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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 112,832,473 people in the DR Congo in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 118,386,491 in the DR Congo.

Population statistics:

  • The DR Congo's population is 18.5 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while the DR Congo is the 14th.
  • The countries together account for 1.5% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 1.42% for the DR Congo.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +3.36% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (95.3% growth).

Bulgaria vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria DR Congo
2100 3,384,288 436,237,219
2099 3,408,821 433,289,774
2098 3,433,149 430,252,622
2097 3,457,549 427,149,320
2096 3,482,057 423,961,963
2095 3,506,060 420,678,721
2094 3,530,278 417,304,547
2093 3,554,432 413,867,290
2092 3,578,667 410,362,003
2091 3,602,907 406,763,717
2090 3,627,300 403,089,566
2089 3,652,188 399,334,389
2088 3,677,416 395,507,774
2087 3,703,460 391,613,249
2086 3,730,284 387,639,503
2085 3,757,953 383,604,733
2084 3,786,496 379,495,246
2083 3,815,548 375,330,369
2082 3,845,662 371,124,615
2081 3,876,344 366,878,238
2080 3,908,874 362,574,665
2079 3,942,344 358,227,097
2078 3,976,345 353,821,014
2077 4,011,440 349,368,182
2076 4,047,182 344,866,731
2075 4,083,977 340,338,504
2074 4,122,447 335,761,691
2073 4,161,511 331,157,281
2072 4,201,158 326,505,656
2071 4,241,639 321,830,769
2070 4,283,145 317,104,580
2069 4,325,083 312,349,776
2068 4,367,606 307,566,932
2067 4,411,116 302,762,490
2066 4,455,358 297,932,241
2065 4,500,141 293,081,284
2064 4,545,243 288,211,987
2063 4,590,439 283,315,009
2062 4,635,634 278,399,192
2061 4,681,315 273,464,914
2060 4,727,089 268,520,814
2059 4,772,667 263,570,338
2058 4,817,532 258,622,778
2057 4,862,597 253,685,085
2056 4,907,646 248,748,321
2055 4,953,105 243,814,854
2054 4,998,650 238,885,417
2053 5,044,397 233,971,468
2052 5,089,817 229,073,420
2051 5,135,505 224,197,775
2050 5,181,635 219,354,949
2049 5,228,058 214,547,398
2048 5,274,692 209,774,448
2047 5,322,212 205,040,532
2046 5,369,645 200,341,405
2045 5,417,381 195,693,533
2044 5,465,818 191,087,342
2043 5,514,902 186,534,055
2042 5,564,573 182,033,706
2041 5,615,489 177,583,290
2040 5,667,076 173,191,594
2039 5,719,506 168,846,440
2038 5,771,452 164,551,895
2037 5,824,628 160,316,591
2036 5,877,980 156,099,100
2035 5,930,517 151,924,296
2034 5,983,205 147,782,785
2033 6,036,049 143,684,929
2032 6,088,107 139,642,368
2031 6,140,619 135,634,548
2030 6,193,318 131,685,113
2029 6,244,785 127,793,612
2028 6,294,981 123,956,913
2027 6,343,732 120,188,952
2026 6,390,149 116,482,769
2025 6,433,302 112,832,473
2024 6,441,421 109,276,265
2023 6,446,596 105,789,731
2022 6,465,097 102,396,968
2021 6,507,301 99,148,932
2020 6,550,696 95,989,998
2019 6,616,726 92,947,442
2018 6,710,798 90,047,644
2017 6,803,468 87,083,398
2016 6,894,139 83,956,415
2015 6,984,225 81,035,531
2014 7,073,572 78,403,242
2013 7,160,005 75,789,395
2012 7,305,888 73,254,618
2011 7,348,328 70,849,311
2010 7,395,599 68,563,038
2009 7,444,443 66,412,044
2008 7,492,561 64,390,664
2007 7,545,338 62,477,752
2006 7,601,022 60,615,908
2005 7,658,972 58,775,724
2004 7,716,860 56,997,741
2003 7,775,327 55,343,867
2002 7,837,161 53,750,524
2001 8,009,142 52,132,646
2000 8,170,172 50,507,442
1999 8,210,624 48,912,971
1998 8,256,786 47,297,600
1997 8,312,068 46,029,902
1996 8,362,826 45,296,124
1995 8,406,067 44,433,704
1994 8,443,591 42,626,876
1993 8,472,313 40,656,336
1992 8,540,164 39,228,910
1991 8,632,367 37,925,817
1990 8,718,289 36,684,063
1989 8,876,972 35,486,866
1988 8,981,446 34,382,752
1987 8,971,359 33,298,904
1986 8,958,171 32,265,196
1985 8,960,547 31,264,816
1984 8,960,679 30,245,081
1983 8,939,738 29,250,963
1982 8,917,457 28,338,190
1981 8,891,117 27,500,515
1980 8,861,535 26,711,099
1979 8,825,940 25,886,782
1978 8,814,032 24,992,689
1977 8,804,183 24,229,061
1976 8,758,599 23,624,031
1975 8,720,742 23,021,101
1974 8,678,745 22,418,878
1973 8,620,967 21,827,665
1972 8,576,200 21,251,160
1971 8,536,395 20,695,569
1970 8,489,574 20,137,436
1969 8,434,172 19,570,445
1968 8,369,603 19,012,189
1967 8,310,226 18,462,782
1966 8,258,057 17,931,929
1965 8,204,168 17,427,802
1964 8,144,340 16,955,327
1963 8,078,145 16,507,599
1962 8,012,946 16,075,724
1961 7,943,118 15,662,374
1960 7,867,374 15,264,846

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/dr-congo | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while the DR Congo gained 23,340,507 people (a 38.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while the DR Congo's population increased by 34,430,076 people (a 41% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. The DR Congo was ranked 22nd in 2006 and ranked 14th 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 DR Congo will increase by 85.3% to 219,354,949 people and rank change from 14th to 8th.

The DR Congo is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 436M 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
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria DR Congo
2100 -0.72% 0.68%
2099 -0.71% 0.71%
2098 -0.71% 0.73%
2097 -0.7% 0.75%
2096 -0.68% 0.78%
2095 -0.69% 0.81%
2094 -0.68% 0.83%
2093 -0.68% 0.85%
2092 -0.67% 0.88%
2091 -0.67% 0.91%
2090 -0.68% 0.94%
2089 -0.69% 0.97%
2088 -0.7% 0.99%
2087 -0.72% 1.03%
2086 -0.74% 1.05%
2085 -0.75% 1.08%
2084 -0.76% 1.11%
2083 -0.78% 1.13%
2082 -0.79% 1.16%
2081 -0.83% 1.19%
2080 -0.85% 1.21%
2079 -0.86% 1.25%
2078 -0.87% 1.27%
2077 -0.88% 1.31%
2076 -0.9% 1.33%
2075 -0.93% 1.36%
2074 -0.94% 1.39%
2073 -0.94% 1.42%
2072 -0.95% 1.45%
2071 -0.97% 1.49%
2070 -0.97% 1.52%
2069 -0.97% 1.56%
2068 -0.99% 1.59%
2067 -0.99% 1.62%
2066 -1% 1.66%
2065 -0.99% 1.69%
2064 -0.98% 1.73%
2063 -0.97% 1.77%
2062 -0.98% 1.8%
2061 -0.97% 1.84%
2060 -0.95% 1.88%
2059 -0.93% 1.91%
2058 -0.93% 1.95%
2057 -0.92% 1.98%
2056 -0.92% 2.02%
2055 -0.91% 2.06%
2054 -0.91% 2.1%
2053 -0.89% 2.14%
2052 -0.89% 2.17%
2051 -0.89% 2.21%
2050 -0.89% 2.24%
2049 -0.88% 2.28%
2048 -0.89% 2.31%
2047 -0.88% 2.35%
2046 -0.88% 2.38%
2045 -0.89% 2.41%
2044 -0.89% 2.44%
2043 -0.89% 2.47%
2042 -0.91% 2.51%
2041 -0.91% 2.54%
2040 -0.92% 2.57%
2039 -0.9% 2.61%
2038 -0.91% 2.64%
2037 -0.91% 2.7%
2036 -0.89% 2.75%
2035 -0.88% 2.8%
2034 -0.88% 2.85%
2033 -0.86% 2.89%
2032 -0.86% 2.95%
2031 -0.85% 3%
2030 -0.82% 3.05%
2029 -0.8% 3.1%
2028 -0.77% 3.14%
2027 -0.73% 3.18%
2026 -0.67% 3.24%
2025 -0.13% 3.25%
2024 -0.08% 3.3%
2023 -0.29% 3.31%
2022 -0.65% 3.28%
2021 -0.66% 3.29%
2020 -1% 3.27%
2019 -1.4% 3.22%
2018 -1.36% 3.4%
2017 -1.32% 3.72%
2016 -1.29% 3.6%
2015 -1.26% 3.36%
2014 -1.21% 3.45%
2013 -2% 3.46%
2012 -0.58% 3.39%
2011 -0.64% 3.33%
2010 -0.66% 3.24%
2009 -0.64% 3.14%
2008 -0.7% 3.06%
2007 -0.73% 3.07%
2006 -0.76% 3.13%
2005 -0.75% 3.12%
2004 -0.75% 2.99%
2003 -0.79% 2.96%
2002 -2.15% 3.1%
2001 -1.97% 3.22%
2000 -0.49% 3.26%
1999 -0.56% 3.42%
1998 -0.67% 2.75%
1997 -0.61% 1.62%
1996 -0.51% 1.94%
1995 -0.44% 4.24%
1994 -0.34% 4.85%
1993 -0.79% 3.64%
1992 -1.07% 3.44%
1991 -0.99% 3.38%
1990 -1.79% 3.37%
1989 -1.16% 3.21%
1988 0.11% 3.25%
1987 0.15% 3.2%
1986 -0.03% 3.2%
1985 -0.001% 3.37%
1984 0.23% 3.4%
1983 0.25% 3.22%
1982 0.3% 3.05%
1981 0.33% 2.96%
1980 0.4% 3.18%
1979 0.14% 3.58%
1978 0.11% 3.15%
1977 0.52% 2.56%
1976 0.43% 2.62%
1975 0.48% 2.69%
1974 0.67% 2.71%
1973 0.52% 2.71%
1972 0.47% 2.68%
1971 0.55% 2.77%
1970 0.66% 2.9%
1969 0.77% 2.94%
1968 0.71% 2.98%
1967 0.63% 2.96%
1966 0.66% 2.89%
1965 0.73% 2.79%
1964 0.82% 2.71%
1963 0.81% 2.69%
1962 0.88% 2.64%
1961 0.96% 2.6%

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/dr-congo | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.25%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria DR Congo
Current population
6390149
118386491
Population rank 112/197 14/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.42%
One net population change
1.08 hours
8.89 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
7.06 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
34.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline -22 +9,743
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +3,556,208
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +3.25%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 10/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
19.3 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -27,309
Net migration rank 106/196 159/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,085,090
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 57/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 152/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
DR Congo
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria DR Congo
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -27,309
2024 -47,023 524 3,547,217 -26,968
2023 -43,837 5,173 3,467,787 -14,992
2022 -62,065 26,498 3,347,664 -14,991
2021 -90,452 11,756 3,227,992 -64,639
2020 -65,507 30,167 3,156,152 -1,633
2019 -46,317 -2,156 3,075,538 -144,920
2018 -46,304 -3,873 2,993,184 -124,246
2017 -45,583 -6,109 2,883,245 176,290
2016 -42,744 -9,482 2,753,687 440,748
2015 -44,699 -4,227 2,665,016 -17,711
2014 -41,027 -2,180 2,580,251 36,966
2013 -37,948 -1,324 2,489,378 121,097
2012 -40,183 -26,334 2,405,462 53,668
2011 -37,477 -23,360 2,310,679 40,891
2010 -34,759 -21,668 2,212,255 8,823
2009 -26,800 -19,060 2,126,912 -46,009
2008 -32,967 -17,595 2,044,210 -82,339
2007 -37,727 -16,366 1,963,738 -99,742
2006 -39,526 -15,184 1,889,398 -29,715
2005 -42,124 -14,435 1,800,300 20,384
2004 -40,128 -13,604 1,731,022 4,260
2003 -44,319 -13,183 1,679,188 -106,731
2002 -46,240 -12,735 1,631,597 -17,358
2001 -44,050 -30,726 1,594,999 26,523
2000 -41,668 -26,211 1,549,518 79,340
1999 -39,411 -23,846 1,450,318 109,761
1998 -52,844 -23,262 1,375,130 295,560
1997 -58,185 -22,963 1,392,037 -527,356
1996 -45,159 -21,520 1,380,490 -777,833
1995 -42,030 -22,020 1,395,440 -273,434
1994 -32,086 -20,984 1,259,539 1,232,105
1993 -24,569 -19,973 1,209,242 240,176
1992 -18,789 -120,552 1,152,781 252,666
1991 -14,675 -119,356 1,114,033 86,721
1990 -3,487 -116,817 1,063,508 219,270
1989 5,326 -114,705 1,027,238 84,415
1988 9,879 215 995,278 101,314
1987 8,971 357 959,875 111,220
1986 16,125 1,104 925,334 70,988
1985 11,649 -19,230 885,670 118,791
1984 20,610 -1,032 844,956 190,045
1983 21,455 -1,872 807,122 146,095
1982 24,077 -1,860 774,823 97,495
1981 29,341 -1,830 748,371 54,656
1980 30,129 -2,045 724,111 51,685
1979 40,599 -872 691,773 181,028
1978 44,070 -62,769 646,411 268,974
1977 47,543 -11,955 638,242 -26,355
1976 56,055 -2,522 624,147 -25,965
1975 54,941 -38,071 608,655 -972
1974 64,223 -1,402 593,539 3,216
1973 57,760 -5,409 578,280 7,414
1972 47,169 -11,296 564,495 2,840
1971 52,925 -7,654 549,343 -5,497
1970 61,125 -11,315 533,300 39,116
1969 63,256 -3,204 514,800 46,778
1968 69,468 -132 497,682 57,274
1967 49,861 -420 479,552 64,307
1966 54,504 -144 463,397 54,443
1965 58,249 -1,406 429,002 61,397
1964 66,783 505 406,334 48,207
1963 66,241 500 398,972 41,960
1962 64,104 499 383,406 39,431
1961 75,460 378 368,207 35,654
1960 76,314 -1,112 363,517 27,673

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/dr-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 DR Congo 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 31,117,482 people) and 0.66% is from migration (a gain of 206,938 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,085,090 people or 1% in the DR 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
DR Congo
City Population
Kinshasa 14.6M
Mbuji-Mayi 2.89M
Kananga 1.97M
Lubumbashi 1.79M
Kisangani 1.37M
Tshikapa 1.01M
Uvira 726K
Bukavu 707K
Kolwezi 573K
Mbandaka 470K

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/dr-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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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