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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 132,059,767 people in Ethiopia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 139,917,664 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 1.76% 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 -0.96% per year vs +2.71% in Ethiopia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Ethiopia has grown from 80.7M to 140M (73.4% growth).

Bulgaria vs Ethiopia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Ethiopia
2100 3,368,029 371,192,732
2099 3,392,444 369,452,188
2098 3,416,655 367,626,914
2097 3,440,938 365,680,268
2096 3,465,328 363,648,440
2095 3,489,216 361,707,589
2094 3,513,318 359,642,227
2093 3,537,356 357,570,752
2092 3,561,475 355,499,462
2091 3,585,597 353,327,595
2090 3,609,873 351,068,287
2089 3,634,642 348,859,203
2088 3,659,749 346,624,222
2087 3,685,668 344,268,493
2086 3,712,363 341,777,395
2085 3,739,898 339,272,558
2084 3,768,305 336,753,372
2083 3,797,217 334,186,307
2082 3,827,186 331,503,693
2081 3,857,721 328,816,892
2080 3,890,095 326,114,551
2079 3,923,403 323,382,593
2078 3,957,241 320,521,381
2077 3,992,168 317,590,857
2076 4,027,738 314,615,353
2075 4,064,356 311,583,813
2074 4,102,642 308,511,275
2073 4,141,518 305,477,711
2072 4,180,975 302,351,806
2071 4,221,261 299,211,554
2070 4,262,568 296,054,535
2069 4,304,304 292,847,034
2068 4,346,623 289,612,061
2067 4,389,924 286,279,975
2066 4,433,953 282,992,981
2065 4,478,521 279,662,528
2064 4,523,406 276,283,161
2063 4,568,385 272,866,834
2062 4,613,363 269,424,014
2061 4,658,825 265,885,347
2060 4,704,379 262,350,260
2059 4,749,738 258,772,570
2058 4,794,388 255,284,371
2057 4,839,236 251,733,988
2056 4,884,068 248,079,002
2055 4,929,309 244,501,471
2054 4,974,635 240,868,686
2053 5,020,162 237,228,269
2052 5,065,364 233,551,340
2051 5,110,833 229,804,463
2050 5,156,741 226,124,819
2049 5,202,941 222,420,063
2048 5,249,351 218,694,640
2047 5,296,642 214,950,242
2046 5,343,848 211,226,920
2045 5,391,354 207,525,986
2044 5,439,559 203,812,674
2043 5,488,407 200,097,321
2042 5,537,839 196,411,774
2041 5,588,510 192,749,114
2040 5,639,850 189,081,695
2039 5,692,028 185,422,958
2038 5,743,725 181,789,129
2037 5,796,645 178,179,942
2036 5,849,741 174,569,201
2035 5,902,025 170,957,061
2034 5,954,460 167,367,920
2033 6,007,050 163,813,895
2032 6,058,858 160,216,774
2031 6,111,118 156,638,324
2030 6,163,564 153,070,380
2029 6,214,784 149,507,684
2028 6,264,738 145,989,372
2027 6,313,255 142,463,827
2026 6,359,449 138,973,582
2025 6,402,394 135,513,842
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Ethiopia's population increased by 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Ethiopia will increase by 61.6% to 226,124,819 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 3.37M 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 -0.61% 2.62%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Ethiopia's population grew by 2.62%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Ethiopia
Current population
6359449
139917664
Population rank 112/197 10/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.69%
One net population change
1.69 hours
9.36 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
7.68 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
41.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 +9,228
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +3,368,075
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.62%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 25/197
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 - 524 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/ethiopia | 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 Ethiopia 98.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 (1960–2024, 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/ethiopia | 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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