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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 10,405,134 people in Greece in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 10,181,414 in Greece.

Population statistics:

  • Greece's population is 1.6 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Greece is the 96th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.12% for Greece.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs -0.47% in Greece.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Greece has declined from 11M to 10.2M (7.61% decline).

Bulgaria vs Greece: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Greece
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Greece
2100 3,368,029 6,463,085
2099 3,392,444 6,505,287
2098 3,416,655 6,547,164
2097 3,440,938 6,589,081
2096 3,465,328 6,630,487
2095 3,489,216 6,671,006
2094 3,513,318 6,710,734
2093 3,537,356 6,749,510
2092 3,561,475 6,787,596
2091 3,585,597 6,824,775
2090 3,609,873 6,862,164
2089 3,634,642 6,900,089
2088 3,659,749 6,937,116
2087 3,685,668 6,973,450
2086 3,712,363 7,010,676
2085 3,739,898 7,048,751
2084 3,768,305 7,086,818
2083 3,797,217 7,124,743
2082 3,827,186 7,164,627
2081 3,857,721 7,205,487
2080 3,890,095 7,248,512
2079 3,923,403 7,292,836
2078 3,957,241 7,338,859
2077 3,992,168 7,387,671
2076 4,027,738 7,437,562
2075 4,064,356 7,489,139
2074 4,102,642 7,543,259
2073 4,141,518 7,600,155
2072 4,180,975 7,659,253
2071 4,221,261 7,719,672
2070 4,262,568 7,782,317
2069 4,304,304 7,847,153
2068 4,346,623 7,913,682
2067 4,389,924 7,980,659
2066 4,433,953 8,047,692
2065 4,478,521 8,114,348
2064 4,523,406 8,181,923
2063 4,568,385 8,250,274
2062 4,613,363 8,318,463
2061 4,658,825 8,386,919
2060 4,704,379 8,454,179
2059 4,749,738 8,522,250
2058 4,794,388 8,589,200
2057 4,839,236 8,655,428
2056 4,884,068 8,720,012
2055 4,929,309 8,783,558
2054 4,974,635 8,844,935
2053 5,020,162 8,903,834
2052 5,065,364 8,961,755
2051 5,110,833 9,018,494
2050 5,156,741 9,072,676
2049 5,202,941 9,126,801
2048 5,249,351 9,177,973
2047 5,296,642 9,228,605
2046 5,343,848 9,275,381
2045 5,391,354 9,321,349
2044 5,439,559 9,367,130
2043 5,488,407 9,411,608
2042 5,537,839 9,454,837
2041 5,588,510 9,499,098
2040 5,639,850 9,543,726
2039 5,692,028 9,588,298
2038 5,743,725 9,633,708
2037 5,796,645 9,679,362
2036 5,849,741 9,724,905
2035 5,902,025 9,771,397
2034 5,954,460 9,817,355
2033 6,007,050 9,863,589
2032 6,058,858 9,911,215
2031 6,111,118 9,956,924
2030 6,163,564 10,002,298
2029 6,214,784 10,047,641
2028 6,264,738 10,092,845
2027 6,313,255 10,137,354
2026 6,359,449 10,181,414
2025 6,402,394 10,223,023
2024 6,441,421 10,405,134
2023 6,446,596 10,407,351
2022 6,465,097 10,436,882
2021 6,507,301 10,569,207
2020 6,550,696 10,698,599
2019 6,616,726 10,721,582
2018 6,710,798 10,732,882
2017 6,803,468 10,754,679
2016 6,894,139 10,775,971
2015 6,984,225 10,820,883
2014 7,073,572 10,892,413
2013 7,160,005 10,965,211
2012 7,305,888 11,045,011
2011 7,348,328 11,104,899
2010 7,395,599 11,121,341
2009 7,444,443 11,107,017
2008 7,492,561 11,077,841
2007 7,545,338 11,048,473
2006 7,601,022 11,020,362
2005 7,658,972 10,987,314
2004 7,716,860 10,955,141
2003 7,775,327 10,928,070
2002 7,837,161 10,902,022
2001 8,009,142 10,862,132
2000 8,170,172 10,805,808
1999 8,210,624 10,761,698
1998 8,256,786 10,720,509
1997 8,312,068 10,661,259
1996 8,362,826 10,608,800
1995 8,406,067 10,562,153
1994 8,443,591 10,512,922
1993 8,472,313 10,460,415
1992 8,540,164 10,399,061
1991 8,632,367 10,319,927
1990 8,718,289 10,196,792
1989 8,876,972 10,089,498
1988 8,981,446 10,036,983
1987 8,971,359 10,000,595
1986 8,958,171 9,967,213
1985 8,960,547 9,934,300
1984 8,960,679 9,895,801
1983 8,939,738 9,846,627
1982 8,917,457 9,789,513
1981 8,891,117 9,729,350
1980 8,861,535 9,642,505
1979 8,825,940 9,548,258
1978 8,814,032 9,429,959
1977 8,804,183 9,308,479
1976 8,758,599 9,188,150
1975 8,720,742 9,046,541
1974 8,678,745 8,962,022
1973 8,620,967 8,929,086
1972 8,576,200 8,888,628
1971 8,536,395 8,831,036
1970 8,489,574 8,792,806
1969 8,434,172 8,772,764
1968 8,369,603 8,740,765
1967 8,310,226 8,684,088
1966 8,258,057 8,613,651
1965 8,204,168 8,550,333
1964 8,144,340 8,510,429
1963 8,078,145 8,479,625
1962 8,012,946 8,448,233
1961 7,943,118 8,398,050
1960 7,867,374 8,331,725

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/greece | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Greece lost 244,391 people (a 2.22% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Greece's population decreased by 594,557 people (a 5.52% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Greece was ranked 74th in 2006 and ranked 96th 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 Greece will decrease by 10.9% to 9,072,676 people and rank change from 96th to 106th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 26.9% in Greece.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Greece
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Greece
2100 -0.72% -0.65%
2099 -0.71% -0.64%
2098 -0.71% -0.64%
2097 -0.7% -0.62%
2096 -0.68% -0.61%
2095 -0.69% -0.59%
2094 -0.68% -0.57%
2093 -0.68% -0.56%
2092 -0.67% -0.54%
2091 -0.67% -0.54%
2090 -0.68% -0.55%
2089 -0.69% -0.53%
2088 -0.7% -0.52%
2087 -0.72% -0.53%
2086 -0.74% -0.54%
2085 -0.75% -0.54%
2084 -0.76% -0.53%
2083 -0.78% -0.56%
2082 -0.79% -0.57%
2081 -0.83% -0.59%
2080 -0.85% -0.61%
2079 -0.86% -0.63%
2078 -0.87% -0.66%
2077 -0.88% -0.67%
2076 -0.9% -0.69%
2075 -0.93% -0.72%
2074 -0.94% -0.75%
2073 -0.94% -0.77%
2072 -0.95% -0.78%
2071 -0.97% -0.8%
2070 -0.97% -0.83%
2069 -0.97% -0.84%
2068 -0.99% -0.84%
2067 -0.99% -0.83%
2066 -1% -0.82%
2065 -0.99% -0.83%
2064 -0.98% -0.83%
2063 -0.97% -0.82%
2062 -0.98% -0.82%
2061 -0.97% -0.8%
2060 -0.95% -0.8%
2059 -0.93% -0.78%
2058 -0.93% -0.77%
2057 -0.92% -0.74%
2056 -0.92% -0.72%
2055 -0.91% -0.69%
2054 -0.91% -0.66%
2053 -0.89% -0.65%
2052 -0.89% -0.63%
2051 -0.89% -0.6%
2050 -0.89% -0.59%
2049 -0.88% -0.56%
2048 -0.89% -0.55%
2047 -0.88% -0.5%
2046 -0.88% -0.49%
2045 -0.89% -0.49%
2044 -0.89% -0.47%
2043 -0.89% -0.46%
2042 -0.91% -0.47%
2041 -0.91% -0.47%
2040 -0.92% -0.46%
2039 -0.9% -0.47%
2038 -0.91% -0.47%
2037 -0.91% -0.47%
2036 -0.89% -0.48%
2035 -0.88% -0.47%
2034 -0.88% -0.47%
2033 -0.86% -0.48%
2032 -0.86% -0.46%
2031 -0.85% -0.45%
2030 -0.82% -0.45%
2029 -0.8% -0.45%
2028 -0.77% -0.44%
2027 -0.73% -0.43%
2026 -0.67% -0.41%
2025 -0.61% -1.75%
2024 -0.08% -0.02%
2023 -0.29% -0.28%
2022 -0.65% -1.25%
2021 -0.66% -1.21%
2020 -1% -0.21%
2019 -1.4% -0.11%
2018 -1.36% -0.2%
2017 -1.32% -0.2%
2016 -1.29% -0.42%
2015 -1.26% -0.66%
2014 -1.21% -0.66%
2013 -2% -0.72%
2012 -0.58% -0.54%
2011 -0.64% -0.15%
2010 -0.66% 0.13%
2009 -0.64% 0.26%
2008 -0.7% 0.27%
2007 -0.73% 0.26%
2006 -0.76% 0.3%
2005 -0.75% 0.29%
2004 -0.75% 0.25%
2003 -0.79% 0.24%
2002 -2.15% 0.37%
2001 -1.97% 0.52%
2000 -0.49% 0.41%
1999 -0.56% 0.38%
1998 -0.67% 0.56%
1997 -0.61% 0.49%
1996 -0.51% 0.44%
1995 -0.44% 0.47%
1994 -0.34% 0.5%
1993 -0.79% 0.59%
1992 -1.07% 0.77%
1991 -0.99% 1.21%
1990 -1.79% 1.06%
1989 -1.16% 0.52%
1988 0.11% 0.36%
1987 0.15% 0.33%
1986 -0.03% 0.33%
1985 -0.001% 0.39%
1984 0.23% 0.5%
1983 0.25% 0.58%
1982 0.3% 0.62%
1981 0.33% 0.9%
1980 0.4% 0.99%
1979 0.14% 1.25%
1978 0.11% 1.31%
1977 0.52% 1.31%
1976 0.43% 1.57%
1975 0.48% 0.94%
1974 0.67% 0.37%
1973 0.52% 0.46%
1972 0.47% 0.65%
1971 0.55% 0.43%
1970 0.66% 0.23%
1969 0.77% 0.37%
1968 0.71% 0.65%
1967 0.63% 0.82%
1966 0.66% 0.74%
1965 0.73% 0.47%
1964 0.82% 0.36%
1963 0.81% 0.37%
1962 0.88% 0.6%
1961 0.96% 0.8%

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/greece | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Greece's population declined by 0.02%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Greece
Current population
6359449
10181414
Population rank 112/197 96/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.12%
One net population change
1.69 hours
3.95 hours
One birth every
9.16 minutes
7.43 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
4.14 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 -6
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -2,217
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.02%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 165/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
31.7 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +16,636
Net migration rank 106/196 37/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,423,964
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 46/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 14.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 47/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Greece
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Greece
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 16,636
2024 - 524 - -122,772
2023 -43,837 5,173 -56,200 -159,430
2022 -62,065 26,498 -63,665 -53,997
2021 -90,452 11,756 -58,131 -160,277
2020 -65,507 30,167 -46,004 6,353
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -41,814 36,762
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -33,272 17,938
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -36,566 10,483
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -25,862 10,484
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -29,216 -43,462
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -20,696 -46,678
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -17,545 -59,323
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -16,568 -65,364
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -4,441 -31,786
2010 -34,759 -21,668 5,560 2,001
2009 -26,800 -19,060 8,886 18,182
2008 -32,967 -17,595 11,077 27,081
2007 -37,727 -16,366 2,210 25,400
2006 -39,526 -15,184 6,612 27,621
2005 -42,124 -14,435 2,197 33,297
2004 -40,128 -13,604 0 29,039
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -1,093 25,323
2002 -46,240 -12,735 0 25,692
2001 -44,050 -30,726 0 60,387
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -1,081 54,661
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -2,153 49,930
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -2,144 47,856
1997 -58,185 -22,963 2,133 45,671
1996 -45,159 -21,520 0 43,444
1995 -42,030 -22,020 1,056 42,674
1994 -32,086 -20,984 6,307 42,897
1993 -24,569 -19,973 4,185 39,829
1992 -18,789 -120,552 6,239 41,000
1991 -14,675 -119,356 6,192 37,917
1990 -3,487 -116,817 8,157 26,294
1989 5,326 -114,705 9,080 18,862
1988 9,879 215 15,055 20,557
1987 8,971 357 10,001 19,005
1986 16,125 1,104 20,931 19,064
1985 11,649 -19,230 22,849 16,093
1984 20,610 -1,032 37,604 19,767
1983 21,455 -1,872 42,341 18,655
1982 24,077 -1,860 50,906 19,675
1981 29,341 -1,830 54,484 25,061
1980 30,129 -2,045 60,748 47,460
1979 40,599 -872 65,882 72,184
1978 44,070 -62,769 64,124 60,775
1977 47,543 -11,955 59,574 19,193
1976 56,055 -2,522 65,236 89,601
1975 54,941 -38,071 61,516 61,265
1974 64,223 -1,402 68,111 -22,590
1973 57,760 -5,409 59,824 -42,387
1972 47,169 -11,296 64,887 -3,589
1971 52,925 -7,654 67,116 -12,747
1970 61,125 -11,315 71,222 -54,166
1969 63,256 -3,204 82,464 -118,544
1968 69,468 -132 87,408 -429
1967 49,861 -420 91,183 -55,853
1966 54,504 -144 86,998 21,206
1965 58,249 -1,406 83,793 -81,576
1964 66,783 505 83,402 -76,678
1963 66,241 500 81,404 -77,345
1962 64,104 499 85,327 -74,972
1961 75,460 378 86,500 -61,102
1960 76,314 -1,112 96,648 -15,996

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/greece | 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 Greece 51.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 411,426 people) and 48.1% is from migration (a loss of 381,824 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,423,964 people or 14.2% in Greece.

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
Greece
City Population
Athens 643K
Crete 623K
Thessaloniki 310K
Patras 174K
Piraeus 168K
Larissa 146K
Heraklion 145K
Peristeri 134K
Kallithea 97.6K
Glyfada 89.6K

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/greece | 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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