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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 92,417,681 people in Iran in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 93,580,141 in Iran.

Population statistics:

  • Iran's population is 14.6 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 -0.86% per year vs +1.15% in Iran.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Iran has grown from 73.4M to 93.6M (27.5% growth).

Bulgaria vs Iran: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Iran
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Iran
2100 3,384,288 80,660,972
2099 3,408,821 81,193,582
2098 3,433,149 81,717,474
2097 3,457,549 82,241,892
2096 3,482,057 82,764,411
2095 3,506,060 83,283,942
2094 3,530,278 83,799,806
2093 3,554,432 84,316,389
2092 3,578,667 84,833,108
2091 3,602,907 85,354,240
2090 3,627,300 85,878,473
2089 3,652,188 86,409,859
2088 3,677,416 86,947,263
2087 3,703,460 87,492,427
2086 3,730,284 88,047,949
2085 3,757,953 88,610,339
2084 3,786,496 89,181,346
2083 3,815,548 89,758,453
2082 3,845,662 90,343,413
2081 3,876,344 90,936,310
2080 3,908,874 91,535,218
2079 3,942,344 92,136,544
2078 3,976,345 92,740,467
2077 4,011,440 93,344,865
2076 4,047,182 93,946,187
2075 4,083,977 94,544,733
2074 4,122,447 95,135,317
2073 4,161,511 95,721,351
2072 4,201,158 96,292,835
2071 4,241,639 96,851,951
2070 4,283,145 97,397,073
2069 4,325,083 97,924,812
2068 4,367,606 98,432,509
2067 4,411,116 98,913,776
2066 4,455,358 99,374,357
2065 4,500,141 99,812,137
2064 4,545,243 100,223,387
2063 4,590,439 100,602,361
2062 4,635,634 100,951,282
2061 4,681,315 101,266,537
2060 4,727,089 101,545,806
2059 4,772,667 101,792,315
2058 4,817,532 101,994,395
2057 4,862,597 102,161,227
2056 4,907,646 102,291,323
2055 4,953,105 102,382,089
2054 4,998,650 102,431,558
2053 5,044,397 102,441,204
2052 5,089,817 102,413,350
2051 5,135,505 102,350,865
2050 5,181,635 102,251,999
2049 5,228,058 102,122,983
2048 5,274,692 101,957,508
2047 5,322,212 101,765,614
2046 5,369,645 101,547,098
2045 5,417,381 101,305,486
2044 5,465,818 101,038,874
2043 5,514,902 100,752,109
2042 5,564,573 100,446,296
2041 5,615,489 100,122,690
2040 5,667,076 99,784,572
2039 5,719,506 99,436,793
2038 5,771,452 99,072,548
2037 5,824,628 98,694,577
2036 5,877,980 98,302,279
2035 5,930,517 97,899,013
2034 5,983,205 97,482,352
2033 6,036,049 97,054,589
2032 6,088,107 96,608,216
2031 6,140,619 96,141,200
2030 6,193,318 95,656,003
2029 6,244,785 95,133,736
2028 6,294,981 94,561,150
2027 6,343,732 93,925,792
2026 6,390,149 93,215,072
2025 6,433,302 92,417,681
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Iran's population increased by 9,767,913 people (a 11.7% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Iran will increase by 9.27% to 102,251,999 people and rank change from 17th to 18th.

Iran is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 102M 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
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 -0.13% 0.93%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Iran's population grew by 0.93%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Iran
Current population
6390149
93580141
Population rank 112/197 17/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.13%
One net population change
1.08 hours
37.2 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
27.4 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +2,329
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +849,943
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +0.93%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 103/197
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 -47,023 524 715,785 190,156
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/iran | 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 Iran 89.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,963,093 people) and 10.1% is from migration (a gain of 1,004,177 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/iran | 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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