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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 91,567,738 people in Iran in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 93,468,444 in Iran.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 14.7 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Iran is the 17th.
  • The countries together account for 1.2% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 1.13% for Iran.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.19% in Iran.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Iran has grown from 73.4M to 93.5M (27.4% growth).

Bulgaria vs Iran: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Iran
2100 3,368,029 80,713,760
2099 3,392,444 81,246,718
2098 3,416,655 81,770,953
2097 3,440,938 82,295,714
2096 3,465,328 82,818,575
2095 3,489,216 83,338,446
2094 3,513,318 83,854,648
2093 3,537,356 84,371,569
2092 3,561,475 84,888,626
2091 3,585,597 85,410,099
2090 3,609,873 85,934,675
2089 3,634,642 86,466,409
2088 3,659,749 87,004,165
2087 3,685,668 87,549,685
2086 3,712,363 88,105,571
2085 3,739,898 88,668,329
2084 3,768,305 89,239,709
2083 3,797,217 89,817,194
2082 3,827,186 90,402,538
2081 3,857,721 90,995,822
2080 3,890,095 91,595,122
2079 3,923,403 92,196,842
2078 3,957,241 92,801,160
2077 3,992,168 93,405,954
2076 4,027,738 94,007,669
2075 4,064,356 94,606,607
2074 4,102,642 95,197,577
2073 4,141,518 95,783,994
2072 4,180,975 96,355,853
2071 4,221,261 96,915,335
2070 4,262,568 97,460,813
2069 4,304,304 97,988,897
2068 4,346,623 98,496,927
2067 4,389,924 98,978,509
2066 4,433,953 99,439,391
2065 4,478,521 99,877,457
2064 4,523,406 100,288,977
2063 4,568,385 100,668,199
2062 4,613,363 101,017,348
2061 4,658,825 101,332,810
2060 4,704,379 101,612,261
2059 4,749,738 101,858,931
2058 4,794,388 102,061,144
2057 4,839,236 102,228,085
2056 4,884,068 102,358,266
2055 4,929,309 102,449,092
2054 4,974,635 102,498,594
2053 5,020,162 102,508,245
2052 5,065,364 102,480,373
2051 5,110,833 102,417,847
2050 5,156,741 102,318,917
2049 5,202,941 102,189,816
2048 5,249,351 102,024,233
2047 5,296,642 101,832,213
2046 5,343,848 101,613,554
2045 5,391,354 101,371,784
2044 5,439,559 101,104,998
2043 5,488,407 100,818,045
2042 5,537,839 100,512,032
2041 5,588,510 100,188,214
2040 5,639,850 99,849,875
2039 5,692,028 99,501,869
2038 5,743,725 99,137,385
2037 5,796,645 98,759,167
2036 5,849,741 98,366,612
2035 5,902,025 97,963,082
2034 5,954,460 97,546,148
2033 6,007,050 97,118,106
2032 6,058,858 96,671,440
2031 6,111,118 96,204,118
2030 6,163,564 95,718,604
2029 6,214,784 95,195,996
2028 6,264,738 94,623,034
2027 6,313,255 93,987,260
2026 6,359,449 93,276,075
2025 6,402,394 92,478,162
2024 6,441,421 91,567,738
2023 6,446,596 90,608,707
2022 6,465,097 89,524,246
2021 6,507,301 88,455,488
2020 6,550,696 87,723,443
2019 6,616,726 87,051,648
2018 6,710,798 86,117,998
2017 6,803,468 85,026,754
2016 6,894,139 83,812,228
2015 6,984,225 82,619,362
2014 7,073,572 81,502,045
2013 7,160,005 80,414,686
2012 7,305,888 79,370,580
2011 7,348,328 78,383,598
2010 7,395,599 77,420,842
2009 7,444,443 76,457,825
2008 7,492,561 75,514,204
2007 7,545,338 74,602,648
2006 7,601,022 73,392,747
2005 7,658,972 71,828,455
2004 7,716,860 70,256,316
2003 7,775,327 68,769,340
2002 7,837,161 68,011,317
2001 8,009,142 67,452,005
2000 8,170,172 66,418,659
1999 8,210,624 65,445,391
1998 8,256,786 64,519,859
1997 8,312,068 63,639,638
1996 8,362,826 62,881,300
1995 8,406,067 62,205,567
1994 8,443,591 61,520,598
1993 8,472,313 61,403,543
1992 8,540,164 61,184,983
1991 8,632,367 59,986,931
1990 8,718,289 58,380,092
1989 8,876,972 56,704,914
1988 8,981,446 55,072,694
1987 8,971,359 53,323,493
1986 8,958,171 51,446,045
1985 8,960,547 49,582,289
1984 8,960,679 47,793,998
1983 8,939,738 46,029,535
1982 8,917,457 44,272,141
1981 8,891,117 41,989,312
1980 8,861,535 39,842,324
1979 8,825,940 38,424,952
1978 8,814,032 37,126,535
1977 8,804,183 35,933,181
1976 8,758,599 34,837,271
1975 8,720,742 33,802,973
1974 8,678,745 32,796,463
1973 8,620,967 31,839,838
1972 8,576,200 30,921,179
1971 8,536,395 30,029,071
1970 8,489,574 29,145,100
1969 8,434,172 28,273,482
1968 8,369,603 27,437,391
1967 8,310,226 26,628,432
1966 8,258,057 25,829,270
1965 8,204,168 25,036,978
1964 8,144,340 24,262,859
1963 8,078,145 23,519,005
1962 8,012,946 22,807,907
1961 7,943,118 22,125,726
1960 7,867,374 21,470,434

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/iran | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Iran gained 10,419,481 people (a 14.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Iran's population increased by 9,656,216 people (a 11.5% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Iran was ranked 17th in 2006 and still ranked 17th 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 Iran will increase by 9.47% to 102,318,917 people and rank change from 17th to 18th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 103M 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
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Iran
2100 -0.72% -0.66%
2099 -0.71% -0.64%
2098 -0.71% -0.64%
2097 -0.7% -0.63%
2096 -0.68% -0.62%
2095 -0.69% -0.62%
2094 -0.68% -0.61%
2093 -0.68% -0.61%
2092 -0.67% -0.61%
2091 -0.67% -0.61%
2090 -0.68% -0.61%
2089 -0.69% -0.62%
2088 -0.7% -0.62%
2087 -0.72% -0.63%
2086 -0.74% -0.63%
2085 -0.75% -0.64%
2084 -0.76% -0.64%
2083 -0.78% -0.65%
2082 -0.79% -0.65%
2081 -0.83% -0.65%
2080 -0.85% -0.65%
2079 -0.86% -0.65%
2078 -0.87% -0.65%
2077 -0.88% -0.64%
2076 -0.9% -0.63%
2075 -0.93% -0.62%
2074 -0.94% -0.61%
2073 -0.94% -0.59%
2072 -0.95% -0.58%
2071 -0.97% -0.56%
2070 -0.97% -0.54%
2069 -0.97% -0.52%
2068 -0.99% -0.49%
2067 -0.99% -0.46%
2066 -1% -0.44%
2065 -0.99% -0.41%
2064 -0.98% -0.38%
2063 -0.97% -0.35%
2062 -0.98% -0.31%
2061 -0.97% -0.28%
2060 -0.95% -0.24%
2059 -0.93% -0.2%
2058 -0.93% -0.16%
2057 -0.92% -0.13%
2056 -0.92% -0.09%
2055 -0.91% -0.05%
2054 -0.91% -0.009%
2053 -0.89% 0.03%
2052 -0.89% 0.06%
2051 -0.89% 0.1%
2050 -0.89% 0.13%
2049 -0.88% 0.16%
2048 -0.89% 0.19%
2047 -0.88% 0.22%
2046 -0.88% 0.24%
2045 -0.89% 0.26%
2044 -0.89% 0.28%
2043 -0.89% 0.3%
2042 -0.91% 0.32%
2041 -0.91% 0.34%
2040 -0.92% 0.35%
2039 -0.9% 0.37%
2038 -0.91% 0.38%
2037 -0.91% 0.4%
2036 -0.89% 0.41%
2035 -0.88% 0.43%
2034 -0.88% 0.44%
2033 -0.86% 0.46%
2032 -0.86% 0.49%
2031 -0.85% 0.51%
2030 -0.82% 0.55%
2029 -0.8% 0.61%
2028 -0.77% 0.68%
2027 -0.73% 0.76%
2026 -0.67% 0.86%
2025 -0.61% 0.99%
2024 -0.08% 1.06%
2023 -0.29% 1.21%
2022 -0.65% 1.21%
2021 -0.66% 0.83%
2020 -1% 0.77%
2019 -1.4% 1.08%
2018 -1.36% 1.28%
2017 -1.32% 1.45%
2016 -1.29% 1.44%
2015 -1.26% 1.37%
2014 -1.21% 1.35%
2013 -2% 1.32%
2012 -0.58% 1.26%
2011 -0.64% 1.24%
2010 -0.66% 1.26%
2009 -0.64% 1.25%
2008 -0.7% 1.22%
2007 -0.73% 1.65%
2006 -0.76% 2.18%
2005 -0.75% 2.24%
2004 -0.75% 2.16%
2003 -0.79% 1.11%
2002 -2.15% 0.83%
2001 -1.97% 1.56%
2000 -0.49% 1.49%
1999 -0.56% 1.43%
1998 -0.67% 1.38%
1997 -0.61% 1.21%
1996 -0.51% 1.09%
1995 -0.44% 1.11%
1994 -0.34% 0.19%
1993 -0.79% 0.36%
1992 -1.07% 2%
1991 -0.99% 2.75%
1990 -1.79% 2.95%
1989 -1.16% 2.96%
1988 0.11% 3.28%
1987 0.15% 3.65%
1986 -0.03% 3.76%
1985 -0.001% 3.74%
1984 0.23% 3.83%
1983 0.25% 3.97%
1982 0.3% 5.44%
1981 0.33% 5.39%
1980 0.4% 3.69%
1979 0.14% 3.5%
1978 0.11% 3.32%
1977 0.52% 3.15%
1976 0.43% 3.06%
1975 0.48% 3.07%
1974 0.67% 3%
1973 0.52% 2.97%
1972 0.47% 2.97%
1971 0.55% 3.03%
1970 0.66% 3.08%
1969 0.77% 3.05%
1968 0.71% 3.04%
1967 0.63% 3.09%
1966 0.66% 3.16%
1965 0.73% 3.19%
1964 0.82% 3.16%
1963 0.81% 3.12%
1962 0.88% 3.08%
1961 0.96% 3.05%

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/iran | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Iran's population grew by 1.06%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Iran
Current population
6359449
93468444
Population rank 112/197 17/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.13%
One net population change
1.69 hours
32.9 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
26.9 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
1.24 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +2,627
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +959,031
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.06%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 98/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
4.51 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +116,786
Net migration rank 106/196 14/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 3,840,654
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 17/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 4.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 103/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Iran
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Iran
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 116,786
2024 - 524 - 190,156
2023 -43,837 5,173 750,150 262,044
2022 -62,065 26,498 753,525 403,190
2021 -90,452 11,756 645,725 334,967
2020 -65,507 30,167 663,978 -180,680
2019 -46,317 -2,156 893,063 -32,794
2018 -46,304 -3,873 1,035,052 -27,946
2017 -45,583 -6,109 1,140,549 34,849
2016 -42,744 -9,482 1,186,949 66,630
2015 -44,699 -4,227 1,178,317 -46,239
2014 -41,027 -2,180 1,158,552 -56,042
2013 -37,948 -1,324 1,119,533 -47,322
2012 -40,183 -26,334 1,073,804 -57,823
2011 -37,477 -23,360 1,023,925 -65,924
2010 -34,759 -21,668 980,380 -12,849
2009 -26,800 -19,060 958,322 211
2008 -32,967 -17,595 940,983 -12,184
2007 -37,727 -16,366 919,254 -24,950
2006 -39,526 -15,184 884,529 640,932
2005 -42,124 -14,435 837,305 765,873
2004 -40,128 -13,604 801,203 739,996
2003 -44,319 -13,183 732,600 700,222
2002 -46,240 -12,735 752,205 -668,962
2001 -44,050 -30,726 743,658 291,692
2000 -41,668 -26,211 731,203 300,133
1999 -39,411 -23,846 723,237 191,988
1998 -52,844 -23,262 717,655 218,171
1997 -58,185 -22,963 726,574 98,009
1996 -45,159 -21,520 784,508 -92,435
1995 -42,030 -22,020 879,648 -220,258
1994 -32,086 -20,984 1,008,076 -297,487
1993 -24,569 -19,973 1,219,658 -1,696,091
1992 -18,789 -120,552 1,365,466 -451,945
1991 -14,675 -119,356 1,495,594 -13,059
1990 -3,487 -116,817 1,530,434 200,711
1989 5,326 -114,705 1,609,739 9,460
1988 9,879 215 1,614,512 30,688
1987 8,971 357 1,639,644 213,524
1986 16,125 1,104 1,659,289 242,411
1985 11,649 -19,230 1,661,750 163,999
1984 20,610 -1,032 1,653,051 97,748
1983 21,455 -1,872 1,573,612 204,544
1982 24,077 -1,860 1,514,240 222,390
1981 29,341 -1,830 1,376,830 1,452,169
1980 30,129 -2,045 1,361,293 103,674
1979 40,599 -872 1,294,306 75,451
1978 44,070 -62,769 1,156,974 70,088
1977 47,543 -11,955 1,091,542 68,093
1976 56,055 -2,522 1,013,347 18,825
1975 54,941 -38,071 929,481 106,921
1974 64,223 -1,402 873,369 103,252
1973 57,760 -5,409 831,880 104,779
1972 47,169 -11,296 804,043 96,614
1971 52,925 -7,654 805,830 77,717
1970 61,125 -11,315 794,612 89,757
1969 63,256 -3,204 780,660 78,196
1968 69,468 -132 743,992 69,342
1967 49,861 -420 727,276 77,313
1966 54,504 -144 695,040 98,709
1965 58,249 -1,406 663,029 127,808
1964 66,783 505 635,589 121,817
1963 66,241 500 620,126 110,190
1962 64,104 499 595,538 96,332
1961 75,460 378 594,674 77,811
1960 76,314 -1,112 584,060 54,041

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/iran | 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 Iran 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,405,860 people) and 7.46% is from migration (a gain of 757,979 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 3,840,654 people or 4.2% in Iran.

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
Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K

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/iran | 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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