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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 135,472,051 people in Ethiopia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 140,722,974 in Ethiopia.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 22 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Ethiopia is the 10th.
  • The countries together account for 1.77% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 1.69% for Ethiopia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +2.69% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 141M (74.4% growth).

Bulgaria vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Ethiopia
2100 3,384,288 371,078,260
2099 3,408,821 369,338,252
2098 3,433,149 367,513,542
2097 3,457,549 365,567,496
2096 3,482,057 363,536,294
2095 3,506,060 361,596,042
2094 3,530,278 359,531,317
2093 3,554,432 357,460,480
2092 3,578,667 355,389,829
2091 3,602,907 353,218,632
2090 3,627,300 350,960,021
2089 3,652,188 348,751,618
2088 3,677,416 346,517,326
2087 3,703,460 344,162,324
2086 3,730,284 341,671,994
2085 3,757,953 339,167,930
2084 3,786,496 336,649,520
2083 3,815,548 334,083,247
2082 3,845,662 331,401,460
2081 3,876,344 328,715,487
2080 3,908,874 326,013,981
2079 3,942,344 323,282,865
2078 3,976,345 320,422,535
2077 4,011,440 317,492,915
2076 4,047,182 314,518,328
2075 4,083,977 311,487,723
2074 4,122,447 308,416,133
2073 4,161,511 305,383,505
2072 4,201,158 302,258,564
2071 4,241,639 299,119,280
2070 4,283,145 295,963,235
2069 4,325,083 292,756,723
2068 4,367,606 289,522,748
2067 4,411,116 286,191,689
2066 4,455,358 282,905,709
2065 4,500,141 279,576,283
2064 4,545,243 276,197,958
2063 4,590,439 272,782,685
2062 4,635,634 269,340,926
2061 4,681,315 265,803,351
2060 4,727,089 262,269,354
2059 4,772,667 258,692,767
2058 4,817,532 255,205,644
2057 4,862,597 251,656,356
2056 4,907,646 248,002,497
2055 4,953,105 244,426,069
2054 4,998,650 240,794,405
2053 5,044,397 237,155,110
2052 5,089,817 233,479,314
2051 5,135,505 229,733,593
2050 5,181,635 226,055,085
2049 5,228,058 222,351,471
2048 5,274,692 218,627,197
2047 5,322,212 214,883,954
2046 5,369,645 211,161,780
2045 5,417,381 207,461,987
2044 5,465,818 203,749,820
2043 5,514,902 200,035,613
2042 5,564,573 196,351,202
2041 5,615,489 192,689,672
2040 5,667,076 189,023,384
2039 5,719,506 185,365,776
2038 5,771,452 181,733,067
2037 5,824,628 178,124,993
2036 5,877,980 174,515,366
2035 5,930,517 170,904,339
2034 5,983,205 167,316,305
2033 6,036,049 163,763,376
2032 6,088,107 160,167,364
2031 6,140,619 156,590,018
2030 6,193,318 153,023,174
2029 6,244,785 149,461,578
2028 6,294,981 145,944,350
2027 6,343,732 142,419,893
2026 6,390,149 138,930,724
2025 6,433,302 135,472,051
2024 6,441,421 132,059,767
2023 6,446,596 128,691,692
2022 6,465,097 125,384,287
2021 6,507,301 122,138,588
2020 6,550,696 118,917,671
2019 6,616,726 115,737,383
2018 6,710,798 112,664,152
2017 6,803,468 109,666,481
2016 6,894,139 106,718,162
2015 6,984,225 103,867,135
2014 7,073,572 101,115,610
2013 7,160,005 98,438,751
2012 7,305,888 95,798,767
2011 7,348,328 93,149,970
2010 7,395,599 90,538,514
2009 7,444,443 88,007,636
2008 7,492,561 85,543,668
2007 7,545,338 83,103,217
2006 7,601,022 80,703,490
2005 7,658,972 78,367,470
2004 7,716,860 76,077,206
2003 7,775,327 73,832,663
2002 7,837,161 71,635,517
2001 8,009,142 69,487,762
2000 8,170,172 67,411,494
1999 8,210,624 65,374,561
1998 8,256,786 63,363,524
1997 8,312,068 61,404,539
1996 8,362,826 59,467,635
1995 8,406,067 57,537,335
1994 8,443,591 55,611,508
1993 8,472,313 53,708,891
1992 8,540,164 51,853,747
1991 8,632,367 49,717,198
1990 8,718,289 47,609,755
1989 8,876,972 45,879,690
1988 8,981,446 44,150,825
1987 8,971,359 42,460,039
1986 8,958,171 41,037,656
1985 8,960,547 39,842,136
1984 8,960,679 38,735,722
1983 8,939,738 37,740,817
1982 8,917,457 36,701,290
1981 8,891,117 35,304,012
1980 8,861,535 34,428,514
1979 8,825,940 34,238,652
1978 8,814,032 33,734,592
1977 8,804,183 33,167,272
1976 8,758,599 32,534,418
1975 8,720,742 31,723,252
1974 8,678,745 30,957,273
1973 8,620,967 30,166,785
1972 8,576,200 29,374,608
1971 8,536,395 28,600,106
1970 8,489,574 27,829,128
1969 8,434,172 27,072,571
1968 8,369,603 26,337,930
1967 8,310,226 25,620,276
1966 8,258,057 24,952,689
1965 8,204,168 24,310,612
1964 8,144,340 23,666,548
1963 8,078,145 23,051,637
1962 8,012,946 22,465,126
1961 7,943,118 21,906,102
1960 7,867,374 21,376,693

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/ethiopia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Ethiopia gained 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Ethiopia's population increased by 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Ethiopia was ranked 16th in 2006 and ranked 10th 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 Ethiopia will increase by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people and rank change from 10th to 7th.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M 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
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Ethiopia
2100 -0.72% 0.47%
2099 -0.71% 0.5%
2098 -0.71% 0.53%
2097 -0.7% 0.56%
2096 -0.68% 0.54%
2095 -0.69% 0.57%
2094 -0.68% 0.58%
2093 -0.68% 0.58%
2092 -0.67% 0.61%
2091 -0.67% 0.64%
2090 -0.68% 0.63%
2089 -0.69% 0.64%
2088 -0.7% 0.68%
2087 -0.72% 0.73%
2086 -0.74% 0.74%
2085 -0.75% 0.75%
2084 -0.76% 0.77%
2083 -0.78% 0.81%
2082 -0.79% 0.82%
2081 -0.83% 0.83%
2080 -0.85% 0.84%
2079 -0.86% 0.89%
2078 -0.87% 0.92%
2077 -0.88% 0.95%
2076 -0.9% 0.97%
2075 -0.93% 1%
2074 -0.94% 0.99%
2073 -0.94% 1.03%
2072 -0.95% 1.05%
2071 -0.97% 1.07%
2070 -0.97% 1.1%
2069 -0.97% 1.12%
2068 -0.99% 1.16%
2067 -0.99% 1.16%
2066 -1% 1.19%
2065 -0.99% 1.22%
2064 -0.98% 1.25%
2063 -0.97% 1.28%
2062 -0.98% 1.33%
2061 -0.97% 1.35%
2060 -0.95% 1.38%
2059 -0.93% 1.37%
2058 -0.93% 1.41%
2057 -0.92% 1.47%
2056 -0.92% 1.46%
2055 -0.91% 1.51%
2054 -0.91% 1.53%
2053 -0.89% 1.57%
2052 -0.89% 1.63%
2051 -0.89% 1.63%
2050 -0.89% 1.67%
2049 -0.88% 1.7%
2048 -0.89% 1.74%
2047 -0.88% 1.76%
2046 -0.88% 1.78%
2045 -0.89% 1.82%
2044 -0.89% 1.86%
2043 -0.89% 1.88%
2042 -0.91% 1.9%
2041 -0.91% 1.94%
2040 -0.92% 1.97%
2039 -0.9% 2%
2038 -0.91% 2.03%
2037 -0.91% 2.07%
2036 -0.89% 2.11%
2035 -0.88% 2.14%
2034 -0.88% 2.17%
2033 -0.86% 2.25%
2032 -0.86% 2.28%
2031 -0.85% 2.33%
2030 -0.82% 2.38%
2029 -0.8% 2.41%
2028 -0.77% 2.47%
2027 -0.73% 2.51%
2026 -0.67% 2.55%
2025 -0.13% 2.58%
2024 -0.08% 2.62%
2023 -0.29% 2.64%
2022 -0.65% 2.66%
2021 -0.66% 2.71%
2020 -1% 2.75%
2019 -1.4% 2.73%
2018 -1.36% 2.73%
2017 -1.32% 2.76%
2016 -1.29% 2.74%
2015 -1.26% 2.72%
2014 -1.21% 2.72%
2013 -2% 2.76%
2012 -0.58% 2.84%
2011 -0.64% 2.88%
2010 -0.66% 2.88%
2009 -0.64% 2.88%
2008 -0.7% 2.94%
2007 -0.73% 2.97%
2006 -0.76% 2.98%
2005 -0.75% 3.01%
2004 -0.75% 3.04%
2003 -0.79% 3.07%
2002 -2.15% 3.09%
2001 -1.97% 3.08%
2000 -0.49% 3.12%
1999 -0.56% 3.17%
1998 -0.67% 3.19%
1997 -0.61% 3.26%
1996 -0.51% 3.35%
1995 -0.44% 3.46%
1994 -0.34% 3.54%
1993 -0.79% 3.58%
1992 -1.07% 4.3%
1991 -0.99% 4.43%
1990 -1.79% 3.77%
1989 -1.16% 3.92%
1988 0.11% 3.98%
1987 0.15% 3.47%
1986 -0.03% 3%
1985 -0.001% 2.86%
1984 0.23% 2.64%
1983 0.25% 2.83%
1982 0.3% 3.96%
1981 0.33% 2.54%
1980 0.4% 0.55%
1979 0.14% 1.49%
1978 0.11% 1.71%
1977 0.52% 1.95%
1976 0.43% 2.56%
1975 0.48% 2.47%
1974 0.67% 2.62%
1973 0.52% 2.7%
1972 0.47% 2.71%
1971 0.55% 2.77%
1970 0.66% 2.79%
1969 0.77% 2.79%
1968 0.71% 2.8%
1967 0.63% 2.68%
1966 0.66% 2.64%
1965 0.73% 2.72%
1964 0.82% 2.67%
1963 0.81% 2.61%
1962 0.88% 2.55%
1961 0.96% 2.48%

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/ethiopia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.58%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Ethiopia
Current population
6390149
140722974
Population rank 112/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.69%
One net population change
1.08 hours
9.27 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
7.59 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
40.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline -22 +9,349
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +3,412,284
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.58%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 24/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
21.9 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +24,054
Net migration rank 106/196 31/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,168,455
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 53/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 157/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Ethiopia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 24,054
2024 -47,023 524 3,379,409 30,069
2023 -43,837 5,173 3,338,649 -11,996
2022 -62,065 26,498 3,300,114 -11,996
2021 -90,452 11,756 3,204,673 -1,377
2020 -65,507 30,167 3,199,718 38,866
2019 -46,317 -2,156 3,132,780 -10,807
2018 -46,304 -3,873 3,015,231 9,302
2017 -45,583 -6,109 2,899,143 71,766
2016 -42,744 -9,482 2,809,889 115,823
2015 -44,699 -4,227 2,713,529 62,785
2014 -41,027 -2,180 2,623,647 103,122
2013 -37,948 -1,324 2,546,020 80,955
2012 -40,183 -26,334 2,533,398 119,517
2011 -37,477 -23,360 2,527,811 116,793
2010 -34,759 -21,668 2,498,048 80,213
2009 -26,800 -19,060 2,467,118 16,315
2008 -32,967 -17,595 2,465,283 -20,780
2007 -37,727 -16,366 2,436,753 -381
2006 -39,526 -15,184 2,393,585 -30,512
2005 -42,124 -14,435 2,353,375 -44,421
2004 -40,128 -13,604 2,296,999 -25,430
2003 -44,319 -13,183 2,231,223 -13,744
2002 -46,240 -12,735 2,189,683 -12,925
2001 -44,050 -30,726 2,137,791 -19,063
2000 -41,668 -26,211 2,083,622 -49,891
1999 -39,411 -23,846 2,010,987 29,142
1998 -52,844 -23,262 1,984,989 -3,011
1997 -58,185 -22,963 1,945,112 -9,119
1996 -45,159 -21,520 1,896,364 41,456
1995 -42,030 -22,020 1,831,068 91,727
1994 -32,086 -20,984 1,788,133 140,715
1993 -24,569 -19,973 1,734,851 141,545
1992 -18,789 -120,552 1,673,839 160,106
1991 -14,675 -119,356 1,579,416 859,737
1990 -3,487 -116,817 1,479,663 296,014
1989 5,326 -114,705 1,441,769 242,614
1988 9,879 215 1,393,356 379,966
1987 8,971 357 1,356,853 251,387
1986 16,125 1,104 1,050,277 186,227
1985 11,649 -19,230 997,050 157,476
1984 20,610 -1,032 920,670 137,632
1983 21,455 -1,872 863,472 68,022
1982 24,077 -1,860 1,080,853 66,702
1981 29,341 -1,830 1,018,838 628,135
1980 30,129 -2,045 1,007,516 -903,529
1979 40,599 -872 987,203 -711,455
1978 44,070 -62,769 943,388 -210,991
1977 47,543 -11,955 929,381 -527,133
1976 56,055 -2,522 899,577 -36,125
1975 54,941 -38,071 801,425 -42,540
1974 64,223 -1,402 777,306 -4,232
1973 57,760 -5,409 807,535 347
1972 47,169 -11,296 779,808 -3,375
1971 52,925 -7,654 787,047 -14,510
1970 61,125 -11,315 760,821 8,589
1969 63,256 -3,204 736,428 7,258
1968 69,468 -132 715,602 9,992
1967 49,861 -420 695,283 14,437
1966 54,504 -144 616,281 9,160
1965 58,249 -1,406 642,359 16,348
1964 66,783 505 618,667 10,749
1963 66,241 500 590,998 9,418
1962 64,104 499 563,650 8,960
1961 75,460 378 538,518 6,938
1960 76,314 -1,112 511,694 1,696

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/ethiopia | 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 Ethiopia 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,168,455 people or 0.9% in Ethiopia.

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
Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K

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/ethiopia | 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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