876,972 2,313,558
1988 8,981,446 2,247,653
1987 8,971,359 2,183,473
1986 8,958,171 2,120,602
1985 8,960,547 2,059,311
1984 8,960,679 1,999,528
1983 8,939,738 1,950,321
1982 8,917,457 1,910,430
1981 8,891,117 1,869,759
1980 8,861,535 1,828,985
1979 8,825,940 1,788,524
1978 8,814,032 1,748,089
1977 8,804,183 1,707,568
1976 8,758,599 1,667,225
1975 8,720,742 1,627,032
1974 8,678,745 1,582,301
1973 8,620,967 1,533,680
1972 8,576,200 1,486,468
1971 8,536,395 1,441,039
1970 8,489,574 1,397,638
1969 8,434,172 1,356,182
1968 8,369,603 1,316,519
1967 8,310,226 1,278,691
1966 8,258,057 1,242,534
1965 8,204,168 1,207,880
1964 8,144,340 1,174,816
1963 8,078,145 1,143,263
1962 8,012,946 1,113,175
1961 7,943,118 1,084,389
1960 7,867,374 1,056,732

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/congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while the Congo gained 1,385,127 people (a 36.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while the Congo's population increased by 1,496,253 people (a 28.6% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. The Congo was ranked 125th in 2006 and ranked 109th 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 Congo will increase by 64.3% to 11,039,311 people and rank change from 109th to 95th.

The Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 20.2M 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
Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Congo
2100 -0.72% 0.7%
2099 -0.71% 0.74%
2098 -0.71% 0.74%
2097 -0.7% 0.76%
2096 -0.68% 0.78%
2095 -0.69% 0.79%
2094 -0.68% 0.81%
2093 -0.68% 0.85%
2092 -0.67% 0.86%
2091 -0.67% 0.88%
2090 -0.68% 0.89%
2089 -0.69% 0.94%
2088 -0.7% 0.95%
2087 -0.72% 0.97%
2086 -0.74% 0.97%
2085 -0.75% 1%
2084 -0.76% 1.02%
2083 -0.78% 1.06%
2082 -0.79% 1.04%
2081 -0.83% 1.08%
2080 -0.85% 1.09%
2079 -0.86% 1.13%
2078 -0.87% 1.13%
2077 -0.88% 1.14%
2076 -0.9% 1.2%
2075 -0.93% 1.2%
2074 -0.94% 1.25%
2073 -0.94% 1.27%
2072 -0.95% 1.29%
2071 -0.97% 1.31%
2070 -0.97% 1.36%
2069 -0.97% 1.36%
2068 -0.99% 1.37%
2067 -0.99% 1.42%
2066 -1% 1.43%
2065 -0.99% 1.45%
2064 -0.98% 1.48%
2063 -0.97% 1.53%
2062 -0.98% 1.52%
2061 -0.97% 1.53%
2060 -0.95% 1.55%
2059 -0.93% 1.56%
2058 -0.93% 1.58%
2057 -0.92% 1.6%
2056 -0.92% 1.62%
2055 -0.91% 1.67%
2054 -0.91% 1.69%
2053 -0.89% 1.72%
2052 -0.89% 1.75%
2051 -0.89% 1.77%
2050 -0.89% 1.79%
2049 -0.88% 1.83%
2048 -0.89% 1.88%
2047 -0.88% 1.9%
2046 -0.88% 1.93%
2045 -0.89% 1.95%
2044 -0.89% 2.02%
2043 -0.89% 2.04%
2042 -0.91% 2.1%
2041 -0.91% 2.1%
2040 -0.92% 2.13%
2039 -0.9% 2.16%
2038 -0.91% 2.18%
2037 -0.91% 2.21%
2036 -0.89% 2.23%
2035 -0.88% 2.27%
2034 -0.88% 2.31%
2033 -0.86% 2.32%
2032 -0.86% 2.35%
2031 -0.85% 2.33%
2030 -0.82% 2.33%
2029 -0.8% 2.34%
2028 -0.77% 2.36%
2027 -0.73% 2.35%
2026 -0.67% 2.38%
2025 -0.13% 2.39%
2024 -0.08% 2.43%
2023 -0.29% 2.45%
2022 -0.65% 2.43%
2021 -0.66% 2.42%
2020 -1% 2.42%
2019 -1.4% 2.44%
2018 -1.36% 2.47%
2017 -1.32% 2.46%
2016 -1.29% 2.45%
2015 -1.26% 2.45%
2014 -1.21% 2.45%
2013 -2% 2.46%
2012 -0.58% 2.84%
2011 -0.64% 3.3%
2010 -0.66% 4.23%
2009 -0.64% 4.08%
2008 -0.7% 3.34%
2007 -0.73% 3.73%
2006 -0.76% 3.81%
2005 -0.75% 3.67%
2004 -0.75% 3.48%
2003 -0.79% 2.83%
2002 -2.15% 2.39%
2001 -1.97% 3.85%
2000 -0.49% 3.91%
1999 -0.56% 2.74%
1998 -0.67% 2.22%
1997 -0.61% 2.16%
1996 -0.51% 2.81%
1995 -0.44% 2.85%
1994 -0.34% 3.01%
1993 -0.79% 3%
1992 -1.07% 2.87%
1991 -0.99% 2.88%
1990 -1.79% 2.9%
1989 -1.16% 2.93%
1988 0.11% 2.94%
1987 0.15% 2.96%
1986 -0.03% 2.98%
1985 -0.001% 2.99%
1984 0.23% 2.52%
1983 0.25% 2.09%
1982 0.3% 2.18%
1981 0.33% 2.23%
1980 0.4% 2.26%
1979 0.14% 2.31%
1978 0.11% 2.37%
1977 0.52% 2.42%
1976 0.43% 2.47%
1975 0.48% 2.83%
1974 0.67% 3.17%
1973 0.52% 3.18%
1972 0.47% 3.15%
1971 0.55% 3.11%
1970 0.66% 3.06%
1969 0.77% 3.01%
1968 0.71% 2.96%
1967 0.63% 2.91%
1966 0.66% 2.87%
1965 0.73% 2.81%
1964 0.82% 2.76%
1963 0.81% 2.7%
1962 0.88% 2.65%
1961 0.96% 2.62%

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/congo | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while the Congo's population grew by 2.39%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Congo
Current population
6390149
6718789
Population rank 112/197 109/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.08%
One net population change
1.08 hours
3.48 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
2.73 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
13.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +415
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +151,476
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.39%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 31/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
2.93 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -2,999
Net migration rank 106/196 108/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 385,589
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 91/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 6.1%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 86/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -2,999
2024 -47,023 524 153,150 -2,491
2023 -43,837 5,173 150,486 -995
2022 -62,065 26,498 147,076 -995
2021 -90,452 11,756 144,241 -4,476
2020 -65,507 30,167 143,492 -4,472
2019 -46,317 -2,156 139,513 -6,268
2018 -46,304 -3,873 142,704 -8,856
2017 -45,583 -6,109 141,973 -11,601
2016 -42,744 -9,482 141,358 -14,783
2015 -44,699 -4,227 141,539 -18,207
2014 -41,027 -2,180 141,674 -21,598
2013 -37,948 -1,324 142,080 -24,605
2012 -40,183 -26,334 142,464 -26,643
2011 -37,477 -23,360 140,371 5,262
2010 -34,759 -21,668 136,908 12,318
2009 -26,800 -19,060 126,904 86,014
2008 -32,967 -17,595 120,711 1,774
2007 -37,727 -16,366 112,459 31,239
2006 -39,526 -15,184 106,876 35,475
2005 -42,124 -14,435 101,344 38,337
2004 -40,128 -13,604 96,577 25,412
2003 -44,319 -13,183 91,326 26,280
2002 -46,240 -12,735 88,497 -16,140
2001 -44,050 -30,726 84,876 -764
2000 -41,668 -26,211 78,491 79,780
1999 -39,411 -23,846 76,204 2,470
1998 -52,844 -23,262 72,450 10,500
1997 -58,185 -22,963 66,149 -20,704
1996 -45,159 -21,520 75,628 1,085
1995 -42,030 -22,020 74,189 3,747
1994 -32,086 -20,984 72,857 1,850
1993 -24,569 -19,973 71,119 10,218
1992 -18,789 -120,552 69,973 0
1991 -14,675 -119,356 68,534 1,966
1990 -3,487 -116,817 67,241 -395
1989 5,326 -114,705 65,944 1,214
1988 9,879 215 64,629 22
1987 8,971 357 63,183 525
1986 16,125 1,104 61,669 367
1985 11,649 -19,230 60,359 182
1984 20,610 -1,032 59,028 0
1983 21,455 -1,872 58,120 -18,720
1982 24,077 -1,860 57,036 -16,664
1981 29,341 -1,830 56,603 -15,630
1980 30,129 -2,045 55,550 -14,972
1979 40,599 -872 54,723 -14,378
1978 44,070 -62,769 53,885 -13,356
1977 47,543 -11,955 53,179 -12,673
1976 56,055 -2,522 52,148 -11,971
1975 54,941 -38,071 51,155 -10,944
1974 64,223 -1,402 49,563 -312
1973 57,760 -5,409 48,017 -22
1972 47,169 -11,296 46,427 0
1971 52,925 -7,654 44,431 0
1970 61,125 -11,315 42,374 0
1969 63,256 -3,204 40,532 0
1968 69,468 -132 38,786 0
1967 49,861 -420 36,866 0
1966 54,504 -144 35,452 0
1965 58,249 -1,406 33,865 0
1964 66,783 505 32,270 0
1963 66,241 500 30,832 0
1962 64,104 499 29,342 0
1961 75,460 378 28,220 0
1960 76,314 -1,112 27,094 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/congo | 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 Congo 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,445,532 people) and 4.82% is from migration (a loss of 73,144 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 385,589 people or 6.1% in the Congo.

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
Congo
City Population
Brazzaville 2.15M
Pointe-Noire 1.42M
Kayes 127K
Madingou 36.2K
Gamboma 26.1K
Kinkala 12.1K

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/congo | 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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