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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 392,404 people in Iceland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 398,674 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 -0.86% per year vs +1.66% in Iceland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Iceland has grown from 304K to 399K (31.2% growth).

Bulgaria vs Iceland: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Iceland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Iceland
2100 3,384,288 360,144
2099 3,408,821 361,926
2098 3,433,149 363,730
2097 3,457,549 365,557
2096 3,482,057 367,453
2095 3,506,060 369,353
2094 3,530,278 371,260
2093 3,554,432 373,227
2092 3,578,667 375,333
2091 3,602,907 377,423
2090 3,627,300 379,430
2089 3,652,188 381,438
2088 3,677,416 383,627
2087 3,703,460 385,798
2086 3,730,284 387,894
2085 3,757,953 390,003
2084 3,786,496 392,060
2083 3,815,548 394,128
2082 3,845,662 396,088
2081 3,876,344 398,124
2080 3,908,874 400,156
2079 3,942,344 402,122
2078 3,976,345 403,988
2077 4,011,440 405,922
2076 4,047,182 407,624
2075 4,083,977 409,218
2074 4,122,447 410,690
2073 4,161,511 412,079
2072 4,201,158 413,583
2071 4,241,639 414,926
2070 4,283,145 416,204
2069 4,325,083 417,368
2068 4,367,606 418,437
2067 4,411,116 419,588
2066 4,455,358 420,609
2065 4,500,141 421,634
2064 4,545,243 422,508
2063 4,590,439 423,391
2062 4,635,634 424,311
2061 4,681,315 425,017
2060 4,727,089 425,795
2059 4,772,667 426,421
2058 4,817,532 426,989
2057 4,862,597 427,546
2056 4,907,646 428,007
2055 4,953,105 428,399
2054 4,998,650 428,619
2053 5,044,397 428,812
2052 5,089,817 429,004
2051 5,135,505 428,983
2050 5,181,635 429,028
2049 5,228,058 428,993
2048 5,274,692 428,917
2047 5,322,212 428,806
2046 5,369,645 428,615
2045 5,417,381 428,387
2044 5,465,818 427,939
2043 5,514,902 427,281
2042 5,564,573 426,616
2041 5,615,489 425,912
2040 5,667,076 425,083
2039 5,719,506 424,104
2038 5,771,452 422,997
2037 5,824,628 421,786
2036 5,877,980 420,429
2035 5,930,517 418,926
2034 5,983,205 417,406
2033 6,036,049 415,689
2032 6,088,107 413,829
2031 6,140,619 411,715
2030 6,193,318 409,349
2029 6,244,785 406,777
2028 6,294,981 403,748
2027 6,343,732 400,455
2026 6,390,149 396,793
2025 6,433,302 392,404
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Iceland's population increased by 63,235 people (a 18.9% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Iceland will increase by 7.61% to 429,028 people and will still be ranked 173rd.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 429K 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
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 -0.13% 1.53%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Iceland's population grew by 1.53%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Iceland
Current population
6390149
398674
Population rank 112/197 173/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.005%
One net population change
1.08 hours
1.49 hours
One birth every
9.83 minutes
2.02 hours
One death every
5.23 minutes
3.33 hours
Daily growth/decline -22 +16
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +5,898
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +1.53%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 70/197
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 -47,023 524 1,700 3,543
2023 -43,837 5,173 1,736 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/iceland | 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 Iceland 29% is from natural causes (a gain of 19,543 people) and 71% is from migration (a gain of 47,760 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/iceland | 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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