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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 83,516,593 people in Germany in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 82,575,542 in Germany.

Population statistics:

  • Germany's population is 13 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Germany is the 19th.
  • The countries together account for 1.07% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 1% for Germany.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.32% in Germany.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Germany has grown from 82.4M to 82.6M (0.24% growth).

Bulgaria vs Germany: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Germany
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Germany
2100 3,368,029 69,929,981
2099 3,392,444 69,956,854
2098 3,416,655 69,973,838
2097 3,440,938 70,015,834
2096 3,465,328 70,046,713
2095 3,489,216 70,067,131
2094 3,513,318 70,085,911
2093 3,537,356 70,106,718
2092 3,561,475 70,132,132
2091 3,585,597 70,178,440
2090 3,609,873 70,240,137
2089 3,634,642 70,294,005
2088 3,659,749 70,352,443
2087 3,685,668 70,434,814
2086 3,712,363 70,532,124
2085 3,739,898 70,627,602
2084 3,768,305 70,722,960
2083 3,797,217 70,829,392
2082 3,827,186 70,932,273
2081 3,857,721 71,045,881
2080 3,890,095 71,171,519
2079 3,923,403 71,305,544
2078 3,957,241 71,445,484
2077 3,992,168 71,601,117
2076 4,027,738 71,757,525
2075 4,064,356 71,891,567
2074 4,102,642 72,046,795
2073 4,141,518 72,206,145
2072 4,180,975 72,356,324
2071 4,221,261 72,517,749
2070 4,262,568 72,664,462
2069 4,304,304 72,828,330
2068 4,346,623 72,993,859
2067 4,389,924 73,178,408
2066 4,433,953 73,370,207
2065 4,478,521 73,561,648
2064 4,523,406 73,762,096
2063 4,568,385 73,971,537
2062 4,613,363 74,198,775
2061 4,658,825 74,426,082
2060 4,704,379 74,678,280
2059 4,749,738 74,932,496
2058 4,794,388 75,206,278
2057 4,839,236 75,482,742
2056 4,884,068 75,756,281
2055 4,929,309 76,041,477
2054 4,974,635 76,325,196
2053 5,020,162 76,595,801
2052 5,065,364 76,839,962
2051 5,110,833 77,084,029
2050 5,156,741 77,325,459
2049 5,202,941 77,569,721
2048 5,249,351 77,818,888
2047 5,296,642 78,049,343
2046 5,343,848 78,272,834
2045 5,391,354 78,497,690
2044 5,439,559 78,722,126
2043 5,488,407 78,936,540
2042 5,537,839 79,130,312
2041 5,588,510 79,324,161
2040 5,639,850 79,536,735
2039 5,692,028 79,754,631
2038 5,743,725 79,978,474
2037 5,796,645 80,194,225
2036 5,849,741 80,425,162
2035 5,902,025 80,640,951
2034 5,954,460 80,844,719
2033 6,007,050 81,069,119
2032 6,058,858 81,286,326
2031 6,111,118 81,520,272
2030 6,163,564 81,736,996
2029 6,214,784 81,963,002
2028 6,264,738 82,178,048
2027 6,313,255 82,384,302
2026 6,359,449 82,575,542
2025 6,402,394 83,233,941
2024 6,441,421 83,516,593
2023 6,446,596 83,287,273
2022 6,465,097 83,177,813
2021 6,507,301 83,196,078
2020 6,550,696 83,160,871
2019 6,616,726 83,092,962
2018 6,710,798 82,905,782
2017 6,803,468 82,657,002
2016 6,894,139 82,348,669
2015 6,984,225 81,686,611
2014 7,073,572 80,982,500
2013 7,160,005 80,645,605
2012 7,305,888 80,425,823
2011 7,348,328 80,274,983
2010 7,395,599 81,776,930
2009 7,444,443 81,902,307
2008 7,492,561 82,110,097
2007 7,545,338 82,266,372
2006 7,601,022 82,376,451
2005 7,658,972 82,469,422
2004 7,716,860 82,516,260
2003 7,775,327 82,534,176
2002 7,837,161 82,488,495
2001 8,009,142 82,349,925
2000 8,170,172 82,211,508
1999 8,210,624 82,100,243
1998 8,256,786 82,047,195
1997 8,312,068 82,034,771
1996 8,362,826 81,914,831
1995 8,406,067 81,678,051
1994 8,443,591 81,438,348
1993 8,472,313 81,156,363
1992 8,540,164 80,624,598
1991 8,632,367 80,013,896
1990 8,718,289 79,433,029
1989 8,876,972 78,751,283
1988 8,981,446 78,144,619
1987 8,971,359 77,839,920
1986 8,958,171 77,720,436
1985 8,960,547 77,684,873
1984 8,960,679 77,858,685
1983 8,939,738 78,128,282
1982 8,917,457 78,333,366
1981 8,891,117 78,407,907
1980 8,861,535 78,288,576
1979 8,825,940 78,126,350
1978 8,814,032 78,091,820
1977 8,804,183 78,159,814
1976 8,758,599 78,336,950
1975 8,720,742 78,673,554
1974 8,678,745 78,967,433
1973 8,620,967 78,936,666
1972 8,576,200 78,688,452
1971 8,536,395 78,312,842
1970 8,489,574 78,169,289
1969 8,434,172 77,909,682
1968 8,369,603 77,294,314
1967 8,310,226 76,951,336
1966 8,258,057 76,600,311
1965 8,204,168 75,963,695
1964 8,144,340 75,318,337
1963 8,078,145 74,714,353
1962 8,012,946 74,025,784
1961 7,943,118 73,377,632
1960 7,867,374 72,814,900

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/germany | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Germany lost 27,782 people (a 0.03% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Germany's population increased by 226,873 people (a 0.28% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Germany was ranked 14th in 2006 and ranked 19th 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 Germany will decrease by 6.36% to 77,325,459 people and rank change from 19th to 25th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 13.1% in Germany.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Germany
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Germany
2100 -0.72% -0.04%
2099 -0.71% -0.02%
2098 -0.71% -0.06%
2097 -0.7% -0.04%
2096 -0.68% -0.03%
2095 -0.69% -0.03%
2094 -0.68% -0.03%
2093 -0.68% -0.04%
2092 -0.67% -0.07%
2091 -0.67% -0.09%
2090 -0.68% -0.08%
2089 -0.69% -0.08%
2088 -0.7% -0.12%
2087 -0.72% -0.14%
2086 -0.74% -0.14%
2085 -0.75% -0.13%
2084 -0.76% -0.15%
2083 -0.78% -0.15%
2082 -0.79% -0.16%
2081 -0.83% -0.18%
2080 -0.85% -0.19%
2079 -0.86% -0.2%
2078 -0.87% -0.22%
2077 -0.88% -0.22%
2076 -0.9% -0.19%
2075 -0.93% -0.22%
2074 -0.94% -0.22%
2073 -0.94% -0.21%
2072 -0.95% -0.22%
2071 -0.97% -0.2%
2070 -0.97% -0.23%
2069 -0.97% -0.23%
2068 -0.99% -0.25%
2067 -0.99% -0.26%
2066 -1% -0.26%
2065 -0.99% -0.27%
2064 -0.98% -0.28%
2063 -0.97% -0.31%
2062 -0.98% -0.31%
2061 -0.97% -0.34%
2060 -0.95% -0.34%
2059 -0.93% -0.36%
2058 -0.93% -0.37%
2057 -0.92% -0.36%
2056 -0.92% -0.38%
2055 -0.91% -0.37%
2054 -0.91% -0.35%
2053 -0.89% -0.32%
2052 -0.89% -0.32%
2051 -0.89% -0.31%
2050 -0.89% -0.31%
2049 -0.88% -0.32%
2048 -0.89% -0.3%
2047 -0.88% -0.29%
2046 -0.88% -0.29%
2045 -0.89% -0.29%
2044 -0.89% -0.27%
2043 -0.89% -0.24%
2042 -0.91% -0.24%
2041 -0.91% -0.27%
2040 -0.92% -0.27%
2039 -0.9% -0.28%
2038 -0.91% -0.27%
2037 -0.91% -0.29%
2036 -0.89% -0.27%
2035 -0.88% -0.25%
2034 -0.88% -0.28%
2033 -0.86% -0.27%
2032 -0.86% -0.29%
2031 -0.85% -0.27%
2030 -0.82% -0.28%
2029 -0.8% -0.26%
2028 -0.77% -0.25%
2027 -0.73% -0.23%
2026 -0.67% -0.79%
2025 -0.61% -0.34%
2024 -0.08% 0.28%
2023 -0.29% 0.13%
2022 -0.65% -0.02%
2021 -0.66% 0.04%
2020 -1% 0.08%
2019 -1.4% 0.23%
2018 -1.36% 0.3%
2017 -1.32% 0.37%
2016 -1.29% 0.81%
2015 -1.26% 0.87%
2014 -1.21% 0.42%
2013 -2% 0.27%
2012 -0.58% 0.19%
2011 -0.64% -1.84%
2010 -0.66% -0.15%
2009 -0.64% -0.25%
2008 -0.7% -0.19%
2007 -0.73% -0.13%
2006 -0.76% -0.11%
2005 -0.75% -0.06%
2004 -0.75% -0.02%
2003 -0.79% 0.06%
2002 -2.15% 0.17%
2001 -1.97% 0.17%
2000 -0.49% 0.14%
1999 -0.56% 0.06%
1998 -0.67% 0.02%
1997 -0.61% 0.15%
1996 -0.51% 0.29%
1995 -0.44% 0.29%
1994 -0.34% 0.35%
1993 -0.79% 0.66%
1992 -1.07% 0.76%
1991 -0.99% 0.73%
1990 -1.79% 0.87%
1989 -1.16% 0.78%
1988 0.11% 0.39%
1987 0.15% 0.15%
1986 -0.03% 0.05%
1985 -0.001% -0.22%
1984 0.23% -0.35%
1983 0.25% -0.26%
1982 0.3% -0.1%
1981 0.33% 0.15%
1980 0.4% 0.21%
1979 0.14% 0.04%
1978 0.11% -0.09%
1977 0.52% -0.23%
1976 0.43% -0.43%
1975 0.48% -0.37%
1974 0.67% 0.04%
1973 0.52% 0.32%
1972 0.47% 0.48%
1971 0.55% 0.18%
1970 0.66% 0.33%
1969 0.77% 0.8%
1968 0.71% 0.45%
1967 0.63% 0.46%
1966 0.66% 0.84%
1965 0.73% 0.86%
1964 0.82% 0.81%
1963 0.81% 0.93%
1962 0.88% 0.88%
1961 0.96% 0.77%

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/germany | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Germany's population grew by 0.28%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Germany
Current population
6359449
82575542
Population rank 112/197 19/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1%
One net population change
1.69 hours
2.29 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
45.6 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
30.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 +628
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +229,320
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.28%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 151/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.58 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -334,072
Net migration rank 106/196 192/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 16,750,084
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 2/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 19.8%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 31/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Germany
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Germany
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -334,072
2024 - 524 - 36,954
2023 -43,837 5,173 -333,149 609,553
2022 -62,065 26,498 -324,394 981,552
2021 -90,452 11,756 -224,629 310,264
2020 -65,507 30,167 -216,218 203,468
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -157,877 319,082
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -165,812 403,908
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -148,783 452,988
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -123,523 517,480
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -187,879 1,175,283
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -153,866 592,338
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -209,679 462,384
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -193,022 199,143
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -184,632 295,282
2010 -34,759 -21,668 -179,909 130,116
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -188,375 46,533
2008 -32,967 -17,595 -164,220 -23,341
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -148,080 -24,772
2006 -39,526 -15,184 -148,278 -489,056
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -148,445 81,351
2004 -40,128 -13,604 -107,271 81,735
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -140,309 142,009
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -123,733 218,795
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -98,820 272,875
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -73,990 174,594
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -73,890 219,280
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -65,637 -754,469
1997 -58,185 -22,963 -49,221 93,281
1996 -45,159 -21,520 -90,107 281,280
1995 -42,030 -22,020 -114,349 398,077
1994 -32,086 -20,984 -114,013 315,585
1993 -24,569 -19,973 -105,503 462,096
1992 -18,789 -120,552 -80,625 811,606
1991 -14,675 -119,356 -80,014 602,638
1990 -3,487 -116,817 -15,887 679,702
1989 5,326 -114,705 -23,625 761,002
1988 9,879 215 -7,815 515,962
1987 8,971 357 -31,136 174,272
1986 16,125 1,104 -77,721 212,822
1985 11,649 -19,230 -116,527 103,556
1984 20,610 -1,032 -109,002 -150,771
1983 21,455 -1,872 -109,380 -81,349
1982 24,077 -1,860 -78,333 -58,121
1981 29,341 -1,830 -94,090 130,713
1980 30,129 -2,045 -86,117 324,203
1979 40,599 -872 -125,002 237,705
1978 44,070 -62,769 -140,566 117,167
1977 47,543 -11,955 -125,055 33,881
1976 56,055 -2,522 -164,508 -79,761
1975 54,941 -38,071 -212,418 -207,740
1974 64,223 -1,402 -150,038 -15,126
1973 57,760 -5,409 -149,980 386,881
1972 47,169 -11,296 -62,950 336,015
1971 52,925 -7,654 46,988 450,328
1970 61,125 -11,315 70,352 -273,498
1969 63,256 -3,204 155,820 584,017
1968 69,468 -132 239,612 293,307
1967 49,861 -420 353,977 -174,155
1966 54,504 -144 405,982 134,107
1965 58,249 -1,406 410,204 338,258
1964 66,783 505 482,038 69,825
1963 66,241 500 455,757 205,976
1962 64,104 499 436,752 276,505
1961 75,460 378 462,279 27,534
1960 76,314 -1,112 385,919 212,666

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/germany | 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 Germany 26.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,036,130 people) and 73.2% is from migration (a gain of 5,565,916 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 16,750,084 people or 19.8% in Germany.

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
Germany
City Population
Berlin 3.78M
Hamburg 1.91M
Munich 1.51M
Cologne 1.09M
Frankfurt 776K
Stuttgart 633K
Dusseldorf 631K
Leipzig 620K
Dortmund 595K
Essen 587K

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/germany | 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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