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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 3,535,603 people in Eritrea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 3,700,586 in Eritrea.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 1.72 times bigger than Eritrea's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Eritrea is the 130th.
  • The countries together account for 0.12% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.04% for Eritrea.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.28% in Eritrea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Eritrea has grown from 2.7M to 3.7M (36.9% growth).

Bulgaria vs Eritrea: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Eritrea
2100 3,368,029 8,514,681
2099 3,392,444 8,489,924
2098 3,416,655 8,466,983
2097 3,440,938 8,444,468
2096 3,465,328 8,422,323
2095 3,489,216 8,396,086
2094 3,513,318 8,370,114
2093 3,537,356 8,344,405
2092 3,561,475 8,309,034
2091 3,585,597 8,278,860
2090 3,609,873 8,243,905
2089 3,634,642 8,209,883
2088 3,659,749 8,172,664
2087 3,685,668 8,136,016
2086 3,712,363 8,093,065
2085 3,739,898 8,046,814
2084 3,768,305 7,999,706
2083 3,797,217 7,956,385
2082 3,827,186 7,911,764
2081 3,857,721 7,871,753
2080 3,890,095 7,815,766
2079 3,923,403 7,765,677
2078 3,957,241 7,711,886
2077 3,992,168 7,656,307
2076 4,027,738 7,600,951
2075 4,064,356 7,538,912
2074 4,102,642 7,484,322
2073 4,141,518 7,420,571
2072 4,180,975 7,358,500
2071 4,221,261 7,296,109
2070 4,262,568 7,231,198
2069 4,304,304 7,164,883
2068 4,346,623 7,094,530
2067 4,389,924 7,026,000
2066 4,433,953 6,952,514
2065 4,478,521 6,884,323
2064 4,523,406 6,814,893
2063 4,568,385 6,733,263
2062 4,613,363 6,659,531
2061 4,658,825 6,580,923
2060 4,704,379 6,500,944
2059 4,749,738 6,422,305
2058 4,794,388 6,343,070
2057 4,839,236 6,265,450
2056 4,884,068 6,194,123
2055 4,929,309 6,114,099
2054 4,974,635 6,039,801
2053 5,020,162 5,957,339
2052 5,065,364 5,871,954
2051 5,110,833 5,791,096
2050 5,156,741 5,711,061
2049 5,202,941 5,632,165
2048 5,249,351 5,549,890
2047 5,296,642 5,468,518
2046 5,343,848 5,387,267
2045 5,391,354 5,300,511
2044 5,439,559 5,215,831
2043 5,488,407 5,131,686
2042 5,537,839 5,044,262
2041 5,588,510 4,960,422
2040 5,639,850 4,870,981
2039 5,692,028 4,782,316
2038 5,743,725 4,693,015
2037 5,796,645 4,599,752
2036 5,849,741 4,506,879
2035 5,902,025 4,420,367
2034 5,954,460 4,332,828
2033 6,007,050 4,248,272
2032 6,058,858 4,165,241
2031 6,111,118 4,083,762
2030 6,163,564 3,998,903
2029 6,214,784 3,917,775
2028 6,264,738 3,836,693
2027 6,313,255 3,756,696
2026 6,359,449 3,679,782
2025 6,402,394 3,603,902
2024 6,441,421 3,535,603
2023 6,446,596 3,470,390
2022 6,465,097 3,409,447
2021 6,507,301 3,350,183
2020 6,550,696 3,291,271
2019 6,616,726 3,240,194
2018 6,710,798 3,192,760
2017 6,803,468 3,150,347
2016 6,894,139 3,124,698
2015 6,984,225 3,105,546
2014 7,073,572 3,095,173
2013 7,160,005 3,074,360
2012 7,305,888 3,036,988
2011 7,348,328 2,998,485
2010 7,395,599 2,945,186
2009 7,444,443 2,887,885
2008 7,492,561 2,816,327
2007 7,545,338 2,743,222
2006 7,601,022 2,703,502
2005 7,658,972 2,661,215
2004 7,716,860 2,598,284
2003 7,775,327 2,493,903
2002 7,837,161 2,392,978
2001 8,009,142 2,312,079
2000 8,170,172 2,247,031
1999 8,210,624 2,212,780
1998 8,256,786 2,180,419
1997 8,312,068 2,152,135
1996 8,362,826 2,128,464
1995 8,406,067 2,025,267
1994 8,443,591 1,913,915
1993 8,472,313 1,856,006
1992 8,540,164 1,798,748
1991 8,632,367 1,919,571
1990 8,718,289 2,032,737
1989 8,876,972 1,987,017
1988 8,981,446 1,938,255
1987 8,971,359 1,888,669
1986 8,958,171 1,845,164
1985 8,960,547 1,807,816
1984 8,960,679 1,771,730
1983 8,939,738 1,736,160
1982 8,917,457 1,695,461
1981 8,891,117 1,649,939
1980 8,861,535 1,605,797
1979 8,825,940 1,563,332
1978 8,814,032 1,522,378
1977 8,804,183 1,482,565
1976 8,758,599 1,443,807
1975 8,720,742 1,408,210
1974 8,678,745 1,375,688
1973 8,620,967 1,342,669
1972 8,576,200 1,309,235
1971 8,536,395 1,276,154
1970 8,489,574 1,243,453
1969 8,434,172 1,212,005
1968 8,369,603 1,181,737
1967 8,310,226 1,152,339
1966 8,258,057 1,124,957
1965 8,204,168 1,098,335
1964 8,144,340 1,071,287
1963 8,078,145 1,045,092
1962 8,012,946 1,019,788
1961 7,943,118 995,573
1960 7,867,374 972,547

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/eritrea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Eritrea gained 421,196 people (a 15.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Eritrea's population increased by 575,888 people (a 18.4% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Eritrea was ranked 135th 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Eritrea will increase by 54.3% to 5,711,061 people and rank change from 130th to 123rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.51M 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
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Eritrea
2100 -0.72% 0.29%
2099 -0.71% 0.27%
2098 -0.71% 0.27%
2097 -0.7% 0.26%
2096 -0.68% 0.31%
2095 -0.69% 0.31%
2094 -0.68% 0.31%
2093 -0.68% 0.43%
2092 -0.67% 0.36%
2091 -0.67% 0.42%
2090 -0.68% 0.41%
2089 -0.69% 0.46%
2088 -0.7% 0.45%
2087 -0.72% 0.53%
2086 -0.74% 0.57%
2085 -0.75% 0.59%
2084 -0.76% 0.54%
2083 -0.78% 0.56%
2082 -0.79% 0.51%
2081 -0.83% 0.72%
2080 -0.85% 0.65%
2079 -0.86% 0.7%
2078 -0.87% 0.73%
2077 -0.88% 0.73%
2076 -0.9% 0.82%
2075 -0.93% 0.73%
2074 -0.94% 0.86%
2073 -0.94% 0.84%
2072 -0.95% 0.86%
2071 -0.97% 0.9%
2070 -0.97% 0.93%
2069 -0.97% 0.99%
2068 -0.99% 0.98%
2067 -0.99% 1.06%
2066 -1% 0.99%
2065 -0.99% 1.02%
2064 -0.98% 1.21%
2063 -0.97% 1.11%
2062 -0.98% 1.19%
2061 -0.97% 1.23%
2060 -0.95% 1.22%
2059 -0.93% 1.25%
2058 -0.93% 1.24%
2057 -0.92% 1.15%
2056 -0.92% 1.31%
2055 -0.91% 1.23%
2054 -0.91% 1.38%
2053 -0.89% 1.45%
2052 -0.89% 1.4%
2051 -0.89% 1.4%
2050 -0.89% 1.4%
2049 -0.88% 1.48%
2048 -0.89% 1.49%
2047 -0.88% 1.51%
2046 -0.88% 1.64%
2045 -0.89% 1.62%
2044 -0.89% 1.64%
2043 -0.89% 1.73%
2042 -0.91% 1.69%
2041 -0.91% 1.84%
2040 -0.92% 1.85%
2039 -0.9% 1.9%
2038 -0.91% 2.03%
2037 -0.91% 2.06%
2036 -0.89% 1.96%
2035 -0.88% 2.02%
2034 -0.88% 1.99%
2033 -0.86% 1.99%
2032 -0.86% 2%
2031 -0.85% 2.12%
2030 -0.82% 2.07%
2029 -0.8% 2.11%
2028 -0.77% 2.13%
2027 -0.73% 2.09%
2026 -0.67% 2.11%
2025 -0.61% 1.93%
2024 -0.08% 1.88%
2023 -0.29% 1.79%
2022 -0.65% 1.77%
2021 -0.66% 1.79%
2020 -1% 1.58%
2019 -1.4% 1.49%
2018 -1.36% 1.35%
2017 -1.32% 0.82%
2016 -1.29% 0.62%
2015 -1.26% 0.34%
2014 -1.21% 0.68%
2013 -2% 1.23%
2012 -0.58% 1.28%
2011 -0.64% 1.81%
2010 -0.66% 1.98%
2009 -0.64% 2.54%
2008 -0.7% 2.66%
2007 -0.73% 1.47%
2006 -0.76% 1.59%
2005 -0.75% 2.42%
2004 -0.75% 4.19%
2003 -0.79% 4.22%
2002 -2.15% 3.5%
2001 -1.97% 2.89%
2000 -0.49% 1.55%
1999 -0.56% 1.48%
1998 -0.67% 1.31%
1997 -0.61% 1.11%
1996 -0.51% 5.1%
1995 -0.44% 5.82%
1994 -0.34% 3.12%
1993 -0.79% 3.18%
1992 -1.07% -6.29%
1991 -0.99% -5.57%
1990 -1.79% 2.3%
1989 -1.16% 2.52%
1988 0.11% 2.63%
1987 0.15% 2.36%
1986 -0.03% 2.07%
1985 -0.001% 2.04%
1984 0.23% 2.05%
1983 0.25% 2.4%
1982 0.3% 2.76%
1981 0.33% 2.75%
1980 0.4% 2.72%
1979 0.14% 2.69%
1978 0.11% 2.69%
1977 0.52% 2.68%
1976 0.43% 2.53%
1975 0.48% 2.36%
1974 0.67% 2.46%
1973 0.52% 2.55%
1972 0.47% 2.59%
1971 0.55% 2.63%
1970 0.66% 2.59%
1969 0.77% 2.56%
1968 0.71% 2.55%
1967 0.63% 2.43%
1966 0.66% 2.42%
1965 0.73% 2.52%
1964 0.82% 2.51%
1963 0.81% 2.48%
1962 0.88% 2.43%
1961 0.96% 2.37%

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/eritrea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Eritrea's population grew by 1.88%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Eritrea
Current population
6359449
3700586
Population rank 112/197 130/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.04%
One net population change
1.69 hours
8.06 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
5.31 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
25 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +179
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +65,213
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.88%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 58/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.31 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -6,698
Net migration rank 106/196 122/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 12,512
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 176/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 178/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Eritrea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Eritrea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -6,698
2024 - 524 - -12,696
2023 -43,837 5,173 78,073 -15,284
2022 -62,065 26,498 76,221 -17,134
2021 -90,452 11,756 74,394 -14,966
2020 -65,507 30,167 73,362 -14,967
2019 -46,317 -2,156 73,572 -29,818
2018 -46,304 -3,873 72,511 -21,403
2017 -45,583 -6,109 72,291 -38,579
2016 -42,744 -9,482 73,002 -55,431
2015 -44,699 -4,227 73,682 -52,965
2014 -41,027 -2,180 75,729 -75,696
2013 -37,948 -1,324 75,562 -33,974
2012 -40,183 -26,334 76,416 -43,269
2011 -37,477 -23,360 76,806 -32,949
2010 -34,759 -21,668 76,098 -13,361
2009 -26,800 -19,060 76,206 -24,348
2008 -32,967 -17,595 73,391 17,855
2007 -37,727 -16,366 73,101 -18,131
2006 -39,526 -15,184 74,470 -49,998
2005 -42,124 -14,435 72,930 -12,835
2004 -40,128 -13,604 72,147 -6,374
2003 -44,319 -13,183 66,291 76,703
2002 -46,240 -12,735 65,436 -6,574
2001 -44,050 -30,726 61,180 41,760
2000 -41,668 -26,211 60,274 -33,133
1999 -39,411 -23,846 45,120 -3,769
1998 -52,844 -23,262 55,332 -31,951
1997 -58,185 -22,963 63,953 -30,768
1996 -45,159 -21,520 66,557 -52,421
1995 -42,030 -22,020 56,157 136,105
1994 -32,086 -20,984 56,288 -25,841
1993 -24,569 -19,973 51,679 33,688
1992 -18,789 -120,552 51,443 -22,293
1991 -14,675 -119,356 57,741 -328,546
1990 -3,487 -116,817 56,903 -12,425
1989 5,326 -114,705 54,299 -7,330
1988 9,879 215 54,163 -3,612
1987 8,971 357 52,229 -3,613
1986 16,125 1,104 39,470 -1,073
1985 11,649 -19,230 37,362 -1,073
1984 20,610 -1,032 35,101 772
1983 21,455 -1,872 33,420 1,853
1982 24,077 -1,860 44,146 1,985
1981 29,341 -1,830 42,924 1,985
1980 30,129 -2,045 41,392 1,985
1979 40,599 -872 39,577 1,985
1978 44,070 -62,769 38,353 1,985
1977 47,543 -11,955 37,295 1,985
1976 56,055 -2,522 36,250 1,985
1975 54,941 -38,071 30,971 1,985
1974 64,223 -1,402 30,111 1,985
1973 57,760 -5,409 31,969 1,985
1972 47,169 -11,296 30,951 1,953
1971 52,925 -7,654 31,490 1,758
1970 61,125 -11,315 30,686 1,480
1969 63,256 -3,204 29,535 1,199
1968 69,468 -132 28,777 1,013
1967 49,861 -420 27,992 1,004
1966 54,504 -144 24,713 1,063
1965 58,249 -1,406 26,285 1,188
1964 66,783 505 25,327 1,300
1963 66,241 500 24,393 1,368
1962 64,104 499 23,478 1,364
1961 75,460 378 22,351 1,235
1960 76,314 -1,112 21,424 1,045

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/eritrea | 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 Eritrea 68.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 742,837 people) and 31.2% is from migration (a loss of 336,243 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 12,512 people or 0.4% in Eritrea.

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
Eritrea
City Population
Asmara 963K
Keren 120K
Massawa 39.8K
Mendefera 28.5K

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/eritrea | 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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