Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 386,506 people in Iceland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 397,129 in Iceland.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 16 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Iceland is the 173rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.005% for Iceland.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.63% in Iceland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Iceland has grown from 304K to 397K (30.7% growth).

Bulgaria vs Iceland: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Iceland
2100 3,368,029 359,553
2099 3,392,444 361,331
2098 3,416,655 363,133
2097 3,440,938 364,957
2096 3,465,328 366,850
2095 3,489,216 368,746
2094 3,513,318 370,650
2093 3,537,356 372,614
2092 3,561,475 374,717
2091 3,585,597 376,803
2090 3,609,873 378,807
2089 3,634,642 380,812
2088 3,659,749 382,997
2087 3,685,668 385,164
2086 3,712,363 387,257
2085 3,739,898 389,362
2084 3,768,305 391,416
2083 3,797,217 393,481
2082 3,827,186 395,438
2081 3,857,721 397,470
2080 3,890,095 399,499
2079 3,923,403 401,462
2078 3,957,241 403,324
2077 3,992,168 405,255
2076 4,027,738 406,954
2075 4,064,356 408,546
2074 4,102,642 410,015
2073 4,141,518 411,402
2072 4,180,975 412,903
2071 4,221,261 414,245
2070 4,262,568 415,521
2069 4,304,304 416,683
2068 4,346,623 417,749
2067 4,389,924 418,899
2066 4,433,953 419,918
2065 4,478,521 420,941
2064 4,523,406 421,814
2063 4,568,385 422,695
2062 4,613,363 423,614
2061 4,658,825 424,319
2060 4,704,379 425,096
2059 4,749,738 425,721
2058 4,794,388 426,288
2057 4,839,236 426,844
2056 4,884,068 427,304
2055 4,929,309 427,695
2054 4,974,635 427,915
2053 5,020,162 428,108
2052 5,065,364 428,300
2051 5,110,833 428,278
2050 5,156,741 428,323
2049 5,202,941 428,289
2048 5,249,351 428,213
2047 5,296,642 428,102
2046 5,343,848 427,911
2045 5,391,354 427,683
2044 5,439,559 427,236
2043 5,488,407 426,580
2042 5,537,839 425,915
2041 5,588,510 425,212
2040 5,639,850 424,385
2039 5,692,028 423,407
2038 5,743,725 422,302
2037 5,796,645 421,094
2036 5,849,741 419,738
2035 5,902,025 418,238
2034 5,954,460 416,721
2033 6,007,050 415,006
2032 6,058,858 413,150
2031 6,111,118 411,039
2030 6,163,564 408,677
2029 6,214,784 406,109
2028 6,264,738 403,085
2027 6,313,255 399,797
2026 6,359,449 396,141
2025 6,402,394 391,759
2024 6,441,421 386,506
2023 6,446,596 385,663
2022 6,465,097 382,003
2021 6,507,301 372,520
2020 6,550,696 366,463
2019 6,616,726 360,563
2018 6,710,798 352,721
2017 6,803,468 343,400
2016 6,894,139 335,439
2015 6,984,225 330,815
2014 7,073,572 327,386
2013 7,160,005 323,764
2012 7,305,888 320,716
2011 7,348,328 319,014
2010 7,395,599 318,041
2009 7,444,443 318,499
2008 7,492,561 317,414
2007 7,545,338 311,566
2006 7,601,022 303,782
2005 7,658,972 296,734
2004 7,716,860 292,074
2003 7,775,327 289,521
2002 7,837,161 287,523
2001 8,009,142 284,968
2000 8,170,172 281,205
1999 8,210,624 277,381
1998 8,256,786 274,047
1997 8,312,068 271,128
1996 8,362,826 268,916
1995 8,406,067 267,468
1994 8,443,591 266,021
1993 8,472,313 263,725
1992 8,540,164 261,057
1991 8,632,367 257,797
1990 8,718,289 254,826
1989 8,876,972 252,852
1988 8,981,446 249,740
1987 8,971,359 245,859
1986 8,958,171 243,180
1985 8,960,547 241,405
1984 8,960,679 239,511
1983 8,939,738 236,977
1982 8,917,457 233,860
1981 8,891,117 230,755
1980 8,861,535 228,138
1979 8,825,940 225,735
1978 8,814,032 223,537
1977 8,804,183 221,799
1976 8,758,599 220,154
1975 8,720,742 217,979
1974 8,678,745 215,209
1973 8,620,967 212,317
1972 8,576,200 209,137
1971 8,536,395 206,098
1970 8,489,574 204,438
1969 8,434,172 203,369
1968 8,369,603 201,488
1967 8,310,226 198,751
1966 8,258,057 195,570
1965 8,204,168 192,286
1964 8,144,340 188,983
1963 8,078,145 185,653
1962 8,012,946 182,378
1961 7,943,118 179,029
1960 7,867,374 175,574

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/iceland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Iceland gained 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Iceland's population increased by 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Iceland was ranked 172nd in 2006 and ranked 173rd 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 Iceland will increase by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K 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
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Iceland
2100 -0.72% -0.49%
2099 -0.71% -0.5%
2098 -0.71% -0.5%
2097 -0.7% -0.52%
2096 -0.68% -0.51%
2095 -0.69% -0.51%
2094 -0.68% -0.53%
2093 -0.68% -0.56%
2092 -0.67% -0.55%
2091 -0.67% -0.53%
2090 -0.68% -0.53%
2089 -0.69% -0.57%
2088 -0.7% -0.56%
2087 -0.72% -0.54%
2086 -0.74% -0.54%
2085 -0.75% -0.52%
2084 -0.76% -0.52%
2083 -0.78% -0.49%
2082 -0.79% -0.51%
2081 -0.83% -0.51%
2080 -0.85% -0.49%
2079 -0.86% -0.46%
2078 -0.87% -0.48%
2077 -0.88% -0.42%
2076 -0.9% -0.39%
2075 -0.93% -0.36%
2074 -0.94% -0.34%
2073 -0.94% -0.36%
2072 -0.95% -0.32%
2071 -0.97% -0.31%
2070 -0.97% -0.28%
2069 -0.97% -0.26%
2068 -0.99% -0.27%
2067 -0.99% -0.24%
2066 -1% -0.24%
2065 -0.99% -0.21%
2064 -0.98% -0.21%
2063 -0.97% -0.22%
2062 -0.98% -0.17%
2061 -0.97% -0.18%
2060 -0.95% -0.15%
2059 -0.93% -0.13%
2058 -0.93% -0.13%
2057 -0.92% -0.11%
2056 -0.92% -0.09%
2055 -0.91% -0.05%
2054 -0.91% -0.05%
2053 -0.89% -0.04%
2052 -0.89% 0.005%
2051 -0.89% -0.01%
2050 -0.89% 0.008%
2049 -0.88% 0.02%
2048 -0.89% 0.03%
2047 -0.88% 0.04%
2046 -0.88% 0.05%
2045 -0.89% 0.1%
2044 -0.89% 0.15%
2043 -0.89% 0.16%
2042 -0.91% 0.17%
2041 -0.91% 0.2%
2040 -0.92% 0.23%
2039 -0.9% 0.26%
2038 -0.91% 0.29%
2037 -0.91% 0.32%
2036 -0.89% 0.36%
2035 -0.88% 0.36%
2034 -0.88% 0.41%
2033 -0.86% 0.45%
2032 -0.86% 0.51%
2031 -0.85% 0.58%
2030 -0.82% 0.63%
2029 -0.8% 0.75%
2028 -0.77% 0.82%
2027 -0.73% 0.92%
2026 -0.67% 1.12%
2025 -0.61% 1.36%
2024 -0.08% 0.22%
2023 -0.29% 0.96%
2022 -0.65% 2.55%
2021 -0.66% 1.65%
2020 -1% 1.64%
2019 -1.4% 2.22%
2018 -1.36% 2.71%
2017 -1.32% 2.37%
2016 -1.29% 1.4%
2015 -1.26% 1.05%
2014 -1.21% 1.12%
2013 -2% 0.95%
2012 -0.58% 0.53%
2011 -0.64% 0.31%
2010 -0.66% -0.14%
2009 -0.64% 0.34%
2008 -0.7% 1.88%
2007 -0.73% 2.56%
2006 -0.76% 2.38%
2005 -0.75% 1.6%
2004 -0.75% 0.88%
2003 -0.79% 0.69%
2002 -2.15% 0.9%
2001 -1.97% 1.34%
2000 -0.49% 1.38%
1999 -0.56% 1.22%
1998 -0.67% 1.08%
1997 -0.61% 0.82%
1996 -0.51% 0.54%
1995 -0.44% 0.54%
1994 -0.34% 0.87%
1993 -0.79% 1.02%
1992 -1.07% 1.26%
1991 -0.99% 1.17%
1990 -1.79% 0.78%
1989 -1.16% 1.25%
1988 0.11% 1.58%
1987 0.15% 1.1%
1986 -0.03% 0.74%
1985 -0.001% 0.79%
1984 0.23% 1.07%
1983 0.25% 1.33%
1982 0.3% 1.35%
1981 0.33% 1.15%
1980 0.4% 1.06%
1979 0.14% 0.98%
1978 0.11% 0.78%
1977 0.52% 0.75%
1976 0.43% 1%
1975 0.48% 1.29%
1974 0.67% 1.36%
1973 0.52% 1.52%
1972 0.47% 1.47%
1971 0.55% 0.81%
1970 0.66% 0.53%
1969 0.77% 0.93%
1968 0.71% 1.38%
1967 0.63% 1.63%
1966 0.66% 1.71%
1965 0.73% 1.75%
1964 0.82% 1.79%
1963 0.81% 1.8%
1962 0.88% 1.87%
1961 0.96% 1.97%

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/iceland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Iceland's population grew by 0.22%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Iceland
Current population
6359449
397129
Population rank 112/197 173/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.005%
One net population change
1.69 hours
10.4 hours
One birth every
9.16 minutes
2.07 hours
One death every
5.19 minutes
3.44 hours
Daily growth/decline -14 +2
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +843
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.22%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 155/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
3.24 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 +2,709
Net migration rank 106/196 56/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 98,818
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 130/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 25.1%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 23/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Iceland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Iceland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 2,709
2024 - 524 - 3,543
2023 -43,837 5,173 1,697 4,630
2022 -62,065 26,498 1,719 6,535
2021 -90,452 11,756 2,534 4,911
2020 -65,507 30,167 2,199 2,498
2019 -46,317 -2,156 2,163 5,030
2018 -46,304 -3,873 1,975 6,638
2017 -45,583 -6,109 1,854 8,348
2016 -42,744 -9,482 1,711 4,128
2015 -44,699 -4,227 1,952 1,499
2014 -41,027 -2,180 2,324 1,139
2013 -37,948 -1,324 2,169 1,666
2012 -40,183 -26,334 2,566 -277
2011 -37,477 -23,360 2,521 -1,393
2010 -34,759 -21,668 2,862 -2,055
2009 -26,800 -19,060 3,026 -4,785
2008 -32,967 -17,595 2,825 1,138
2007 -37,727 -16,366 2,617 5,254
2006 -39,526 -15,184 2,491 5,300
2005 -42,124 -14,435 2,433 3,925
2004 -40,128 -13,604 2,425 610
2003 -44,319 -13,183 2,317 -204
2002 -46,240 -12,735 2,243 -333
2001 -44,050 -30,726 2,365 867
2000 -41,668 -26,211 2,475 1,877
1999 -39,411 -23,846 2,192 1,165
1998 -52,844 -23,262 2,357 1,014
1997 -58,185 -22,963 2,305 225
1996 -45,159 -21,520 2,447 -511
1995 -42,030 -22,020 2,354 -1,354
1994 -32,086 -20,984 2,713 -804
1993 -24,569 -19,973 2,875 -194
1992 -18,789 -120,552 2,898 -225
1991 -14,675 -119,356 2,733 1,145
1990 -3,487 -116,817 3,058 -971
1989 5,326 -114,705 2,832 -994
1988 9,879 215 2,847 1,572
1987 8,971 357 2,360 944
1986 16,125 1,104 2,384 -335
1985 11,649 -19,230 2,221 -628
1984 20,610 -1,032 2,539 -328
1983 21,455 -1,872 2,702 170
1982 24,077 -1,860 2,736 616
1981 29,341 -1,830 2,677 157
1980 30,129 -2,045 2,966 -629
1979 40,599 -872 2,980 -572
1978 44,070 -62,769 2,727 -781
1977 47,543 -11,955 2,551 -1,079
1976 56,055 -2,522 2,951 -1,181
1975 54,941 -38,071 2,965 -388
1974 64,223 -1,402 2,776 209
1973 57,760 -5,409 3,121 -310
1972 47,169 -11,296 3,241 362
1971 52,925 -7,654 2,782 -231
1970 61,125 -11,315 2,576 -1,754
1969 63,256 -3,204 2,766 -1,414
1968 69,468 -132 2,841 -448
1967 49,861 -420 3,021 47
1966 54,504 -144 3,305 39
1965 58,249 -1,406 3,442 -194
1964 66,783 505 3,459 -67
1963 66,241 500 3,490 -113
1962 64,104 499 3,465 -228
1961 75,460 378 3,312 164
1960 76,314 -1,112 3,758 -269

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/iceland | 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 Iceland 30.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 98,818 people or 25.1% in Iceland.

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
Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K

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/iceland | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.