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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 47,020,774 people in Iraq in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 48,531,417 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 -0.86% per year vs +2.32% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.5M (69.6% growth).

Bulgaria vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Iraq
2100 3,384,288 101,633,126
2099 3,408,821 101,421,797
2098 3,433,149 101,213,066
2097 3,457,549 100,981,364
2096 3,482,057 100,724,968
2095 3,506,060 100,465,117
2094 3,530,278 100,194,566
2093 3,554,432 99,876,697
2092 3,578,667 99,532,563
2091 3,602,907 99,204,350
2090 3,627,300 98,887,474
2089 3,652,188 98,513,541
2088 3,677,416 98,144,553
2087 3,703,460 97,768,049
2086 3,730,284 97,325,536
2085 3,757,953 96,873,514
2084 3,786,496 96,449,107
2083 3,815,548 95,991,669
2082 3,845,662 95,510,163
2081 3,876,344 95,009,824
2080 3,908,874 94,507,711
2079 3,942,344 93,960,720
2078 3,976,345 93,417,874
2077 4,011,440 92,904,470
2076 4,047,182 92,360,076
2075 4,083,977 91,825,735
2074 4,122,447 91,229,744
2073 4,161,511 90,571,495
2072 4,201,158 89,918,845
2071 4,241,639 89,266,016
2070 4,283,145 88,596,956
2069 4,325,083 87,909,934
2068 4,367,606 87,220,950
2067 4,411,116 86,514,449
2066 4,455,358 85,734,979
2065 4,500,141 84,972,344
2064 4,545,243 84,191,791
2063 4,590,439 83,388,388
2062 4,635,634 82,605,010
2061 4,681,315 81,801,066
2060 4,727,089 80,951,432
2059 4,772,667 80,142,288
2058 4,817,532 79,319,959
2057 4,862,597 78,477,750
2056 4,907,646 77,609,609
2055 4,953,105 76,740,326
2054 4,998,650 75,857,522
2053 5,044,397 74,953,340
2052 5,089,817 74,072,968
2051 5,135,505 73,150,617
2050 5,181,635 72,236,317
2049 5,228,058 71,272,496
2048 5,274,692 70,317,228
2047 5,322,212 69,348,186
2046 5,369,645 68,401,022
2045 5,417,381 67,436,306
2044 5,465,818 66,447,658
2043 5,514,902 65,453,908
2042 5,564,573 64,434,168
2041 5,615,489 63,409,041
2040 5,667,076 62,360,444
2039 5,719,506 61,289,676
2038 5,771,452 60,253,388
2037 5,824,628 59,221,968
2036 5,877,980 58,156,294
2035 5,930,517 57,128,298
2034 5,983,205 56,087,988
2033 6,036,049 55,051,428
2032 6,088,107 54,002,572
2031 6,140,619 52,991,720
2030 6,193,318 51,987,045
2029 6,244,785 50,982,830
2028 6,294,981 50,001,395
2027 6,343,732 49,015,079
2026 6,390,149 48,020,585
2025 6,433,302 47,020,774
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Iraq's population increased by 10,061,790 people (a 26.2% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Iraq will increase by 48.8% to 72,236,317 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 3.38M 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 -0.13% 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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.13%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Iraq
Current population
6390149
48531417
Population rank 112/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.58%
One net population change
1.08 hours
32.3 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
26.8 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
2.74 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +2,682
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +978,759
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.13%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 43/197
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 -47,023 524 985,943 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/iraq | 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 Iraq 99.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,544,059 people) and 0.89% is from migration (a loss of 85,752 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/iraq | 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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