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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 83,491,249 people in Germany in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 82,830,814 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 -0.86% per year vs +0.28% in Germany.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Germany has grown from 82.4M to 82.8M (0.55% growth).

Bulgaria vs Germany: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Germany
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Germany
2100 3,384,288 70,146,161
2099 3,408,821 70,173,117
2098 3,433,149 70,190,154
2097 3,457,549 70,232,280
2096 3,482,057 70,263,255
2095 3,506,060 70,283,735
2094 3,530,278 70,302,573
2093 3,554,432 70,323,445
2092 3,578,667 70,348,937
2091 3,602,907 70,395,388
2090 3,627,300 70,457,276
2089 3,652,188 70,511,311
2088 3,677,416 70,569,930
2087 3,703,460 70,652,555
2086 3,730,284 70,750,166
2085 3,757,953 70,845,939
2084 3,786,496 70,941,592
2083 3,815,548 71,048,352
2082 3,845,662 71,151,552
2081 3,876,344 71,265,511
2080 3,908,874 71,391,537
2079 3,942,344 71,525,977
2078 3,976,345 71,666,350
2077 4,011,440 71,822,464
2076 4,047,182 71,979,354
2075 4,083,977 72,113,812
2074 4,122,447 72,269,519
2073 4,161,511 72,429,361
2072 4,201,158 72,580,006
2071 4,241,639 72,741,929
2070 4,283,145 72,889,095
2069 4,325,083 73,053,471
2068 4,367,606 73,219,511
2067 4,411,116 73,404,631
2066 4,455,358 73,597,022
2065 4,500,141 73,789,056
2064 4,545,243 73,990,123
2063 4,590,439 74,200,211
2062 4,635,634 74,428,152
2061 4,681,315 74,656,161
2060 4,727,089 74,909,139
2059 4,772,667 75,164,141
2058 4,817,532 75,438,769
2057 4,862,597 75,716,088
2056 4,907,646 75,990,472
2055 4,953,105 76,276,550
2054 4,998,650 76,561,146
2053 5,044,397 76,832,587
2052 5,089,817 77,077,503
2051 5,135,505 77,322,326
2050 5,181,635 77,564,502
2049 5,228,058 77,809,519
2048 5,274,692 78,059,456
2047 5,322,212 78,290,624
2046 5,369,645 78,514,805
2045 5,417,381 78,740,357
2044 5,465,818 78,965,486
2043 5,514,902 79,180,563
2042 5,564,573 79,374,934
2041 5,615,489 79,569,383
2040 5,667,076 79,782,613
2039 5,719,506 80,001,183
2038 5,771,452 80,225,718
2037 5,824,628 80,442,136
2036 5,877,980 80,673,787
2035 5,930,517 80,890,243
2034 5,983,205 81,094,641
2033 6,036,049 81,319,735
2032 6,088,107 81,537,613
2031 6,140,619 81,772,282
2030 6,193,318 81,989,677
2029 6,244,785 82,216,381
2028 6,294,981 82,432,092
2027 6,343,732 82,638,983
2026 6,390,149 82,830,814
2025 6,433,302 83,491,249
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Germany's population increased by 482,145 people (a 0.59% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Germany will decrease by 6.36% to 77,564,502 people and rank change from 19th to 24th.

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 -0.13% -0.03%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Germany's population declined by 0.03%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Germany
Current population
6390149
82830814
Population rank 112/197 19/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1%
One net population change
1.08 hours
20.8 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
46.6 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
31.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline -22 -69
Annual growth/decline -8,119 -25,344
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.03%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 159/197
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 -47,023 524 -334,066 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/germany | 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 Germany 30.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,216,330 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 5,010,532 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/germany | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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