Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 3,876,200 people in Croatia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 3,849,788 in Croatia.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 1.66 times bigger than Croatia's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Croatia is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.05% for Croatia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs -0.73% in Croatia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Croatia has declined from 4.31M to 3.85M (10.7% decline).

Bulgaria vs Croatia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Croatia
2100 3,384,288 2,158,545
2099 3,408,821 2,176,440
2098 3,433,149 2,194,539
2097 3,457,549 2,212,602
2096 3,482,057 2,231,114
2095 3,506,060 2,249,667
2094 3,530,278 2,268,376
2093 3,554,432 2,286,882
2092 3,578,667 2,305,583
2091 3,602,907 2,324,254
2090 3,627,300 2,342,729
2089 3,652,188 2,361,668
2088 3,677,416 2,380,831
2087 3,703,460 2,399,709
2086 3,730,284 2,418,760
2085 3,757,953 2,438,113
2084 3,786,496 2,457,815
2083 3,815,548 2,477,556
2082 3,845,662 2,497,595
2081 3,876,344 2,517,715
2080 3,908,874 2,538,164
2079 3,942,344 2,559,092
2078 3,976,345 2,580,179
2077 4,011,440 2,601,778
2076 4,047,182 2,623,507
2075 4,083,977 2,645,523
2074 4,122,447 2,667,391
2073 4,161,511 2,689,518
2072 4,201,158 2,712,201
2071 4,241,639 2,734,759
2070 4,283,145 2,757,112
2069 4,325,083 2,780,455
2068 4,367,606 2,804,383
2067 4,411,116 2,828,363
2066 4,455,358 2,852,669
2065 4,500,141 2,877,009
2064 4,545,243 2,901,213
2063 4,590,439 2,926,228
2062 4,635,634 2,951,475
2061 4,681,315 2,976,903
2060 4,727,089 3,002,483
2059 4,772,667 3,027,959
2058 4,817,532 3,053,643
2057 4,862,597 3,079,155
2056 4,907,646 3,105,119
2055 4,953,105 3,130,769
2054 4,998,650 3,156,282
2053 5,044,397 3,182,091
2052 5,089,817 3,207,640
2051 5,135,505 3,233,551
2050 5,181,635 3,259,702
2049 5,228,058 3,285,684
2048 5,274,692 3,311,657
2047 5,322,212 3,337,645
2046 5,369,645 3,363,102
2045 5,417,381 3,388,731
2044 5,465,818 3,414,541
2043 5,514,902 3,439,695
2042 5,564,573 3,464,688
2041 5,615,489 3,489,565
2040 5,667,076 3,513,946
2039 5,719,506 3,538,129
2038 5,771,452 3,562,371
2037 5,824,628 3,586,606
2036 5,877,980 3,609,771
2035 5,930,517 3,632,470
2034 5,983,205 3,656,066
2033 6,036,049 3,679,626
2032 6,088,107 3,703,646
2031 6,140,619 3,728,250
2030 6,193,318 3,752,014
2029 6,244,785 3,776,079
2028 6,294,981 3,799,610
2027 6,343,732 3,824,370
2026 6,390,149 3,849,788
2025 6,433,302 3,876,200
2024 6,441,421 3,866,200
2023 6,446,596 3,859,686
2022 6,465,097 3,855,641
2021 6,507,301 3,878,981
2020 6,550,696 3,914,206
2019 6,616,726 3,949,390
2018 6,710,798 3,988,775
2017 6,803,468 4,041,407
2016 6,894,139 4,106,867
2015 6,984,225 4,151,725
2014 7,073,572 4,201,598
2013 7,160,005 4,233,922
2012 7,305,888 4,260,368
2011 7,348,328 4,280,622
2010 7,395,599 4,295,427
2009 7,444,443 4,305,181
2008 7,492,561 4,309,705
2007 7,545,338 4,310,217
2006 7,601,022 4,311,159
2005 7,658,972 4,310,145
2004 7,716,860 4,304,600
2003 7,775,327 4,303,399
2002 7,837,161 4,302,174
2001 8,009,142 4,299,642
2000 8,170,172 4,468,302
1999 8,210,624 4,512,597
1998 8,256,786 4,532,135
1997 8,312,068 4,534,920
1996 8,362,826 4,557,097
1995 8,406,067 4,620,030
1994 8,443,591 4,652,024
1993 8,472,313 4,600,463
1992 8,540,164 4,575,818
1991 8,632,367 4,689,022
1990 8,718,289 4,777,368
1989 8,876,972 4,767,260
1988 8,981,446 4,755,207
1987 8,971,359 4,739,745
1986 8,958,171 4,721,446
1985 8,960,547 4,701,417
1984 8,960,679 4,680,285
1983 8,939,738 4,658,254
1982 8,917,457 4,634,234
1981 8,891,117 4,611,509
1980 8,861,535 4,599,782
1979 8,825,940 4,594,778
1978 8,814,032 4,581,085
1977 8,804,183 4,559,571
1976 8,758,599 4,535,934
1975 8,720,742 4,512,082
1974 8,678,745 4,490,660
1973 8,620,967 4,470,161
1972 8,576,200 4,450,564
1971 8,536,395 4,431,275
1970 8,489,574 4,412,252
1969 8,434,172 4,391,490
1968 8,369,603 4,365,628
1967 8,310,226 4,338,683
1966 8,258,057 4,310,701
1965 8,204,168 4,280,923
1964 8,144,340 4,252,876
1963 8,078,145 4,225,675
1962 8,012,946 4,196,712
1961 7,943,118 4,167,292
1960 7,867,374 4,140,181

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/croatia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Croatia lost 204,292 people (a 4.74% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Croatia's population decreased by 257,079 people (a 6.26% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Croatia was ranked 120th in 2006 and ranked 130th 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 Croatia will decrease by 15.3% to 3,259,702 people and rank change from 130th to 138th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 31.9% in Croatia.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Croatia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Croatia
2100 -0.72% -0.82%
2099 -0.71% -0.82%
2098 -0.71% -0.82%
2097 -0.7% -0.83%
2096 -0.68% -0.82%
2095 -0.69% -0.82%
2094 -0.68% -0.81%
2093 -0.68% -0.81%
2092 -0.67% -0.8%
2091 -0.67% -0.79%
2090 -0.68% -0.8%
2089 -0.69% -0.8%
2088 -0.7% -0.79%
2087 -0.72% -0.79%
2086 -0.74% -0.79%
2085 -0.75% -0.8%
2084 -0.76% -0.8%
2083 -0.78% -0.8%
2082 -0.79% -0.8%
2081 -0.83% -0.81%
2080 -0.85% -0.82%
2079 -0.86% -0.82%
2078 -0.87% -0.83%
2077 -0.88% -0.83%
2076 -0.9% -0.83%
2075 -0.93% -0.82%
2074 -0.94% -0.82%
2073 -0.94% -0.84%
2072 -0.95% -0.82%
2071 -0.97% -0.81%
2070 -0.97% -0.84%
2069 -0.97% -0.85%
2068 -0.99% -0.85%
2067 -0.99% -0.85%
2066 -1% -0.85%
2065 -0.99% -0.83%
2064 -0.98% -0.85%
2063 -0.97% -0.86%
2062 -0.98% -0.85%
2061 -0.97% -0.85%
2060 -0.95% -0.84%
2059 -0.93% -0.84%
2058 -0.93% -0.83%
2057 -0.92% -0.84%
2056 -0.92% -0.82%
2055 -0.91% -0.81%
2054 -0.91% -0.81%
2053 -0.89% -0.8%
2052 -0.89% -0.8%
2051 -0.89% -0.8%
2050 -0.89% -0.79%
2049 -0.88% -0.78%
2048 -0.89% -0.78%
2047 -0.88% -0.76%
2046 -0.88% -0.76%
2045 -0.89% -0.76%
2044 -0.89% -0.73%
2043 -0.89% -0.72%
2042 -0.91% -0.71%
2041 -0.91% -0.69%
2040 -0.92% -0.68%
2039 -0.9% -0.68%
2038 -0.91% -0.68%
2037 -0.91% -0.64%
2036 -0.89% -0.62%
2035 -0.88% -0.65%
2034 -0.88% -0.64%
2033 -0.86% -0.65%
2032 -0.86% -0.66%
2031 -0.85% -0.63%
2030 -0.82% -0.64%
2029 -0.8% -0.62%
2028 -0.77% -0.65%
2027 -0.73% -0.66%
2026 -0.67% -0.68%
2025 -0.13% 0.26%
2024 -0.08% 0.17%
2023 -0.29% 0.1%
2022 -0.65% -0.6%
2021 -0.66% -0.9%
2020 -1% -0.89%
2019 -1.4% -0.99%
2018 -1.36% -1.3%
2017 -1.32% -1.59%
2016 -1.29% -1.08%
2015 -1.26% -1.19%
2014 -1.21% -0.76%
2013 -2% -0.62%
2012 -0.58% -0.47%
2011 -0.64% -0.34%
2010 -0.66% -0.23%
2009 -0.64% -0.1%
2008 -0.7% -0.01%
2007 -0.73% -0.02%
2006 -0.76% 0.02%
2005 -0.75% 0.13%
2004 -0.75% 0.03%
2003 -0.79% 0.03%
2002 -2.15% 0.06%
2001 -1.97% -3.77%
2000 -0.49% -0.98%
1999 -0.56% -0.43%
1998 -0.67% -0.06%
1997 -0.61% -0.49%
1996 -0.51% -1.36%
1995 -0.44% -0.69%
1994 -0.34% 1.12%
1993 -0.79% 0.54%
1992 -1.07% -2.41%
1991 -0.99% -1.85%
1990 -1.79% 0.21%
1989 -1.16% 0.25%
1988 0.11% 0.33%
1987 0.15% 0.39%
1986 -0.03% 0.43%
1985 -0.001% 0.45%
1984 0.23% 0.47%
1983 0.25% 0.52%
1982 0.3% 0.49%
1981 0.33% 0.25%
1980 0.4% 0.11%
1979 0.14% 0.3%
1978 0.11% 0.47%
1977 0.52% 0.52%
1976 0.43% 0.53%
1975 0.48% 0.48%
1974 0.67% 0.46%
1973 0.52% 0.44%
1972 0.47% 0.44%
1971 0.55% 0.43%
1970 0.66% 0.47%
1969 0.77% 0.59%
1968 0.71% 0.62%
1967 0.63% 0.65%
1966 0.66% 0.7%
1965 0.73% 0.66%
1964 0.82% 0.64%
1963 0.81% 0.69%
1962 0.88% 0.71%
1961 0.96% 0.65%

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/croatia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Croatia's population grew by 0.26%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Croatia
Current population
6390149
3849788
Population rank 112/197 130/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.05%
One net population change
1.08 hours
52.7 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
16.4 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
10.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +27
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +10,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +0.26%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 147/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
2.52 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -3,481
Net migration rank 106/196 112/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 527,831
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 78/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 13.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 50/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Croatia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Croatia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -3,481
2024 -47,023 524 -18,944 -5,186
2023 -43,837 5,173 -19,298 10,202
2022 -62,065 26,498 -23,134 11,681
2021 -90,452 11,756 -26,377 -4,517
2020 -65,507 30,167 -21,137 -8,552
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -15,798 -13,239
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -15,556 -25,016
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -16,974 -44,557
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -14,374 -32,144
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -17,022 -27,501
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -11,344 -13,127
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -10,585 -6,245
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -9,799 -4,794
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -9,846 -17,463
2010 -34,759 -21,668 -8,591 -3,995
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -7,319 1,358
2008 -32,967 -17,595 -8,188 6,495
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -10,335 8,893
2006 -39,526 -15,184 -8,669 10,852
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -9,022 10,629
2004 -40,128 -13,604 -9,040 15,445
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -12,480 12,556
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -10,325 10,306
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -8,599 19,298
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -6,255 -47,629
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -6,769 -47,418
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -4,985 -47,931
1997 -58,185 -22,963 3,175 -52,897
1996 -45,159 -21,520 3,190 -53,688
1995 -42,030 -22,020 0 -51,882
1994 -32,086 -20,984 -930 -50,444
1993 -24,569 -19,973 -2,301 -49,615
1992 -18,789 -120,552 -4,576 -47,865
1991 -14,675 -119,356 -2,813 -31,968
1990 -3,487 -116,817 3,344 9,538
1989 5,326 -114,705 3,337 8,471
1988 9,879 215 5,707 7,242
1987 8,971 357 6,161 6,956
1986 16,125 1,104 8,499 6,261
1985 11,649 -19,230 10,343 5,550
1984 20,610 -1,032 10,764 5,757
1983 21,455 -1,872 10,714 6,323
1982 24,077 -1,860 15,756 7,475
1981 29,341 -1,830 15,680 4,872
1980 30,129 -2,045 17,939 -5,486
1979 40,599 -872 21,136 -5,740
1978 44,070 -62,769 20,157 -7,329
1977 47,543 -11,955 22,798 -7,339
1976 56,055 -2,522 22,226 -7,400
1975 54,941 -38,071 21,658 -7,366
1974 64,223 -1,402 22,453 -8,076
1973 57,760 -5,409 21,904 -8,335
1972 47,169 -11,296 17,802 -7,277
1971 52,925 -7,654 19,941 -5,608
1970 61,125 -11,315 16,767 -2,359
1969 63,256 -3,204 16,688 -2,796
1968 69,468 -132 21,828 -2,799
1967 49,861 -420 26,032 -3,518
1966 54,504 -144 33,192 -6,341
1965 58,249 -1,406 31,251 -5,253
1964 66,783 505 25,942 -2,090
1963 66,241 500 31,270 -1,289
1962 64,104 499 30,216 -2,176
1961 75,460 378 36,255 -6,567
1960 76,314 -1,112 34,778 -21,768

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/croatia | 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 Croatia 57.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 188,614 people) and 42.4% is from migration (a loss of 138,829 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 527,831 people or 13.6% in Croatia.

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
Croatia
City Population
Zagreb 767K
Split 161K
Rijeka 108K
Osijek 96.3K
Zadar 70.8K
Velika Gorica 61.1K
Pula 52.2K
Slavonski Brod 49.9K
Karlovac 49.4K
Sibenik 42.6K

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/croatia | 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 2026-07-08)
  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)

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.