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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 109,276,265 people in the DR Congo in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 117,507,801 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 15th.
  • The countries together account for 1.49% 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 -0.96% per year vs +3.38% in the DR Congo.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while the DR Congo has grown from 60.6M to 118M (93.9% growth).

Bulgaria vs DR Congo: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
DR Congo
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria DR Congo
2100 3,368,029 436,320,913
2099 3,392,444 433,372,904
2098 3,416,655 430,335,169
2097 3,440,938 427,231,271
2096 3,465,328 424,043,303
2095 3,489,216 420,759,430
2094 3,513,318 417,384,609
2093 3,537,356 413,946,692
2092 3,561,475 410,440,733
2091 3,585,597 406,841,757
2090 3,609,873 403,166,901
2089 3,634,642 399,411,004
2088 3,659,749 395,583,655
2087 3,685,668 391,688,383
2086 3,712,363 387,713,874
2085 3,739,898 383,678,330
2084 3,768,305 379,568,054
2083 3,797,217 375,402,379
2082 3,827,186 371,195,818
2081 3,857,721 366,948,626
2080 3,890,095 362,644,227
2079 3,923,403 358,295,825
2078 3,957,241 353,888,897
2077 3,992,168 349,435,210
2076 4,027,738 344,932,895
2075 4,064,356 340,403,800
2074 4,102,642 335,826,108
2073 4,141,518 331,220,816
2072 4,180,975 326,568,298
2071 4,221,261 321,892,514
2070 4,262,568 317,165,418
2069 4,304,304 312,409,702
2068 4,346,623 307,625,941
2067 4,389,924 302,820,577
2066 4,433,953 297,989,401
2065 4,478,521 293,137,514
2064 4,523,406 288,267,282
2063 4,568,385 283,369,365
2062 4,613,363 278,452,605
2061 4,658,825 273,517,380
2060 4,704,379 268,572,331
2059 4,749,738 263,620,905
2058 4,794,388 258,672,397
2057 4,839,236 253,733,756
2056 4,884,068 248,796,045
2055 4,929,309 243,861,631
2054 4,974,635 238,931,249
2053 5,020,162 234,016,357
2052 5,065,364 229,117,369
2051 5,110,833 224,240,788
2050 5,156,741 219,397,034
2049 5,202,941 214,588,560
2048 5,249,351 209,814,694
2047 5,296,642 205,079,870
2046 5,343,848 200,379,842
2045 5,391,354 195,731,078
2044 5,439,559 191,124,003
2043 5,488,407 186,569,843
2042 5,537,839 182,068,630
2041 5,588,510 177,617,360
2040 5,639,850 173,224,822
2039 5,692,028 168,878,834
2038 5,743,725 164,583,465
2037 5,796,645 160,347,349
2036 5,849,741 156,129,049
2035 5,902,025 151,953,443
2034 5,954,460 147,811,138
2033 6,007,050 143,712,496
2032 6,058,858 139,669,159
2031 6,111,118 135,660,570
2030 6,163,564 131,710,378
2029 6,214,784 127,818,130
2028 6,264,738 123,980,695
2027 6,313,255 120,212,011
2026 6,359,449 116,505,117
2025 6,402,394 112,854,120
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while the DR Congo's population increased by 33,551,386 people (a 40% 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 15th 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 the DR Congo will increase by 86.7% to 219,397,034 people and rank change from 15th 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 3.37M 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 -0.61% 3.27%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/dr-congo | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while the DR Congo's population grew by 3.3%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria DR Congo
Current population
6359449
117507801
Population rank 112/197 15/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.42%
One net population change
1.69 hours
9.05 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
7.22 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
35 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 +9,552
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +3,486,534
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +3.3%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 11/197
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 - 524 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/dr-congo | 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 the DR Congo 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,150,516 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a gain of 270,872 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 480K
Mbandaka 470K

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/dr-congo | CC BY

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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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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