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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 3,607,003 people in Eritrea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 3,722,489 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 131st.
  • 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 -0.86% per year vs +1.4% in Eritrea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Eritrea has grown from 2.7M to 3.72M (37.7% growth).

Bulgaria vs Eritrea: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Eritrea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Eritrea
2100 3,384,288 8,522,007
2099 3,408,821 8,497,228
2098 3,433,149 8,474,268
2097 3,457,549 8,451,733
2096 3,482,057 8,429,569
2095 3,506,060 8,403,309
2094 3,530,278 8,377,316
2093 3,554,432 8,351,585
2092 3,578,667 8,316,183
2091 3,602,907 8,285,983
2090 3,627,300 8,250,998
2089 3,652,188 8,216,946
2088 3,677,416 8,179,696
2087 3,703,460 8,143,016
2086 3,730,284 8,100,028
2085 3,757,953 8,053,737
2084 3,786,496 8,006,588
2083 3,815,548 7,963,231
2082 3,845,662 7,918,571
2081 3,876,344 7,878,525
2080 3,908,874 7,822,491
2079 3,942,344 7,772,358
2078 3,976,345 7,718,520
2077 4,011,440 7,662,894
2076 4,047,182 7,607,491
2075 4,083,977 7,545,398
2074 4,122,447 7,490,761
2073 4,161,511 7,426,955
2072 4,201,158 7,364,831
2071 4,241,639 7,302,386
2070 4,283,145 7,237,419
2069 4,325,083 7,171,047
2068 4,367,606 7,100,633
2067 4,411,116 7,032,045
2066 4,455,358 6,958,496
2065 4,500,141 6,890,246
2064 4,545,243 6,820,756
2063 4,590,439 6,739,056
2062 4,635,634 6,665,261
2061 4,681,315 6,586,585
2060 4,727,089 6,506,537
2059 4,772,667 6,427,830
2058 4,817,532 6,348,527
2057 4,862,597 6,270,841
2056 4,907,646 6,199,452
2055 4,953,105 6,119,360
2054 4,998,650 6,044,997
2053 5,044,397 5,962,464
2052 5,089,817 5,877,006
2051 5,135,505 5,796,079
2050 5,181,635 5,715,974
2049 5,228,058 5,637,011
2048 5,274,692 5,554,665
2047 5,322,212 5,473,222
2046 5,369,645 5,391,902
2045 5,417,381 5,305,072
2044 5,465,818 5,220,319
2043 5,514,902 5,136,101
2042 5,564,573 5,048,602
2041 5,615,489 4,964,690
2040 5,667,076 4,875,172
2039 5,719,506 4,786,431
2038 5,771,452 4,697,052
2037 5,824,628 4,603,709
2036 5,877,980 4,510,757
2035 5,930,517 4,424,170
2034 5,983,205 4,336,556
2033 6,036,049 4,251,927
2032 6,088,107 4,168,824
2031 6,140,619 4,087,276
2030 6,193,318 4,002,343
2029 6,244,785 3,921,145
2028 6,294,981 3,839,994
2027 6,343,732 3,759,928
2026 6,390,149 3,682,948
2025 6,433,302 3,607,003
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Eritrea's population increased by 597,791 people (a 19.1% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Eritrea was ranked 135th in 2006 and ranked 131st 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 Eritrea will increase by 53.6% to 5,715,974 people and rank change from 131st to 123rd.

Eritrea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 8.52M 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
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 -0.13% 2.02%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/eritrea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Eritrea's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Eritrea
Current population
6390149
3722489
Population rank 112/197 131/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.04%
One net population change
1.08 hours
7.38 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
5.18 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
24.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +196
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +71,400
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 49/197
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 -47,023 524 80,343 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/eritrea | 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 Eritrea 73.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 747,451 people) and 26.8% is from migration (a loss of 273,243 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/eritrea | 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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