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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 5,619,911 people in Finland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 5,631,965 in Finland.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 1.13 times bigger than Finland's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Finland is the 120th.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.07% for Finland.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.3% in Finland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Finland has grown from 5.27M to 5.63M (6.94% growth).

Bulgaria vs Finland: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Finland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Finland
2100 3,368,029 4,615,954
2099 3,392,444 4,632,084
2098 3,416,655 4,648,068
2097 3,440,938 4,663,730
2096 3,465,328 4,678,982
2095 3,489,216 4,694,312
2094 3,513,318 4,709,388
2093 3,537,356 4,724,681
2092 3,561,475 4,739,809
2091 3,585,597 4,755,260
2090 3,609,873 4,770,907
2089 3,634,642 4,786,400
2088 3,659,749 4,801,901
2087 3,685,668 4,817,852
2086 3,712,363 4,833,786
2085 3,739,898 4,849,629
2084 3,768,305 4,864,891
2083 3,797,217 4,880,250
2082 3,827,186 4,896,009
2081 3,857,721 4,911,803
2080 3,890,095 4,927,618
2079 3,923,403 4,943,129
2078 3,957,241 4,958,168
2077 3,992,168 4,973,373
2076 4,027,738 4,988,599
2075 4,064,356 5,003,374
2074 4,102,642 5,018,067
2073 4,141,518 5,032,313
2072 4,180,975 5,046,145
2071 4,221,261 5,059,821
2070 4,262,568 5,073,405
2069 4,304,304 5,086,624
2068 4,346,623 5,100,021
2067 4,389,924 5,113,379
2066 4,433,953 5,126,654
2065 4,478,521 5,140,841
2064 4,523,406 5,154,898
2063 4,568,385 5,169,175
2062 4,613,363 5,183,334
2061 4,658,825 5,197,920
2060 4,704,379 5,212,905
2059 4,749,738 5,228,152
2058 4,794,388 5,242,966
2057 4,839,236 5,258,706
2056 4,884,068 5,274,797
2055 4,929,309 5,290,920
2054 4,974,635 5,306,678
2053 5,020,162 5,321,951
2052 5,065,364 5,337,100
2051 5,110,833 5,352,042
2050 5,156,741 5,366,251
2049 5,202,941 5,380,081
2048 5,249,351 5,393,571
2047 5,296,642 5,406,757
2046 5,343,848 5,419,535
2045 5,391,354 5,432,355
2044 5,439,559 5,444,871
2043 5,488,407 5,457,529
2042 5,537,839 5,469,797
2041 5,588,510 5,482,134
2040 5,639,850 5,494,276
2039 5,692,028 5,506,630
2038 5,743,725 5,518,788
2037 5,796,645 5,530,908
2036 5,849,741 5,542,684
2035 5,902,025 5,554,158
2034 5,954,460 5,565,174
2033 6,007,050 5,575,691
2032 6,058,858 5,585,700
2031 6,111,118 5,595,391
2030 6,163,564 5,604,388
2029 6,214,784 5,612,864
2028 6,264,738 5,620,473
2027 6,313,255 5,627,272
2026 6,359,449 5,631,965
2025 6,402,394 5,630,458
2024 6,441,421 5,619,911
2023 6,446,596 5,583,911
2022 6,465,097 5,556,106
2021 6,507,301 5,541,017
2020 6,550,696 5,529,543
2019 6,616,726 5,521,606
2018 6,710,798 5,515,525
2017 6,803,468 5,508,214
2016 6,894,139 5,495,303
2015 6,984,225 5,479,531
2014 7,073,572 5,461,512
2013 7,160,005 5,438,972
2012 7,305,888 5,413,971
2011 7,348,328 5,388,272
2010 7,395,599 5,363,352
2009 7,444,443 5,338,871
2008 7,492,561 5,313,399
2007 7,545,338 5,288,720
2006 7,601,022 5,266,268
2005 7,658,972 5,246,096
2004 7,716,860 5,228,172
2003 7,775,327 5,213,014
2002 7,837,161 5,200,598
2001 8,009,142 5,188,008
2000 8,170,172 5,176,209
1999 8,210,624 5,165,474
1998 8,256,786 5,153,498
1997 8,312,068 5,139,835
1996 8,362,826 5,124,573
1995 8,406,067 5,107,790
1994 8,443,591 5,088,333
1993 8,472,313 5,066,447
1992 8,540,164 5,041,992
1991 8,632,367 5,013,740
1990 8,718,289 4,986,431
1989 8,876,972 4,964,371
1988 8,981,446 4,946,481
1987 8,971,359 4,932,123
1986 8,958,171 4,918,154
1985 8,960,547 4,902,206
1984 8,960,679 4,881,803
1983 8,939,738 4,855,787
1982 8,917,457 4,826,933
1981 8,891,117 4,799,964
1980 8,861,535 4,779,535
1979 8,825,940 4,764,690
1978 8,814,032 4,752,528
1977 8,804,183 4,738,902
1976 8,758,599 4,725,664
1975 8,720,742 4,711,440
1974 8,678,745 4,690,574
1973 8,620,967 4,666,081
1972 8,576,200 4,639,657
1971 8,536,395 4,612,124
1970 8,489,574 4,606,307
1969 8,434,172 4,623,785
1968 8,369,603 4,626,469
1967 8,310,226 4,605,744
1966 8,258,057 4,580,869
1965 8,204,168 4,563,732
1964 8,144,340 4,548,543
1963 8,078,145 4,523,309
1962 8,012,946 4,491,443
1961 7,943,118 4,461,005
1960 7,867,374 4,429,634

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/finland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Finland gained 229,035 people (a 4.35% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Finland's population increased by 136,662 people (a 2.49% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Finland was ranked 111th in 2006 and ranked 120th 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 Finland will decrease by 4.72% to 5,366,251 people and rank change from 120th to 127th.

Finland is projected to reach its peak in 2026 at 5.63M 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
Finland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Finland
2100 -0.72% -0.35%
2099 -0.71% -0.34%
2098 -0.71% -0.34%
2097 -0.7% -0.33%
2096 -0.68% -0.33%
2095 -0.69% -0.32%
2094 -0.68% -0.32%
2093 -0.68% -0.32%
2092 -0.67% -0.32%
2091 -0.67% -0.33%
2090 -0.68% -0.32%
2089 -0.69% -0.32%
2088 -0.7% -0.33%
2087 -0.72% -0.33%
2086 -0.74% -0.33%
2085 -0.75% -0.31%
2084 -0.76% -0.31%
2083 -0.78% -0.32%
2082 -0.79% -0.32%
2081 -0.83% -0.32%
2080 -0.85% -0.31%
2079 -0.86% -0.3%
2078 -0.87% -0.31%
2077 -0.88% -0.31%
2076 -0.9% -0.3%
2075 -0.93% -0.29%
2074 -0.94% -0.28%
2073 -0.94% -0.27%
2072 -0.95% -0.27%
2071 -0.97% -0.27%
2070 -0.97% -0.26%
2069 -0.97% -0.26%
2068 -0.99% -0.26%
2067 -0.99% -0.26%
2066 -1% -0.28%
2065 -0.99% -0.27%
2064 -0.98% -0.28%
2063 -0.97% -0.27%
2062 -0.98% -0.28%
2061 -0.97% -0.29%
2060 -0.95% -0.29%
2059 -0.93% -0.28%
2058 -0.93% -0.3%
2057 -0.92% -0.31%
2056 -0.92% -0.3%
2055 -0.91% -0.3%
2054 -0.91% -0.29%
2053 -0.89% -0.28%
2052 -0.89% -0.28%
2051 -0.89% -0.26%
2050 -0.89% -0.26%
2049 -0.88% -0.25%
2048 -0.89% -0.24%
2047 -0.88% -0.24%
2046 -0.88% -0.24%
2045 -0.89% -0.23%
2044 -0.89% -0.23%
2043 -0.89% -0.22%
2042 -0.91% -0.23%
2041 -0.91% -0.22%
2040 -0.92% -0.22%
2039 -0.9% -0.22%
2038 -0.91% -0.22%
2037 -0.91% -0.21%
2036 -0.89% -0.21%
2035 -0.88% -0.2%
2034 -0.88% -0.19%
2033 -0.86% -0.18%
2032 -0.86% -0.17%
2031 -0.85% -0.16%
2030 -0.82% -0.15%
2029 -0.8% -0.14%
2028 -0.77% -0.12%
2027 -0.73% -0.08%
2026 -0.67% 0.03%
2025 -0.61% 0.19%
2024 -0.08% 0.64%
2023 -0.29% 0.5%
2022 -0.65% 0.27%
2021 -0.66% 0.21%
2020 -1% 0.14%
2019 -1.4% 0.11%
2018 -1.36% 0.13%
2017 -1.32% 0.23%
2016 -1.29% 0.29%
2015 -1.26% 0.33%
2014 -1.21% 0.41%
2013 -2% 0.46%
2012 -0.58% 0.48%
2011 -0.64% 0.46%
2010 -0.66% 0.46%
2009 -0.64% 0.48%
2008 -0.7% 0.47%
2007 -0.73% 0.43%
2006 -0.76% 0.38%
2005 -0.75% 0.34%
2004 -0.75% 0.29%
2003 -0.79% 0.24%
2002 -2.15% 0.24%
2001 -1.97% 0.23%
2000 -0.49% 0.21%
1999 -0.56% 0.23%
1998 -0.67% 0.27%
1997 -0.61% 0.3%
1996 -0.51% 0.33%
1995 -0.44% 0.38%
1994 -0.34% 0.43%
1993 -0.79% 0.49%
1992 -1.07% 0.56%
1991 -0.99% 0.55%
1990 -1.79% 0.44%
1989 -1.16% 0.36%
1988 0.11% 0.29%
1987 0.15% 0.28%
1986 -0.03% 0.33%
1985 -0.001% 0.42%
1984 0.23% 0.54%
1983 0.25% 0.6%
1982 0.3% 0.56%
1981 0.33% 0.43%
1980 0.4% 0.31%
1979 0.14% 0.26%
1978 0.11% 0.29%
1977 0.52% 0.28%
1976 0.43% 0.3%
1975 0.48% 0.44%
1974 0.67% 0.52%
1973 0.52% 0.57%
1972 0.47% 0.6%
1971 0.55% 0.13%
1970 0.66% -0.38%
1969 0.77% -0.06%
1968 0.71% 0.45%
1967 0.63% 0.54%
1966 0.66% 0.38%
1965 0.73% 0.33%
1964 0.82% 0.56%
1963 0.81% 0.71%
1962 0.88% 0.68%
1961 0.96% 0.71%

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/finland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Finland's population grew by 0.64%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Finland
Current population
6359449
5631965
Population rank 112/197 120/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.07%
One net population change
1.69 hours
14.6 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
12.1 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
8.56 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +99
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +36,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.64%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 122/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
28.9 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +18,246
Net migration rank 106/196 33/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 514,432
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 79/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 9.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 69/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Finland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Finland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 18,246
2024 - 524 - 26,894
2023 -43,837 5,173 -17,869 38,156
2022 -62,065 26,498 -18,335 60,353
2021 -90,452 11,756 -7,757 22,484
2020 -65,507 30,167 -8,847 17,504
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -8,282 15,671
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -7,170 11,822
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -3,856 13,356
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -1,099 17,321
2015 -44,699 -4,227 2,740 12,655
2014 -41,027 -2,180 4,915 15,915
2013 -37,948 -1,324 6,527 18,164
2012 -40,183 -26,334 7,579 17,894
2011 -37,477 -23,360 9,160 16,798
2010 -34,759 -21,668 10,191 14,080
2009 -26,800 -19,060 10,678 14,877
2008 -32,967 -17,595 10,627 15,626
2007 -37,727 -16,366 9,519 14,027
2006 -39,526 -15,184 11,059 10,820
2005 -42,124 -14,435 9,968 9,251
2004 -40,128 -13,604 9,933 6,956
2003 -44,319 -13,183 7,819 5,929
2002 -46,240 -12,735 6,241 5,255
2001 -44,050 -30,726 7,263 6,241
2000 -41,668 -26,211 7,765 2,497
1999 -39,411 -23,846 7,748 3,604
1998 -52,844 -23,262 7,730 4,417
1997 -58,185 -22,963 9,766 4,925
1996 -45,159 -21,520 11,274 3,757
1995 -42,030 -22,020 13,791 4,325
1994 -32,086 -20,984 17,300 3,834
1993 -24,569 -19,973 13,679 9,036
1992 -18,789 -120,552 16,639 9,356
1991 -14,675 -119,356 16,044 14,515
1990 -3,487 -116,817 15,458 8,920
1989 5,326 -114,705 14,396 5,775
1988 9,879 215 14,344 1,765
1987 8,971 357 11,837 831
1986 16,125 1,104 13,279 1,491
1985 11,649 -19,230 14,707 2,416
1984 20,610 -1,032 20,015 3,972
1983 21,455 -1,872 21,851 6,925
1982 24,077 -1,860 22,686 7,109
1981 29,341 -1,830 18,720 5,287
1980 30,129 -2,045 18,640 -2,212
1979 40,599 -872 19,535 -6,612
1978 44,070 -62,769 20,436 -9,348
1977 47,543 -11,955 21,799 -5,697
1976 56,055 -2,522 21,738 -11,843
1975 54,941 -38,071 21,673 -3,807
1974 64,223 -1,402 17,824 5,891
1973 57,760 -5,409 13,532 11,558
1972 47,169 -11,296 14,847 12,613
1971 52,925 -7,654 15,220 12,286
1970 61,125 -11,315 20,268 -36,579
1969 63,256 -3,204 21,732 -42,207
1968 69,468 -132 28,684 -15,561
1967 49,861 -420 33,622 -5,353
1966 54,504 -144 34,356 -12,059
1965 58,249 -1,406 33,771 -21,731
1964 66,783 505 38,208 -20,414
1963 66,241 500 40,258 -7,624
1962 64,104 499 38,627 -6,852
1961 75,460 378 41,487 -11,828
1960 76,314 -1,112 42,082 -9,489

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/finland | 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 Finland 22.5% is from natural causes (a loss of 65,560 people) and 77.5% is from migration (a gain of 225,237 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 514,432 people or 9.2% in Finland.

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
Finland
City Population
Helsinki 687K
Espoo 315K
Tampere 255K
Vantaa 248K
Oulu 215K
Turku 206K
Jyvaskyla 148K
Kuopio 124K
Lahti 121K
Pori 83.2K

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/finland | 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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