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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 1,372,341 people in Estonia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 1,339,590 in Estonia.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 4.75 times bigger than Estonia's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Estonia is the 155th.
  • The countries together account for 0.09% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.02% for Estonia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.37% in Estonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Estonia has declined from 1.35M to 1.34M (0.54% decline).

Bulgaria vs Estonia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Estonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Estonia
2100 3,368,029 831,394
2099 3,392,444 836,965
2098 3,416,655 842,414
2097 3,440,938 847,873
2096 3,465,328 853,472
2095 3,489,216 859,044
2094 3,513,318 864,547
2093 3,537,356 870,136
2092 3,561,475 875,676
2091 3,585,597 881,282
2090 3,609,873 887,028
2089 3,634,642 892,857
2088 3,659,749 898,736
2087 3,685,668 904,914
2086 3,712,363 911,254
2085 3,739,898 917,722
2084 3,768,305 924,458
2083 3,797,217 931,259
2082 3,827,186 938,110
2081 3,857,721 944,978
2080 3,890,095 952,018
2079 3,923,403 959,194
2078 3,957,241 966,496
2077 3,992,168 973,883
2076 4,027,738 981,283
2075 4,064,356 988,735
2074 4,102,642 996,352
2073 4,141,518 1,004,078
2072 4,180,975 1,011,873
2071 4,221,261 1,019,779
2070 4,262,568 1,027,821
2069 4,304,304 1,035,828
2068 4,346,623 1,043,819
2067 4,389,924 1,051,892
2066 4,433,953 1,059,940
2065 4,478,521 1,068,064
2064 4,523,406 1,076,199
2063 4,568,385 1,084,303
2062 4,613,363 1,092,418
2061 4,658,825 1,100,514
2060 4,704,379 1,108,650
2059 4,749,738 1,116,534
2058 4,794,388 1,124,375
2057 4,839,236 1,132,033
2056 4,884,068 1,139,610
2055 4,929,309 1,147,117
2054 4,974,635 1,154,317
2053 5,020,162 1,161,452
2052 5,065,364 1,168,381
2051 5,110,833 1,175,291
2050 5,156,741 1,182,029
2049 5,202,941 1,188,633
2048 5,249,351 1,194,960
2047 5,296,642 1,201,294
2046 5,343,848 1,207,577
2045 5,391,354 1,213,815
2044 5,439,559 1,220,042
2043 5,488,407 1,226,162
2042 5,537,839 1,232,282
2041 5,588,510 1,238,386
2040 5,639,850 1,244,441
2039 5,692,028 1,250,581
2038 5,743,725 1,256,780
2037 5,796,645 1,263,149
2036 5,849,741 1,269,700
2035 5,902,025 1,276,331
2034 5,954,460 1,283,159
2033 6,007,050 1,290,037
2032 6,058,858 1,297,036
2031 6,111,118 1,304,102
2030 6,163,564 1,311,189
2029 6,214,784 1,318,225
2028 6,264,738 1,325,354
2027 6,313,255 1,332,492
2026 6,359,449 1,339,590
2025 6,402,394 1,358,931
2024 6,441,421 1,372,341
2023 6,446,596 1,370,286
2022 6,465,097 1,348,840
2021 6,507,301 1,330,932
2020 6,550,696 1,329,522
2019 6,616,726 1,326,898
2018 6,710,798 1,321,977
2017 6,803,468 1,317,384
2016 6,894,139 1,315,790
2015 6,984,225 1,315,407
2014 7,073,572 1,314,545
2013 7,160,005 1,317,997
2012 7,305,888 1,322,696
2011 7,348,328 1,327,439
2010 7,395,599 1,331,475
2009 7,444,443 1,334,515
2008 7,492,561 1,337,090
2007 7,545,338 1,340,680
2006 7,601,022 1,346,810
2005 7,658,972 1,354,775
2004 7,716,860 1,362,550
2003 7,775,327 1,370,720
2002 7,837,161 1,379,350
2001 8,009,142 1,388,115
2000 8,170,172 1,396,985
1999 8,210,624 1,390,244
1998 8,256,786 1,386,156
1997 8,312,068 1,399,535
1996 8,362,826 1,415,594
1995 8,406,067 1,436,634
1994 8,443,591 1,462,514
1993 8,472,313 1,494,128
1992 8,540,164 1,533,091
1991 8,632,367 1,561,314
1990 8,718,289 1,569,174
1989 8,876,972 1,568,131
1988 8,981,446 1,561,900
1987 8,971,359 1,552,221
1986 8,958,171 1,540,190
1985 8,960,547 1,528,781
1984 8,960,679 1,518,617
1983 8,939,738 1,508,745
1982 8,917,457 1,498,414
1981 8,891,117 1,487,666
1980 8,861,535 1,477,219
1979 8,825,940 1,468,333
1978 8,814,032 1,460,188
1977 8,804,183 1,450,211
1976 8,758,599 1,439,576
1975 8,720,742 1,429,352
1974 8,678,745 1,418,169
1973 8,620,967 1,405,951
1972 8,576,200 1,392,518
1971 8,536,395 1,376,955
1970 8,489,574 1,360,076
1969 8,434,172 1,345,249
1968 8,369,603 1,331,214
1967 8,310,226 1,318,946
1966 8,258,057 1,308,597
1965 8,204,168 1,294,566
1964 8,144,340 1,277,086
1963 8,078,145 1,258,857
1962 8,012,946 1,241,623
1961 7,943,118 1,225,077
1960 7,867,374 1,211,537

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/estonia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Estonia lost 31,020 people (a 2.3% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Estonia's population increased by 23,800 people (a 1.81% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Estonia was ranked 149th in 2006 and ranked 155th 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 Estonia will decrease by 11.8% to 1,182,029 people and rank change from 155th to 159th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 26.7% in Estonia.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Estonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Estonia
2100 -0.72% -0.67%
2099 -0.71% -0.65%
2098 -0.71% -0.64%
2097 -0.7% -0.66%
2096 -0.68% -0.65%
2095 -0.69% -0.64%
2094 -0.68% -0.64%
2093 -0.68% -0.63%
2092 -0.67% -0.64%
2091 -0.67% -0.65%
2090 -0.68% -0.65%
2089 -0.69% -0.65%
2088 -0.7% -0.68%
2087 -0.72% -0.7%
2086 -0.74% -0.7%
2085 -0.75% -0.73%
2084 -0.76% -0.73%
2083 -0.78% -0.73%
2082 -0.79% -0.73%
2081 -0.83% -0.74%
2080 -0.85% -0.75%
2079 -0.86% -0.76%
2078 -0.87% -0.76%
2077 -0.88% -0.75%
2076 -0.9% -0.75%
2075 -0.93% -0.76%
2074 -0.94% -0.77%
2073 -0.94% -0.77%
2072 -0.95% -0.78%
2071 -0.97% -0.78%
2070 -0.97% -0.77%
2069 -0.97% -0.77%
2068 -0.99% -0.77%
2067 -0.99% -0.76%
2066 -1% -0.76%
2065 -0.99% -0.76%
2064 -0.98% -0.75%
2063 -0.97% -0.74%
2062 -0.98% -0.74%
2061 -0.97% -0.73%
2060 -0.95% -0.71%
2059 -0.93% -0.7%
2058 -0.93% -0.68%
2057 -0.92% -0.66%
2056 -0.92% -0.65%
2055 -0.91% -0.62%
2054 -0.91% -0.61%
2053 -0.89% -0.59%
2052 -0.89% -0.59%
2051 -0.89% -0.57%
2050 -0.89% -0.56%
2049 -0.88% -0.53%
2048 -0.89% -0.53%
2047 -0.88% -0.52%
2046 -0.88% -0.51%
2045 -0.89% -0.51%
2044 -0.89% -0.5%
2043 -0.89% -0.5%
2042 -0.91% -0.49%
2041 -0.91% -0.49%
2040 -0.92% -0.49%
2039 -0.9% -0.49%
2038 -0.91% -0.5%
2037 -0.91% -0.52%
2036 -0.89% -0.52%
2035 -0.88% -0.53%
2034 -0.88% -0.53%
2033 -0.86% -0.54%
2032 -0.86% -0.54%
2031 -0.85% -0.54%
2030 -0.82% -0.53%
2029 -0.8% -0.54%
2028 -0.77% -0.54%
2027 -0.73% -0.53%
2026 -0.67% -1.42%
2025 -0.61% -0.98%
2024 -0.08% 0.15%
2023 -0.29% 1.59%
2022 -0.65% 1.35%
2021 -0.66% 0.11%
2020 -1% 0.2%
2019 -1.4% 0.37%
2018 -1.36% 0.35%
2017 -1.32% 0.12%
2016 -1.29% 0.03%
2015 -1.26% 0.07%
2014 -1.21% -0.26%
2013 -2% -0.36%
2012 -0.58% -0.36%
2011 -0.64% -0.3%
2010 -0.66% -0.23%
2009 -0.64% -0.19%
2008 -0.7% -0.27%
2007 -0.73% -0.46%
2006 -0.76% -0.59%
2005 -0.75% -0.57%
2004 -0.75% -0.6%
2003 -0.79% -0.63%
2002 -2.15% -0.63%
2001 -1.97% -0.63%
2000 -0.49% 0.48%
1999 -0.56% 0.29%
1998 -0.67% -0.96%
1997 -0.61% -1.13%
1996 -0.51% -1.46%
1995 -0.44% -1.77%
1994 -0.34% -2.12%
1993 -0.79% -2.54%
1992 -1.07% -1.81%
1991 -0.99% -0.5%
1990 -1.79% 0.07%
1989 -1.16% 0.4%
1988 0.11% 0.62%
1987 0.15% 0.78%
1986 -0.03% 0.75%
1985 -0.001% 0.67%
1984 0.23% 0.65%
1983 0.25% 0.69%
1982 0.3% 0.72%
1981 0.33% 0.71%
1980 0.4% 0.61%
1979 0.14% 0.56%
1978 0.11% 0.69%
1977 0.52% 0.74%
1976 0.43% 0.72%
1975 0.48% 0.79%
1974 0.67% 0.87%
1973 0.52% 0.96%
1972 0.47% 1.13%
1971 0.55% 1.24%
1970 0.66% 1.1%
1969 0.77% 1.05%
1968 0.71% 0.93%
1967 0.63% 0.79%
1966 0.66% 1.08%
1965 0.73% 1.37%
1964 0.82% 1.45%
1963 0.81% 1.39%
1962 0.88% 1.35%
1961 0.96% 1.12%

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/estonia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Estonia's population grew by 0.15%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Estonia
Current population
6359449
1339590
Population rank 112/197 155/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.02%
One net population change
1.69 hours
4.26 hours
One birth every
9.16 minutes
47.9 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
32.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +6
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +2,055
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.15%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 158/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
39.5 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -13,350
Net migration rank 106/196 141/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 203,046
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 110/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 14.9%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 43/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Estonia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Estonia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -13,350
2024 - 524 - -7,742
2023 -43,837 5,173 -5,070 5,717
2022 -62,065 26,498 -5,665 39,754
2021 -90,452 11,756 -5,324 7,043
2020 -65,507 30,167 -2,659 3,694
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -1,327 5,386
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -1,322 7,089
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -1,713 5,202
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -1,316 1,081
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -1,315 4,261
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -1,972 -674
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -1,713 -2,688
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -1,455 -3,674
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -531 -3,941
2010 -34,759 -21,668 0 -3,781
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -400 -2,089
2008 -32,967 -17,595 -668 -2,034
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -1,608 -2,941
2006 -39,526 -15,184 -2,559 -5,351
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -2,981 -5,208
2004 -40,128 -13,604 -3,679 -3,681
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -5,072 -3,705
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -5,380 -2,889
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -5,830 -3,280
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -5,309 -3,083
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -6,117 1,419
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -7,208 -3,296
1997 -58,185 -22,963 -6,018 -4,066
1996 -45,159 -21,520 -5,662 -10,540
1995 -42,030 -22,020 -7,327 -12,655
1994 -32,086 -20,984 -8,044 -17,984
1993 -24,569 -19,973 -5,976 -25,501
1992 -18,789 -120,552 -1,993 -38,391
1991 -14,675 -119,356 -312 -9,712
1990 -3,487 -116,817 2,825 -2,660
1989 5,326 -114,705 5,803 -368
1988 9,879 215 6,404 5,256
1987 8,971 357 6,829 5,389
1986 16,125 1,104 6,160 5,260
1985 11,649 -19,230 4,281 5,097
1984 20,610 -1,032 5,163 5,006
1983 21,455 -1,872 5,884 4,986
1982 24,077 -1,860 5,244 4,832
1981 29,341 -1,830 4,612 4,789
1980 30,129 -2,045 3,989 4,619
1979 40,599 -872 3,818 4,521
1978 44,070 -62,769 4,088 7,234
1977 47,543 -11,955 4,931 7,189
1976 56,055 -2,522 4,319 6,942
1975 54,941 -38,071 4,717 6,737
1974 64,223 -1,402 5,956 6,594
1973 57,760 -5,409 5,623 6,488
1972 47,169 -11,296 6,267 6,432
1971 52,925 -7,654 7,160 6,392
1970 61,125 -11,315 6,257 6,158
1969 63,256 -3,204 5,515 8,650
1968 69,468 -132 5,592 9,403
1967 49,861 -420 5,012 9,115
1966 54,504 -144 4,842 8,998
1965 58,249 -1,406 5,437 8,851
1964 66,783 505 6,897 8,734
1963 66,241 500 6,043 8,410
1962 64,104 499 6,457 8,248
1961 75,460 378 7,228 7,991
1960 76,314 -1,112 7,511 7,762

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/estonia | 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 Estonia 26.1% is from natural causes (a loss of 27,683 people) and 73.9% is from migration (a gain of 78,553 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 203,046 people or 14.9% in Estonia.

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
Estonia
City Population
Tallinn 458K
Tartu 97.8K
Narva 53.4K
Parnu 41.5K
Kohtla-Jarve 33.4K
Viljandi 17.3K
Maardu 17K
Rakvere 15.7K
Kuressaare 13.2K
Sillamae 12.4K

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

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