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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 2,538,952 people in Gabon in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 2,663,339 in Gabon.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 2.39 times bigger than Gabon's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Gabon is the 141st.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.03% for Gabon.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +2.61% in Gabon.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Gabon has grown from 1.51M to 2.66M (76.6% growth).

Bulgaria vs Gabon: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Gabon
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Gabon
2100 3,368,029 6,955,864
2099 3,392,444 6,912,052
2098 3,416,655 6,867,857
2097 3,440,938 6,822,087
2096 3,465,328 6,775,495
2095 3,489,216 6,727,815
2094 3,513,318 6,680,075
2093 3,537,356 6,631,425
2092 3,561,475 6,582,261
2091 3,585,597 6,532,342
2090 3,609,873 6,481,491
2089 3,634,642 6,429,956
2088 3,659,749 6,376,859
2087 3,685,668 6,323,194
2086 3,712,363 6,269,178
2085 3,739,898 6,215,121
2084 3,768,305 6,160,019
2083 3,797,217 6,103,820
2082 3,827,186 6,046,995
2081 3,857,721 5,989,415
2080 3,890,095 5,931,520
2079 3,923,403 5,873,052
2078 3,957,241 5,814,259
2077 3,992,168 5,754,857
2076 4,027,738 5,695,764
2075 4,064,356 5,636,043
2074 4,102,642 5,576,620
2073 4,141,518 5,516,502
2072 4,180,975 5,456,238
2071 4,221,261 5,395,666
2070 4,262,568 5,335,269
2069 4,304,304 5,274,817
2068 4,346,623 5,214,405
2067 4,389,924 5,153,427
2066 4,433,953 5,092,586
2065 4,478,521 5,031,764
2064 4,523,406 4,970,757
2063 4,568,385 4,909,630
2062 4,613,363 4,848,693
2061 4,658,825 4,787,706
2060 4,704,379 4,726,341
2059 4,749,738 4,664,287
2058 4,794,388 4,602,087
2057 4,839,236 4,540,068
2056 4,884,068 4,477,242
2055 4,929,309 4,414,477
2054 4,974,635 4,350,938
2053 5,020,162 4,287,630
2052 5,065,364 4,224,256
2051 5,110,833 4,160,459
2050 5,156,741 4,096,708
2049 5,202,941 4,032,976
2048 5,249,351 3,968,977
2047 5,296,642 3,904,724
2046 5,343,848 3,840,333
2045 5,391,354 3,775,786
2044 5,439,559 3,711,691
2043 5,488,407 3,647,956
2042 5,537,839 3,584,695
2041 5,588,510 3,521,560
2040 5,639,850 3,458,896
2039 5,692,028 3,397,011
2038 5,743,725 3,335,835
2037 5,796,645 3,275,298
2036 5,849,741 3,215,119
2035 5,902,025 3,155,791
2034 5,954,460 3,097,371
2033 6,007,050 3,039,514
2032 6,058,858 2,982,347
2031 6,111,118 2,925,690
2030 6,163,564 2,869,476
2029 6,214,784 2,813,855
2028 6,264,738 2,758,554
2027 6,313,255 2,703,425
2026 6,359,449 2,648,476
2025 6,402,394 2,593,715
2024 6,441,421 2,538,952
2023 6,446,596 2,484,789
2022 6,465,097 2,430,747
2021 6,507,301 2,376,722
2020 6,550,696 2,322,539
2019 6,616,726 2,267,706
2018 6,710,798 2,212,318
2017 6,803,468 2,156,900
2016 6,894,139 2,100,306
2015 6,984,225 2,040,989
2014 7,073,572 1,978,399
2013 7,160,005 1,913,059
2012 7,305,888 1,846,889
2011 7,348,328 1,781,985
2010 7,395,599 1,719,879
2009 7,444,443 1,661,556
2008 7,492,561 1,607,175
2007 7,545,338 1,556,237
2006 7,601,022 1,508,337
2005 7,658,972 1,463,495
2004 7,716,860 1,421,609
2003 7,775,327 1,382,350
2002 7,837,161 1,345,135
2001 8,009,142 1,309,589
2000 8,170,172 1,275,572
1999 8,210,624 1,243,016
1998 8,256,786 1,211,736
1997 8,312,068 1,181,439
1996 8,362,826 1,152,015
1995 8,406,067 1,123,213
1994 8,443,591 1,094,720
1993 8,472,313 1,066,405
1992 8,540,164 1,038,380
1991 8,632,367 1,010,818
1990 8,718,289 983,734
1989 8,876,972 957,138
1988 8,981,446 931,020
1987 8,971,359 905,479
1986 8,958,171 880,705
1985 8,960,547 856,726
1984 8,960,679 833,501
1983 8,939,738 811,005
1982 8,917,457 789,286
1981 8,891,117 768,385
1980 8,861,535 748,389
1979 8,825,940 729,375
1978 8,814,032 711,245
1977 8,804,183 693,984
1976 8,758,599 677,628
1975 8,720,742 662,197
1974 8,678,745 647,691
1973 8,620,967 633,995
1972 8,576,200 620,960
1971 8,536,395 608,348
1970 8,489,574 595,846
1969 8,434,172 583,276
1968 8,369,603 572,257
1967 8,310,226 563,108
1966 8,258,057 554,463
1965 8,204,168 546,308
1964 8,144,340 538,657
1963 8,078,145 531,452
1962 8,012,946 524,649
1961 7,943,118 518,266
1960 7,867,374 512,316

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/gabon | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Gabon gained 591,969 people (a 39.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Gabon's population increased by 563,033 people (a 26.8% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Gabon was ranked 147th in 2006 and ranked 141st 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 Gabon will increase by 53.8% to 4,096,708 people and rank change from 141st to 133rd.

Gabon is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 6.96M 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
Gabon
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Gabon
2100 -0.72% 0.63%
2099 -0.71% 0.64%
2098 -0.71% 0.67%
2097 -0.7% 0.69%
2096 -0.68% 0.71%
2095 -0.69% 0.71%
2094 -0.68% 0.73%
2093 -0.68% 0.75%
2092 -0.67% 0.76%
2091 -0.67% 0.78%
2090 -0.68% 0.8%
2089 -0.69% 0.83%
2088 -0.7% 0.85%
2087 -0.72% 0.86%
2086 -0.74% 0.87%
2085 -0.75% 0.89%
2084 -0.76% 0.92%
2083 -0.78% 0.94%
2082 -0.79% 0.96%
2081 -0.83% 0.98%
2080 -0.85% 1%
2079 -0.86% 1.01%
2078 -0.87% 1.03%
2077 -0.88% 1.04%
2076 -0.9% 1.06%
2075 -0.93% 1.07%
2074 -0.94% 1.09%
2073 -0.94% 1.1%
2072 -0.95% 1.12%
2071 -0.97% 1.13%
2070 -0.97% 1.15%
2069 -0.97% 1.16%
2068 -0.99% 1.18%
2067 -0.99% 1.19%
2066 -1% 1.21%
2065 -0.99% 1.23%
2064 -0.98% 1.25%
2063 -0.97% 1.26%
2062 -0.98% 1.27%
2061 -0.97% 1.3%
2060 -0.95% 1.33%
2059 -0.93% 1.35%
2058 -0.93% 1.37%
2057 -0.92% 1.4%
2056 -0.92% 1.42%
2055 -0.91% 1.46%
2054 -0.91% 1.48%
2053 -0.89% 1.5%
2052 -0.89% 1.53%
2051 -0.89% 1.56%
2050 -0.89% 1.58%
2049 -0.88% 1.61%
2048 -0.89% 1.65%
2047 -0.88% 1.68%
2046 -0.88% 1.71%
2045 -0.89% 1.73%
2044 -0.89% 1.75%
2043 -0.89% 1.76%
2042 -0.91% 1.79%
2041 -0.91% 1.81%
2040 -0.92% 1.82%
2039 -0.9% 1.83%
2038 -0.91% 1.85%
2037 -0.91% 1.87%
2036 -0.89% 1.88%
2035 -0.88% 1.89%
2034 -0.88% 1.9%
2033 -0.86% 1.92%
2032 -0.86% 1.94%
2031 -0.85% 1.96%
2030 -0.82% 1.98%
2029 -0.8% 2%
2028 -0.77% 2.04%
2027 -0.73% 2.07%
2026 -0.67% 2.11%
2025 -0.61% 2.16%
2024 -0.08% 2.18%
2023 -0.29% 2.22%
2022 -0.65% 2.27%
2021 -0.66% 2.33%
2020 -1% 2.42%
2019 -1.4% 2.5%
2018 -1.36% 2.57%
2017 -1.32% 2.69%
2016 -1.29% 2.91%
2015 -1.26% 3.16%
2014 -1.21% 3.42%
2013 -2% 3.58%
2012 -0.58% 3.64%
2011 -0.64% 3.61%
2010 -0.66% 3.51%
2009 -0.64% 3.38%
2008 -0.7% 3.27%
2007 -0.73% 3.18%
2006 -0.76% 3.06%
2005 -0.75% 2.95%
2004 -0.75% 2.84%
2003 -0.79% 2.77%
2002 -2.15% 2.71%
2001 -1.97% 2.67%
2000 -0.49% 2.62%
1999 -0.56% 2.58%
1998 -0.67% 2.56%
1997 -0.61% 2.55%
1996 -0.51% 2.56%
1995 -0.44% 2.6%
1994 -0.34% 2.66%
1993 -0.79% 2.7%
1992 -1.07% 2.73%
1991 -0.99% 2.75%
1990 -1.79% 2.78%
1989 -1.16% 2.81%
1988 0.11% 2.82%
1987 0.15% 2.81%
1986 -0.03% 2.8%
1985 -0.001% 2.79%
1984 0.23% 2.77%
1983 0.25% 2.75%
1982 0.3% 2.72%
1981 0.33% 2.67%
1980 0.4% 2.61%
1979 0.14% 2.55%
1978 0.11% 2.49%
1977 0.52% 2.41%
1976 0.43% 2.33%
1975 0.48% 2.24%
1974 0.67% 2.16%
1973 0.52% 2.1%
1972 0.47% 2.07%
1971 0.55% 2.1%
1970 0.66% 2.16%
1969 0.77% 1.93%
1968 0.71% 1.62%
1967 0.63% 1.56%
1966 0.66% 1.49%
1965 0.73% 1.42%
1964 0.82% 1.36%
1963 0.81% 1.3%
1962 0.88% 1.23%
1961 0.96% 1.16%

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/gabon | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Gabon's population grew by 2.18%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Gabon
Current population
6359449
2663339
Population rank 112/197 141/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.03%
One net population change
1.69 hours
9.7 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
7.65 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
33.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +148
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +54,163
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.18%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 44/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
7.87 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 +1,116
Net migration rank 106/196 62/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 449,746
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 84/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 17.7%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 34/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Gabon
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Gabon
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 1,116
2024 - 524 - 1,105
2023 -43,837 5,173 53,167 987
2022 -62,065 26,498 52,944 987
2021 -90,452 11,756 52,611 1,503
2020 -65,507 30,167 52,745 1,506
2019 -46,317 -2,156 53,185 2,233
2018 -46,304 -3,873 52,476 2,886
2017 -45,583 -6,109 51,455 4,013
2016 -42,744 -9,482 50,321 7,398
2015 -44,699 -4,227 48,876 12,041
2014 -41,027 -2,180 47,704 16,565
2013 -37,948 -1,324 46,829 19,587
2012 -40,183 -26,334 45,941 19,973
2011 -37,477 -23,360 44,922 18,967
2010 -34,759 -21,668 43,061 17,274
2009 -26,800 -19,060 41,037 15,277
2008 -32,967 -17,595 39,002 13,441
2007 -37,727 -16,366 37,394 12,045
2006 -39,526 -15,184 35,984 10,382
2005 -42,124 -14,435 34,766 8,555
2004 -40,128 -13,604 33,615 6,830
2003 -44,319 -13,183 32,633 5,434
2002 -46,240 -12,735 31,777 4,582
2001 -44,050 -30,726 30,941 3,801
2000 -41,668 -26,211 30,210 3,086
1999 -39,411 -23,846 29,330 2,480
1998 -52,844 -23,262 28,697 2,055
1997 -58,185 -22,963 28,053 1,786
1996 -45,159 -21,520 27,450 1,555
1995 -42,030 -22,020 27,290 1,314
1994 -32,086 -20,984 27,271 1,110
1993 -24,569 -19,973 27,235 1,009
1992 -18,789 -120,552 26,810 990
1991 -14,675 -119,356 26,334 990
1990 -3,487 -116,817 25,858 990
1989 5,326 -114,705 25,359 990
1988 9,879 215 24,888 990
1987 8,971 357 24,212 990
1986 16,125 1,104 23,362 990
1985 11,649 -19,230 22,617 990
1984 20,610 -1,032 21,851 990
1983 21,455 -1,872 21,162 990
1982 24,077 -1,860 20,292 990
1981 29,341 -1,830 19,528 990
1980 30,129 -2,045 18,503 990
1979 40,599 -872 17,553 990
1978 44,070 -62,769 16,714 990
1977 47,543 -11,955 15,842 972
1976 56,055 -2,522 14,998 899
1975 54,941 -38,071 14,162 792
1974 64,223 -1,402 13,381 680
1973 57,760 -5,409 12,731 608
1972 47,169 -11,296 12,095 639
1971 52,925 -7,654 11,357 1,130
1970 61,125 -11,315 10,635 1,882
1969 63,256 -3,204 9,969 2,650
1968 69,468 -132 9,417 0
1967 49,861 -420 8,883 0
1966 54,504 -144 8,410 0
1965 58,249 -1,406 7,902 0
1964 66,783 505 7,402 0
1963 66,241 500 7,001 0
1962 64,104 499 6,609 0
1961 75,460 378 6,161 0
1960 76,314 -1,112 5,732 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/gabon | 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 Gabon 91.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 515,484 people) and 8.86% is from migration (a gain of 50,119 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 449,746 people or 17.7% in Gabon.

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
Gabon
City Population
Libreville 899K
Port-Gentil 155K

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

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