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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 2,822,093 people in the Gambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 2,916,990 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 -0.86% per year vs +2.44% in the Gambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while the Gambia has grown from 1.72M to 2.92M (70.1% growth).

Bulgaria vs Gambia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Gambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Gambia
2100 3,384,288 5,766,099
2099 3,408,821 5,764,092
2098 3,433,149 5,761,403
2097 3,457,549 5,758,064
2096 3,482,057 5,753,864
2095 3,506,060 5,748,821
2094 3,530,278 5,742,977
2093 3,554,432 5,735,465
2092 3,578,667 5,727,035
2091 3,602,907 5,717,851
2090 3,627,300 5,707,322
2089 3,652,188 5,695,590
2088 3,677,416 5,682,547
2087 3,703,460 5,668,415
2086 3,730,284 5,653,552
2085 3,757,953 5,637,112
2084 3,786,496 5,619,538
2083 3,815,548 5,600,932
2082 3,845,662 5,581,062
2081 3,876,344 5,559,781
2080 3,908,874 5,537,312
2079 3,942,344 5,513,586
2078 3,976,345 5,488,256
2077 4,011,440 5,461,819
2076 4,047,182 5,434,380
2075 4,083,977 5,405,474
2074 4,122,447 5,375,255
2073 4,161,511 5,343,873
2072 4,201,158 5,311,755
2071 4,241,639 5,278,538
2070 4,283,145 5,243,773
2069 4,325,083 5,207,961
2068 4,367,606 5,170,739
2067 4,411,116 5,132,640
2066 4,455,358 5,093,072
2065 4,500,141 5,051,871
2064 4,545,243 5,009,758
2063 4,590,439 4,966,686
2062 4,635,634 4,922,343
2061 4,681,315 4,876,639
2060 4,727,089 4,830,317
2059 4,772,667 4,783,233
2058 4,817,532 4,735,557
2057 4,862,597 4,686,764
2056 4,907,646 4,637,220
2055 4,953,105 4,586,935
2054 4,998,650 4,535,328
2053 5,044,397 4,483,472
2052 5,089,817 4,430,621
2051 5,135,505 4,376,942
2050 5,181,635 4,322,480
2049 5,228,058 4,267,374
2048 5,274,692 4,211,530
2047 5,322,212 4,154,844
2046 5,369,645 4,097,814
2045 5,417,381 4,040,118
2044 5,465,818 3,981,892
2043 5,514,902 3,923,058
2042 5,564,573 3,863,611
2041 5,615,489 3,804,282
2040 5,667,076 3,744,293
2039 5,719,506 3,684,045
2038 5,771,452 3,623,285
2037 5,824,628 3,562,776
2036 5,877,980 3,502,038
2035 5,930,517 3,441,138
2034 5,983,205 3,380,088
2033 6,036,049 3,318,743
2032 6,088,107 3,257,194
2031 6,140,619 3,195,735
2030 6,193,318 3,134,115
2029 6,244,785 3,072,145
2028 6,294,981 3,009,805
2027 6,343,732 2,947,443
2026 6,390,149 2,884,828
2025 6,433,302 2,822,093
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while the Gambia's population increased by 633,221 people (a 27.7% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of the Gambia will increase by 48.2% to 4,322,480 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 3.38M 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 -0.13% 2.25%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while the Gambia's population grew by 2.25%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Gambia
Current population
6390149
2916990
Population rank 112/197 138/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.04%
One net population change
1.08 hours
8.49 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
6.38 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
30.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +170
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +62,105
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.25%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 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 -47,023 524 65,157 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 91.7% of the population change in Bulgaria is from natural causes (a loss of 534,531 people) and 8.28% is from migration (a gain of 48,271 people). In the Gambia 95.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 627,767 people) and 4.77% is from migration (a loss of 31,423 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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