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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 7.59 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.66% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Bulgaria vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Iraq
2100 3,368,029 101,632,594
2099 3,392,444 101,421,266
2098 3,416,655 101,212,536
2097 3,440,938 100,980,835
2096 3,465,328 100,724,441
2095 3,489,216 100,464,590
2094 3,513,318 100,194,041
2093 3,537,356 99,876,174
2092 3,561,475 99,532,041
2091 3,585,597 99,203,830
2090 3,609,873 98,886,956
2089 3,634,642 98,513,025
2088 3,659,749 98,144,039
2087 3,685,668 97,767,537
2086 3,712,363 97,325,026
2085 3,739,898 96,873,007
2084 3,768,305 96,448,602
2083 3,797,217 95,991,166
2082 3,827,186 95,509,663
2081 3,857,721 95,009,326
2080 3,890,095 94,507,216
2079 3,923,403 93,960,228
2078 3,957,241 93,417,384
2077 3,992,168 92,903,983
2076 4,027,738 92,359,592
2075 4,064,356 91,825,254
2074 4,102,642 91,229,266
2073 4,141,518 90,571,021
2072 4,180,975 89,918,374
2071 4,221,261 89,265,548
2070 4,262,568 88,596,492
2069 4,304,304 87,909,474
2068 4,346,623 87,220,494
2067 4,389,924 86,513,996
2066 4,433,953 85,734,530
2065 4,478,521 84,971,898
2064 4,523,406 84,191,350
2063 4,568,385 83,387,951
2062 4,613,363 82,604,577
2061 4,658,825 81,800,637
2060 4,704,379 80,951,008
2059 4,749,738 80,141,868
2058 4,794,388 79,319,543
2057 4,839,236 78,477,339
2056 4,884,068 77,609,202
2055 4,929,309 76,739,924
2054 4,974,635 75,857,125
2053 5,020,162 74,952,948
2052 5,065,364 74,072,580
2051 5,110,833 73,150,234
2050 5,156,741 72,235,938
2049 5,202,941 71,272,122
2048 5,249,351 70,316,860
2047 5,296,642 69,347,823
2046 5,343,848 68,400,664
2045 5,391,354 67,435,953
2044 5,439,559 66,447,309
2043 5,488,407 65,453,565
2042 5,537,839 64,433,831
2041 5,588,510 63,408,709
2040 5,639,850 62,360,117
2039 5,692,028 61,289,355
2038 5,743,725 60,253,073
2037 5,796,645 59,221,658
2036 5,849,741 58,155,990
2035 5,902,025 57,127,999
2034 5,954,460 56,087,695
2033 6,007,050 55,051,140
2032 6,058,858 54,002,289
2031 6,111,118 52,991,443
2030 6,163,564 51,986,773
2029 6,214,784 50,982,563
2028 6,264,738 50,001,133
2027 6,313,255 49,014,822
2026 6,359,449 48,020,334
2025 6,402,394 47,020,527
2024 6,441,421 46,042,015
2023 6,446,596 45,074,049
2022 6,465,097 44,070,551
2021 6,507,301 43,071,211
2020 6,550,696 42,116,605
2019 6,616,726 41,192,171
2018 6,710,798 40,265,624
2017 6,803,468 39,337,353
2016 6,894,139 38,469,627
2015 6,984,225 37,560,535
2014 7,073,572 36,550,059
2013 7,160,005 35,281,989
2012 7,305,888 33,654,842
2011 7,348,328 32,161,424
2010 7,395,599 31,045,366
2009 7,444,443 30,058,206
2008 7,492,561 28,971,036
2007 7,545,338 28,391,607
2006 7,601,022 28,616,515
2005 7,658,972 28,407,448
2004 7,716,860 27,577,878
2003 7,775,327 26,802,659
2002 7,837,161 26,006,559
2001 8,009,142 25,197,840
2000 8,170,172 24,424,056
1999 8,210,624 23,636,527
1998 8,256,786 22,884,399
1997 8,312,068 22,176,593
1996 8,362,826 21,501,321
1995 8,406,067 20,825,860
1994 8,443,591 20,139,807
1993 8,472,313 19,201,195
1992 8,540,164 18,300,845
1991 8,632,367 17,767,253
1990 8,718,289 17,581,206
1989 8,876,972 17,364,542
1988 8,981,446 16,908,819
1987 8,971,359 16,521,049
1986 8,958,171 16,074,145
1985 8,960,547 15,683,430
1984 8,960,679 15,310,733
1983 8,939,738 14,840,555
1982 8,917,457 14,406,083
1981 8,891,117 14,006,381
1980 8,861,535 13,591,992
1979 8,825,940 13,170,365
1978 8,814,032 12,753,355
1977 8,804,183 12,331,046
1976 8,758,599 11,927,651
1975 8,720,742 11,543,639
1974 8,678,745 11,167,761
1973 8,620,967 10,795,869
1972 8,576,200 10,430,164
1971 8,536,395 10,077,809
1970 8,489,574 9,735,611
1969 8,434,172 9,403,356
1968 8,369,603 9,085,016
1967 8,310,226 8,778,869
1966 8,258,057 8,485,104
1965 8,204,168 8,202,140
1964 8,144,340 7,929,566
1963 8,078,145 7,667,928
1962 8,012,946 7,413,875
1961 7,943,118 7,194,553
1960 7,867,374 7,022,052

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/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd 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 Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Iraq is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 102M 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
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Iraq
2100 -0.72% 0.21%
2099 -0.71% 0.21%
2098 -0.71% 0.23%
2097 -0.7% 0.25%
2096 -0.68% 0.26%
2095 -0.69% 0.27%
2094 -0.68% 0.32%
2093 -0.68% 0.35%
2092 -0.67% 0.33%
2091 -0.67% 0.32%
2090 -0.68% 0.38%
2089 -0.69% 0.38%
2088 -0.7% 0.39%
2087 -0.72% 0.45%
2086 -0.74% 0.47%
2085 -0.75% 0.44%
2084 -0.76% 0.48%
2083 -0.78% 0.5%
2082 -0.79% 0.53%
2081 -0.83% 0.53%
2080 -0.85% 0.58%
2079 -0.86% 0.58%
2078 -0.87% 0.55%
2077 -0.88% 0.59%
2076 -0.9% 0.58%
2075 -0.93% 0.65%
2074 -0.94% 0.73%
2073 -0.94% 0.73%
2072 -0.95% 0.73%
2071 -0.97% 0.76%
2070 -0.97% 0.78%
2069 -0.97% 0.79%
2068 -0.99% 0.82%
2067 -0.99% 0.91%
2066 -1% 0.9%
2065 -0.99% 0.93%
2064 -0.98% 0.96%
2063 -0.97% 0.95%
2062 -0.98% 0.98%
2061 -0.97% 1.05%
2060 -0.95% 1.01%
2059 -0.93% 1.04%
2058 -0.93% 1.07%
2057 -0.92% 1.12%
2056 -0.92% 1.13%
2055 -0.91% 1.16%
2054 -0.91% 1.21%
2053 -0.89% 1.19%
2052 -0.89% 1.26%
2051 -0.89% 1.27%
2050 -0.89% 1.35%
2049 -0.88% 1.36%
2048 -0.89% 1.4%
2047 -0.88% 1.38%
2046 -0.88% 1.43%
2045 -0.89% 1.49%
2044 -0.89% 1.52%
2043 -0.89% 1.58%
2042 -0.91% 1.62%
2041 -0.91% 1.68%
2040 -0.92% 1.75%
2039 -0.9% 1.72%
2038 -0.91% 1.74%
2037 -0.91% 1.83%
2036 -0.89% 1.8%
2035 -0.88% 1.85%
2034 -0.88% 1.88%
2033 -0.86% 1.94%
2032 -0.86% 1.91%
2031 -0.85% 1.93%
2030 -0.82% 1.97%
2029 -0.8% 1.96%
2028 -0.77% 2.01%
2027 -0.73% 2.07%
2026 -0.67% 2.13%
2025 -0.61% 2.13%
2024 -0.08% 2.15%
2023 -0.29% 2.28%
2022 -0.65% 2.32%
2021 -0.66% 2.27%
2020 -1% 2.24%
2019 -1.4% 2.3%
2018 -1.36% 2.36%
2017 -1.32% 2.26%
2016 -1.29% 2.42%
2015 -1.26% 2.76%
2014 -1.21% 3.59%
2013 -2% 4.83%
2012 -0.58% 4.64%
2011 -0.64% 3.59%
2010 -0.66% 3.28%
2009 -0.64% 3.75%
2008 -0.7% 2.04%
2007 -0.73% -0.79%
2006 -0.76% 0.74%
2005 -0.75% 3.01%
2004 -0.75% 2.89%
2003 -0.79% 3.06%
2002 -2.15% 3.21%
2001 -1.97% 3.17%
2000 -0.49% 3.33%
1999 -0.56% 3.29%
1998 -0.67% 3.19%
1997 -0.61% 3.14%
1996 -0.51% 3.24%
1995 -0.44% 3.41%
1994 -0.34% 4.89%
1993 -0.79% 4.92%
1992 -1.07% 3%
1991 -0.99% 1.06%
1990 -1.79% 1.25%
1989 -1.16% 2.7%
1988 0.11% 2.35%
1987 0.15% 2.78%
1986 -0.03% 2.49%
1985 -0.001% 2.43%
1984 0.23% 3.17%
1983 0.25% 3.02%
1982 0.3% 2.85%
1981 0.33% 3.05%
1980 0.4% 3.2%
1979 0.14% 3.27%
1978 0.11% 3.42%
1977 0.52% 3.38%
1976 0.43% 3.33%
1975 0.48% 3.37%
1974 0.67% 3.44%
1973 0.52% 3.51%
1972 0.47% 3.5%
1971 0.55% 3.51%
1970 0.66% 3.53%
1969 0.77% 3.5%
1968 0.71% 3.49%
1967 0.63% 3.46%
1966 0.66% 3.45%
1965 0.73% 3.44%
1964 0.82% 3.41%
1963 0.81% 3.43%
1962 0.88% 3.05%
1961 0.96% 2.46%

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/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Iraq
Current population
6359449
48289334
Population rank 112/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.58%
One net population change
1.69 hours
32.6 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
27.2 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +2,652
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 46/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -1,064
Net migration rank 106/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -1,064
2024 - 524 - -17,735
2023 -43,837 5,173 973,420 -5,710
2022 -62,065 26,498 962,501 76,821
2021 -90,452 11,756 941,924 17,474
2020 -65,507 30,167 919,953 29,858
2019 -46,317 -2,156 942,972 -43,919
2018 -46,304 -3,873 938,310 15,775
2017 -45,583 -6,109 924,507 -21,998
2016 -42,744 -9,482 946,968 -113,980
2015 -44,699 -4,227 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 -41,027 -2,180 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 -37,948 -1,324 1,026,036 474,379
2012 -40,183 -26,334 999,987 753,907
2011 -37,477 -23,360 971,082 261,880
2010 -34,759 -21,668 906,369 92,779
2009 -26,800 -19,060 855,096 120,092
2008 -32,967 -17,595 802,382 396,792
2007 -37,727 -16,366 784,119 -824,428
2006 -39,526 -15,184 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 -42,124 -14,435 776,603 51,019
2004 -40,128 -13,604 761,563 69,948
2003 -44,319 -13,183 746,159 -27,236
2002 -46,240 -12,735 739,419 133,839
2001 -44,050 -30,726 729,704 14,451
2000 -41,668 -26,211 715,771 87,624
1999 -39,411 -23,846 702,170 69,491
1998 -52,844 -23,262 684,152 48,446
1997 -58,185 -22,963 667,582 15,429
1996 -45,159 -21,520 652,866 14,652
1995 -42,030 -22,020 642,977 40,424
1994 -32,086 -20,984 634,344 54,355
1993 -24,569 -19,973 606,700 581,818
1992 -18,789 -120,552 591,886 20,292
1991 -14,675 -119,356 550,146 -95,155
1990 -3,487 -116,817 518,575 -601,469
1989 5,326 -114,705 496,852 19,392
1988 9,879 215 476,778 -81,562
1987 8,971 357 488,742 -108,426
1986 16,125 1,104 474,348 39,136
1985 11,649 -19,230 467,445 -199,505
1984 20,610 -1,032 455,740 21,709
1983 21,455 -1,872 439,800 23,115
1982 24,077 -1,860 428,336 -22,302
1981 29,341 -1,830 416,998 -23,640
1980 30,129 -2,045 419,653 15,757
1979 40,599 -872 428,458 -20,617
1978 44,070 -62,769 418,756 7,434
1977 47,543 -11,955 410,229 8,204
1976 56,055 -2,522 402,260 -13,915
1975 54,941 -38,071 385,916 -6,237
1974 64,223 -1,402 376,197 -4,090
1973 57,760 -5,409 373,191 -1,507
1972 47,169 -11,296 362,334 -2,600
1971 52,925 -7,654 351,464 -6,479
1970 61,125 -11,315 338,030 1,377
1969 63,256 -3,204 324,792 312
1968 69,468 -132 310,644 928
1967 49,861 -420 298,192 2,531
1966 54,504 -144 285,507 1,298
1965 58,249 -1,406 274,551 4,555
1964 66,783 505 262,825 3,224
1963 66,241 500 254,046 3,197
1962 64,104 499 247,520 3,343
1961 75,460 378 184,792 2,981
1960 76,314 -1,112 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/iraq | 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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