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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 68,551,653 people in France in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 68,788,006 in France.

Population statistics:

  • France's population is 10.8 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while France is the 23rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.83% for France.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.35% in France.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while France has grown from 63.6M to 68.8M (8.12% growth).

Bulgaria vs France: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria France
2100 3,368,029 70,613,012
2099 3,392,444 70,629,584
2098 3,416,655 70,639,488
2097 3,440,938 70,644,570
2096 3,465,328 70,651,179
2095 3,489,216 70,644,818
2094 3,513,318 70,628,949
2093 3,537,356 70,603,242
2092 3,561,475 70,580,656
2091 3,585,597 70,553,277
2090 3,609,873 70,520,528
2089 3,634,642 70,486,909
2088 3,659,749 70,447,851
2087 3,685,668 70,408,245
2086 3,712,363 70,365,710
2085 3,739,898 70,328,248
2084 3,768,305 70,285,895
2083 3,797,217 70,234,175
2082 3,827,186 70,193,367
2081 3,857,721 70,148,354
2080 3,890,095 70,107,021
2079 3,923,403 70,065,621
2078 3,957,241 70,025,358
2077 3,992,168 69,983,383
2076 4,027,738 69,940,036
2075 4,064,356 69,897,457
2074 4,102,642 69,862,353
2073 4,141,518 69,830,973
2072 4,180,975 69,804,981
2071 4,221,261 69,777,127
2070 4,262,568 69,764,791
2069 4,304,304 69,754,867
2068 4,346,623 69,756,896
2067 4,389,924 69,764,705
2066 4,433,953 69,773,902
2065 4,478,521 69,794,612
2064 4,523,406 69,818,938
2063 4,568,385 69,848,255
2062 4,613,363 69,886,879
2061 4,658,825 69,926,483
2060 4,704,379 69,968,809
2059 4,749,738 70,014,435
2058 4,794,388 70,057,256
2057 4,839,236 70,102,722
2056 4,884,068 70,146,920
2055 4,929,309 70,196,482
2054 4,974,635 70,236,369
2053 5,020,162 70,270,537
2052 5,065,364 70,295,830
2051 5,110,833 70,321,018
2050 5,156,741 70,335,872
2049 5,202,941 70,345,142
2048 5,249,351 70,343,943
2047 5,296,642 70,332,332
2046 5,343,848 70,314,243
2045 5,391,354 70,283,430
2044 5,439,559 70,244,405
2043 5,488,407 70,198,284
2042 5,537,839 70,137,343
2041 5,588,510 70,071,925
2040 5,639,850 70,006,064
2039 5,692,028 69,936,874
2038 5,743,725 69,858,693
2037 5,796,645 69,770,244
2036 5,849,741 69,681,800
2035 5,902,025 69,590,103
2034 5,954,460 69,496,656
2033 6,007,050 69,406,955
2032 6,058,858 69,316,572
2031 6,111,118 69,227,320
2030 6,163,564 69,136,856
2029 6,214,784 69,043,072
2028 6,264,738 68,951,924
2027 6,313,255 68,856,735
2026 6,359,449 68,762,523
2025 6,402,394 68,659,633
2024 6,441,421 68,551,653
2023 6,446,596 68,372,286
2022 6,465,097 68,184,457
2021 6,507,301 67,842,811
2020 6,550,696 67,601,110
2019 6,616,726 67,382,061
2018 6,710,798 67,158,348
2017 6,803,468 66,918,020
2016 6,894,139 66,724,104
2015 6,984,225 66,548,272
2014 7,073,572 66,312,067
2013 7,160,005 65,997,932
2012 7,305,888 65,657,659
2011 7,348,328 65,340,830
2010 7,395,599 65,026,211
2009 7,444,443 64,706,436
2008 7,492,561 64,375,116
2007 7,545,338 64,016,890
2006 7,601,022 63,622,342
2005 7,658,972 63,180,854
2004 7,716,860 62,707,588
2003 7,775,327 62,249,855
2002 7,837,161 61,812,142
2001 8,009,142 61,364,377
2000 8,170,172 60,918,661
1999 8,210,624 60,501,986
1998 8,256,786 60,190,684
1997 8,312,068 59,968,066
1996 8,362,826 59,754,504
1995 8,406,067 59,541,294
1994 8,443,591 59,324,863
1993 8,472,313 59,103,094
1992 8,540,164 58,846,584
1991 8,632,367 58,554,242
1990 8,718,289 58,261,012
1989 8,876,972 57,943,062
1988 8,981,446 57,598,186
1987 8,971,359 57,266,167
1986 8,958,171 56,956,002
1985 8,960,547 56,665,619
1984 8,960,679 56,383,085
1983 8,939,738 56,108,330
1982 8,917,457 55,806,789
1981 8,891,117 55,603,353
1980 8,861,535 55,274,184
1979 8,825,940 54,979,851
1978 8,814,032 54,734,030
1977 8,804,183 54,486,467
1976 8,758,599 54,232,383
1975 8,720,742 54,002,853
1974 8,678,745 53,746,571
1973 8,620,967 53,392,161
1972 8,576,200 52,962,356
1971 8,536,395 52,499,553
1970 8,489,574 52,007,169
1969 8,434,172 51,536,014
1968 8,369,603 51,112,980
1967 8,310,226 50,722,791
1966 8,258,057 50,311,637
1965 8,204,168 49,877,725
1964 8,144,340 49,401,492
1963 8,078,145 48,877,567
1962 8,012,946 48,389,516
1961 7,943,118 47,905,982
1960 7,867,374 47,412,964

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/france | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while France gained 3,101,762 people (a 4.88% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while France's population increased by 2,063,902 people (a 3.09% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. France was ranked 20th in 2006 and ranked 23rd 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 France will increase by 2.25% to 70,335,872 people and rank change from 23rd to 30th.

France is projected to reach its peak in 2096 at 70.7M 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
France
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria France
2100 -0.72% -0.02%
2099 -0.71% -0.01%
2098 -0.71% -0.007%
2097 -0.7% -0.009%
2096 -0.68% 0.009%
2095 -0.69% 0.02%
2094 -0.68% 0.04%
2093 -0.68% 0.03%
2092 -0.67% 0.04%
2091 -0.67% 0.05%
2090 -0.68% 0.05%
2089 -0.69% 0.06%
2088 -0.7% 0.06%
2087 -0.72% 0.06%
2086 -0.74% 0.05%
2085 -0.75% 0.06%
2084 -0.76% 0.07%
2083 -0.78% 0.06%
2082 -0.79% 0.06%
2081 -0.83% 0.06%
2080 -0.85% 0.06%
2079 -0.86% 0.06%
2078 -0.87% 0.06%
2077 -0.88% 0.06%
2076 -0.9% 0.06%
2075 -0.93% 0.05%
2074 -0.94% 0.04%
2073 -0.94% 0.04%
2072 -0.95% 0.04%
2071 -0.97% 0.02%
2070 -0.97% 0.01%
2069 -0.97% -0.003%
2068 -0.99% -0.01%
2067 -0.99% -0.01%
2066 -1% -0.03%
2065 -0.99% -0.03%
2064 -0.98% -0.04%
2063 -0.97% -0.06%
2062 -0.98% -0.06%
2061 -0.97% -0.06%
2060 -0.95% -0.07%
2059 -0.93% -0.06%
2058 -0.93% -0.06%
2057 -0.92% -0.06%
2056 -0.92% -0.07%
2055 -0.91% -0.06%
2054 -0.91% -0.05%
2053 -0.89% -0.04%
2052 -0.89% -0.04%
2051 -0.89% -0.02%
2050 -0.89% -0.01%
2049 -0.88% 0.002%
2048 -0.89% 0.02%
2047 -0.88% 0.03%
2046 -0.88% 0.04%
2045 -0.89% 0.06%
2044 -0.89% 0.07%
2043 -0.89% 0.09%
2042 -0.91% 0.09%
2041 -0.91% 0.09%
2040 -0.92% 0.1%
2039 -0.9% 0.11%
2038 -0.91% 0.13%
2037 -0.91% 0.13%
2036 -0.89% 0.13%
2035 -0.88% 0.13%
2034 -0.88% 0.13%
2033 -0.86% 0.13%
2032 -0.86% 0.13%
2031 -0.85% 0.13%
2030 -0.82% 0.14%
2029 -0.8% 0.13%
2028 -0.77% 0.14%
2027 -0.73% 0.14%
2026 -0.67% 0.15%
2025 -0.61% 0.16%
2024 -0.08% 0.26%
2023 -0.29% 0.28%
2022 -0.65% 0.5%
2021 -0.66% 0.36%
2020 -1% 0.33%
2019 -1.4% 0.33%
2018 -1.36% 0.36%
2017 -1.32% 0.29%
2016 -1.29% 0.26%
2015 -1.26% 0.36%
2014 -1.21% 0.48%
2013 -2% 0.52%
2012 -0.58% 0.48%
2011 -0.64% 0.48%
2010 -0.66% 0.49%
2009 -0.64% 0.51%
2008 -0.7% 0.56%
2007 -0.73% 0.62%
2006 -0.76% 0.7%
2005 -0.75% 0.75%
2004 -0.75% 0.74%
2003 -0.79% 0.71%
2002 -2.15% 0.73%
2001 -1.97% 0.73%
2000 -0.49% 0.69%
1999 -0.56% 0.52%
1998 -0.67% 0.37%
1997 -0.61% 0.36%
1996 -0.51% 0.36%
1995 -0.44% 0.36%
1994 -0.34% 0.38%
1993 -0.79% 0.44%
1992 -1.07% 0.5%
1991 -0.99% 0.5%
1990 -1.79% 0.55%
1989 -1.16% 0.6%
1988 0.11% 0.58%
1987 0.15% 0.54%
1986 -0.03% 0.51%
1985 -0.001% 0.5%
1984 0.23% 0.49%
1983 0.25% 0.54%
1982 0.3% 0.37%
1981 0.33% 0.6%
1980 0.4% 0.54%
1979 0.14% 0.45%
1978 0.11% 0.45%
1977 0.52% 0.47%
1976 0.43% 0.43%
1975 0.48% 0.48%
1974 0.67% 0.66%
1973 0.52% 0.81%
1972 0.47% 0.88%
1971 0.55% 0.95%
1970 0.66% 0.91%
1969 0.77% 0.83%
1968 0.71% 0.77%
1967 0.63% 0.82%
1966 0.66% 0.87%
1965 0.73% 0.96%
1964 0.82% 1.07%
1963 0.81% 1.01%
1962 0.88% 1.01%
1961 0.96% 1.04%

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/france | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while France's population grew by 0.26%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria France
Current population
6359449
68788006
Population rank 112/197 23/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.83%
One net population change
1.69 hours
2.93 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
46.6 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
50.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 +491
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +179,367
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.26%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 152/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
5.75 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +91,737
Net migration rank 106/196 18/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 9,186,757
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 5/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 13.8%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 49/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
France
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria France
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 91,737
2024 - 524 - 90,527
2023 -43,837 5,173 47,860 91,862
2022 -62,065 26,498 54,547 179,377
2021 -90,452 11,756 74,627 131,465
2020 -65,507 30,167 67,602 145,593
2019 -46,317 -2,156 141,503 71,972
2018 -46,304 -3,873 147,749 132,925
2017 -45,583 -6,109 160,604 102,984
2016 -42,744 -9,482 193,500 15,548
2015 -44,699 -4,227 206,300 -345
2014 -41,027 -2,180 265,248 52,342
2013 -37,948 -1,324 244,192 116,297
2012 -40,183 -26,334 256,065 103,287
2011 -37,477 -23,360 280,966 70,178
2010 -34,759 -21,668 286,116 52,644
2009 -26,800 -19,060 278,238 58,032
2008 -32,967 -17,595 283,250 79,528
2007 -37,727 -16,366 288,076 91,973
2006 -39,526 -15,184 305,387 132,512
2005 -42,124 -14,435 271,677 191,417
2004 -40,128 -13,604 282,185 200,629
2003 -44,319 -13,183 230,325 195,616
2002 -46,240 -12,735 253,430 191,373
2001 -44,050 -30,726 263,867 179,476
2000 -41,668 -26,211 268,042 171,637
1999 -39,411 -23,846 229,907 169,448
1998 -52,844 -23,262 222,705 20,216
1997 -58,185 -22,963 215,885 -15,255
1996 -45,159 -21,520 221,092 -21,463
1995 -42,030 -22,020 220,303 -17,128
1994 -32,086 -20,984 201,704 -4,232
1993 -24,569 -19,973 224,592 16,892
1992 -18,789 -120,552 229,502 61,964
1991 -14,675 -119,356 234,216 35,201
1990 -3,487 -116,817 238,870 43,323
1989 5,326 -114,705 243,361 82,052
1988 9,879 215 247,672 69,935
1987 8,971 357 251,971 59,890
1986 16,125 1,104 250,606 51,642
1985 11,649 -19,230 249,328 66,149
1984 20,610 -1,032 248,086 76,175
1983 21,455 -1,872 235,655 88,166
1982 24,077 -1,860 234,389 81,084
1981 29,341 -1,830 222,414 69,365
1980 30,129 -2,045 210,042 54,718
1979 40,599 -872 208,923 34,295
1978 44,070 -62,769 213,462 18,692
1977 47,543 -11,955 217,946 44,918
1976 56,055 -2,522 227,776 59,515
1975 54,941 -38,071 248,413 16,139
1974 64,223 -1,402 268,733 26,203
1973 57,760 -5,409 282,979 103,910
1972 47,169 -11,296 296,589 101,223
1971 52,925 -7,654 309,747 144,321
1970 61,125 -11,315 322,444 182,941
1969 63,256 -3,204 329,831 160,403
1968 69,468 -132 337,346 113,115
1967 49,861 -420 339,843 63,018
1966 54,504 -144 352,181 96,097
1965 58,249 -1,406 354,132 82,879
1964 66,783 505 360,631 163,039
1963 66,241 500 361,694 190,925
1962 64,104 499 358,082 141,634
1961 75,460 378 354,504 128,618
1960 76,314 -1,112 346,115 143,032

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/france | 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 France 59.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,359,540 people) and 40.5% is from migration (a gain of 923,723 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 9,186,757 people or 13.8% in France.

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
France
City Population
Paris 2.11M
Marseille 886K
Lyon 519K
Toulouse 515K
Nice 358K
Nantes 328K
Montpellier 310K
Strasbourg 294K
Bordeaux 268K
Lille 238K

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/france | 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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