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Population in Bulgaria compared to the Gambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 2,759,988 people in the Gambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 2,902,554 in the Gambia.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 2.19 times bigger than the Gambia's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while the Gambia is the 138th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.04% for the Gambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +2.5% in the Gambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while the Gambia has grown from 1.72M to 2.9M (69.2% growth).

Bulgaria vs Gambia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Gambia
2100 3,368,029 5,767,668
2099 3,392,444 5,765,660
2098 3,416,655 5,762,971
2097 3,440,938 5,759,632
2096 3,465,328 5,755,430
2095 3,489,216 5,750,385
2094 3,513,318 5,744,540
2093 3,537,356 5,737,026
2092 3,561,475 5,728,594
2091 3,585,597 5,719,408
2090 3,609,873 5,708,875
2089 3,634,642 5,697,140
2088 3,659,749 5,684,094
2087 3,685,668 5,669,958
2086 3,712,363 5,655,091
2085 3,739,898 5,638,646
2084 3,768,305 5,621,067
2083 3,797,217 5,602,456
2082 3,827,186 5,582,581
2081 3,857,721 5,561,294
2080 3,890,095 5,538,819
2079 3,923,403 5,515,086
2078 3,957,241 5,489,750
2077 3,992,168 5,463,305
2076 4,027,738 5,435,859
2075 4,064,356 5,406,946
2074 4,102,642 5,376,718
2073 4,141,518 5,345,328
2072 4,180,975 5,313,201
2071 4,221,261 5,279,975
2070 4,262,568 5,245,200
2069 4,304,304 5,209,379
2068 4,346,623 5,172,146
2067 4,389,924 5,134,037
2066 4,433,953 5,094,458
2065 4,478,521 5,053,246
2064 4,523,406 5,011,122
2063 4,568,385 4,968,038
2062 4,613,363 4,923,683
2061 4,658,825 4,877,966
2060 4,704,379 4,831,631
2059 4,749,738 4,784,535
2058 4,794,388 4,736,846
2057 4,839,236 4,688,039
2056 4,884,068 4,638,482
2055 4,929,309 4,588,184
2054 4,974,635 4,536,562
2053 5,020,162 4,484,692
2052 5,065,364 4,431,827
2051 5,110,833 4,378,133
2050 5,156,741 4,323,657
2049 5,202,941 4,268,536
2048 5,249,351 4,212,677
2047 5,296,642 4,155,975
2046 5,343,848 4,098,930
2045 5,391,354 4,041,218
2044 5,439,559 3,982,976
2043 5,488,407 3,924,126
2042 5,537,839 3,864,662
2041 5,588,510 3,805,317
2040 5,639,850 3,745,312
2039 5,692,028 3,685,048
2038 5,743,725 3,624,271
2037 5,796,645 3,563,745
2036 5,849,741 3,502,991
2035 5,902,025 3,442,074
2034 5,954,460 3,381,008
2033 6,007,050 3,319,646
2032 6,058,858 3,258,080
2031 6,111,118 3,196,605
2030 6,163,564 3,134,968
2029 6,214,784 3,072,981
2028 6,264,738 3,010,624
2027 6,313,255 2,948,246
2026 6,359,449 2,885,613
2025 6,402,394 2,822,861
2024 6,441,421 2,759,988
2023 6,446,596 2,697,845
2022 6,465,097 2,636,470
2021 6,507,301 2,576,010
2020 6,550,696 2,515,733
2019 6,616,726 2,456,844
2018 6,710,798 2,399,632
2017 6,803,468 2,342,189
2016 6,894,139 2,283,769
2015 6,984,225 2,224,529
2014 7,073,572 2,164,528
2013 7,160,005 2,103,820
2012 7,305,888 2,043,094
2011 7,348,328 1,983,784
2010 7,395,599 1,926,630
2009 7,444,443 1,871,422
2008 7,492,561 1,817,852
2007 7,545,338 1,765,774
2006 7,601,022 1,715,275
2005 7,658,972 1,667,037
2004 7,716,860 1,621,312
2003 7,775,327 1,577,611
2002 7,837,161 1,535,691
2001 8,009,142 1,495,011
2000 8,170,172 1,455,084
1999 8,210,624 1,415,779
1998 8,256,786 1,376,987
1997 8,312,068 1,338,889
1996 8,362,826 1,301,410
1995 8,406,067 1,264,313
1994 8,443,591 1,227,226
1993 8,472,313 1,188,365
1992 8,540,164 1,145,582
1991 8,632,367 1,099,959
1990 8,718,289 1,054,696
1989 8,876,972 1,011,357
1988 8,981,446 970,160
1987 8,971,359 931,091
1986 8,958,171 894,019
1985 8,960,547 858,874
1984 8,960,679 825,631
1983 8,939,738 794,525
1982 8,917,457 765,753
1981 8,891,117 739,125
1980 8,861,535 713,913
1979 8,825,940 689,781
1978 8,814,032 667,103
1977 8,804,183 645,770
1976 8,758,599 625,667
1975 8,720,742 606,821
1974 8,678,745 589,085
1973 8,620,967 571,991
1972 8,576,200 555,370
1971 8,536,395 539,388
1970 8,489,574 524,105
1969 8,434,172 509,440
1968 8,369,603 495,269
1967 8,310,226 481,588
1966 8,258,057 468,516
1965 8,204,168 455,952
1964 8,144,340 443,687
1963 8,078,145 431,757
1962 8,012,946 420,163
1961 7,943,118 408,930
1960 7,867,374 398,060

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/gambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while the Gambia gained 568,494 people (a 33.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while the Gambia's population increased by 618,785 people (a 27.1% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. The Gambia was ranked 146th in 2006 and ranked 138th 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 the Gambia will increase by 49% to 4,323,657 people and rank change from 138th to 132nd.

The Gambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 5.77M 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
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Gambia
2100 -0.72% 0.03%
2099 -0.71% 0.05%
2098 -0.71% 0.06%
2097 -0.7% 0.07%
2096 -0.68% 0.09%
2095 -0.69% 0.1%
2094 -0.68% 0.13%
2093 -0.68% 0.15%
2092 -0.67% 0.16%
2091 -0.67% 0.18%
2090 -0.68% 0.21%
2089 -0.69% 0.23%
2088 -0.7% 0.25%
2087 -0.72% 0.26%
2086 -0.74% 0.29%
2085 -0.75% 0.31%
2084 -0.76% 0.33%
2083 -0.78% 0.36%
2082 -0.79% 0.38%
2081 -0.83% 0.41%
2080 -0.85% 0.43%
2079 -0.86% 0.46%
2078 -0.87% 0.48%
2077 -0.88% 0.5%
2076 -0.9% 0.53%
2075 -0.93% 0.56%
2074 -0.94% 0.59%
2073 -0.94% 0.6%
2072 -0.95% 0.63%
2071 -0.97% 0.66%
2070 -0.97% 0.69%
2069 -0.97% 0.72%
2068 -0.99% 0.74%
2067 -0.99% 0.78%
2066 -1% 0.82%
2065 -0.99% 0.84%
2064 -0.98% 0.87%
2063 -0.97% 0.9%
2062 -0.98% 0.94%
2061 -0.97% 0.96%
2060 -0.95% 0.98%
2059 -0.93% 1.01%
2058 -0.93% 1.04%
2057 -0.92% 1.07%
2056 -0.92% 1.1%
2055 -0.91% 1.14%
2054 -0.91% 1.16%
2053 -0.89% 1.19%
2052 -0.89% 1.23%
2051 -0.89% 1.26%
2050 -0.89% 1.29%
2049 -0.88% 1.33%
2048 -0.89% 1.36%
2047 -0.88% 1.39%
2046 -0.88% 1.43%
2045 -0.89% 1.46%
2044 -0.89% 1.5%
2043 -0.89% 1.54%
2042 -0.91% 1.56%
2041 -0.91% 1.6%
2040 -0.92% 1.64%
2039 -0.9% 1.68%
2038 -0.91% 1.7%
2037 -0.91% 1.73%
2036 -0.89% 1.77%
2035 -0.88% 1.81%
2034 -0.88% 1.85%
2033 -0.86% 1.89%
2032 -0.86% 1.92%
2031 -0.85% 1.97%
2030 -0.82% 2.02%
2029 -0.8% 2.07%
2028 -0.77% 2.12%
2027 -0.73% 2.17%
2026 -0.67% 2.22%
2025 -0.61% 2.28%
2024 -0.08% 2.3%
2023 -0.29% 2.33%
2022 -0.65% 2.35%
2021 -0.66% 2.4%
2020 -1% 2.4%
2019 -1.4% 2.38%
2018 -1.36% 2.45%
2017 -1.32% 2.56%
2016 -1.29% 2.66%
2015 -1.26% 2.77%
2014 -1.21% 2.89%
2013 -2% 2.97%
2012 -0.58% 2.99%
2011 -0.64% 2.97%
2010 -0.66% 2.95%
2009 -0.64% 2.95%
2008 -0.7% 2.95%
2007 -0.73% 2.94%
2006 -0.76% 2.89%
2005 -0.75% 2.82%
2004 -0.75% 2.77%
2003 -0.79% 2.73%
2002 -2.15% 2.72%
2001 -1.97% 2.74%
2000 -0.49% 2.78%
1999 -0.56% 2.82%
1998 -0.67% 2.85%
1997 -0.61% 2.88%
1996 -0.51% 2.93%
1995 -0.44% 3.02%
1994 -0.34% 3.27%
1993 -0.79% 3.73%
1992 -1.07% 4.15%
1991 -0.99% 4.29%
1990 -1.79% 4.29%
1989 -1.16% 4.25%
1988 0.11% 4.2%
1987 0.15% 4.15%
1986 -0.03% 4.09%
1985 -0.001% 4.03%
1984 0.23% 3.92%
1983 0.25% 3.76%
1982 0.3% 3.6%
1981 0.33% 3.53%
1980 0.4% 3.5%
1979 0.14% 3.4%
1978 0.11% 3.3%
1977 0.52% 3.21%
1976 0.43% 3.11%
1975 0.48% 3.01%
1974 0.67% 2.99%
1973 0.52% 2.99%
1972 0.47% 2.96%
1971 0.55% 2.92%
1970 0.66% 2.88%
1969 0.77% 2.86%
1968 0.71% 2.84%
1967 0.63% 2.79%
1966 0.66% 2.76%
1965 0.73% 2.76%
1964 0.82% 2.76%
1963 0.81% 2.76%
1962 0.88% 2.75%
1961 0.96% 2.73%

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/gambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while the Gambia's population grew by 2.3%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Gambia
Current population
6359449
2902554
Population rank 112/197 138/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.04%
One net population change
1.69 hours
8.46 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
6.4 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
31 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +170
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +62,143
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.3%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 37/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
2.94 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -2,984
Net migration rank 106/196 107/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 236,137
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 107/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 8.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 72/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Gambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Gambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -2,984
2024 - 524 - -2,989
2023 -43,837 5,173 65,118 -3,000
2022 -62,065 26,498 63,634 -3,000
2021 -90,452 11,756 62,239 -1,949
2020 -65,507 30,167 62,209 -1,949
2019 -46,317 -2,156 61,701 -4,186
2018 -46,304 -3,873 60,854 -3,944
2017 -45,583 -6,109 61,665 -3,696
2016 -42,744 -9,482 62,358 -3,486
2015 -44,699 -4,227 62,832 -3,224
2014 -41,027 -2,180 63,185 -2,793
2013 -37,948 -1,324 63,510 -2,476
2012 -40,183 -26,334 62,745 -2,332
2011 -37,477 -23,360 60,571 -2,360
2010 -34,759 -21,668 58,554 -2,456
2009 -26,800 -19,060 56,575 -2,259
2008 -32,967 -17,595 55,032 -2,204
2007 -37,727 -16,366 53,653 -2,320
2006 -39,526 -15,184 52,335 -2,666
2005 -42,124 -14,435 50,010 -3,209
2004 -40,128 -13,604 48,276 -3,636
2003 -44,319 -13,183 46,473 -3,713
2002 -46,240 -12,735 45,156 -4,067
2001 -44,050 -30,726 44,154 -3,882
2000 -41,668 -26,211 43,249 -3,670
1999 -39,411 -23,846 42,533 -3,493
1998 -52,844 -23,262 41,842 -3,291
1997 -58,185 -22,963 40,742 -3,098
1996 -45,159 -21,520 40,253 -2,948
1995 -42,030 -22,020 39,681 -2,797
1994 -32,086 -20,984 38,880 -1,586
1993 -24,569 -19,973 37,302 3,131
1992 -18,789 -120,552 35,951 9,182
1991 -14,675 -119,356 34,584 11,530
1990 -3,487 -116,817 33,163 11,242
1989 5,326 -114,705 31,504 10,765
1988 9,879 215 29,938 10,187
1987 8,971 357 28,452 9,563
1986 16,125 1,104 27,195 8,934
1985 11,649 -19,230 25,795 8,373
1984 20,610 -1,032 24,586 7,733
1983 21,455 -1,872 23,175 6,713
1982 24,077 -1,860 21,894 5,757
1981 29,341 -1,830 20,156 5,438
1980 30,129 -2,045 19,566 5,268
1979 40,599 -872 18,543 4,898
1978 44,070 -62,769 17,424 4,493
1977 47,543 -11,955 16,773 3,969
1976 56,055 -2,522 16,032 3,436
1975 54,941 -38,071 15,256 2,979
1974 64,223 -1,402 14,628 2,610
1973 57,760 -5,409 14,046 2,907
1972 47,169 -11,296 13,432 2,861
1971 52,925 -7,654 12,842 2,817
1970 61,125 -11,315 12,128 2,777
1969 63,256 -3,204 11,670 2,757
1968 69,468 -132 11,215 2,705
1967 49,861 -420 10,823 2,617
1966 54,504 -144 10,422 2,272
1965 58,249 -1,406 10,162 2,272
1964 66,783 505 9,825 2,272
1963 66,241 500 9,493 2,272
1962 64,104 499 9,150 2,272
1961 75,460 378 8,778 2,272
1960 76,314 -1,112 8,420 2,272

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/gambia | 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 the Gambia 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 625,795 people) and 4.75% is from migration (a loss of 31,227 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 236,137 people or 8.6% in the Gambia.

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
Gambia
City Population
Brikama 81K
Banjul 31.4K
Lamin 31.1K

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/gambia | 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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