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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 5,395,790 people in Ireland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 5,518,360 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 1.15 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 121st.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.07% for Ireland.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.41% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.52M (29.1% growth).

Bulgaria vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Ireland
2100 3,368,029 5,468,791
2099 3,392,444 5,493,162
2098 3,416,655 5,516,999
2097 3,440,938 5,540,157
2096 3,465,328 5,562,811
2095 3,489,216 5,583,505
2094 3,513,318 5,603,538
2093 3,537,356 5,623,266
2092 3,561,475 5,642,437
2091 3,585,597 5,661,268
2090 3,609,873 5,680,076
2089 3,634,642 5,697,512
2088 3,659,749 5,714,108
2087 3,685,668 5,729,431
2086 3,712,363 5,743,405
2085 3,739,898 5,757,666
2084 3,768,305 5,771,610
2083 3,797,217 5,785,324
2082 3,827,186 5,798,037
2081 3,857,721 5,809,262
2080 3,890,095 5,821,598
2079 3,923,403 5,836,731
2078 3,957,241 5,851,937
2077 3,992,168 5,867,627
2076 4,027,738 5,883,876
2075 4,064,356 5,900,200
2074 4,102,642 5,917,659
2073 4,141,518 5,934,975
2072 4,180,975 5,952,211
2071 4,221,261 5,969,279
2070 4,262,568 5,986,770
2069 4,304,304 6,003,570
2068 4,346,623 6,019,937
2067 4,389,924 6,035,810
2066 4,433,953 6,051,604
2065 4,478,521 6,066,791
2064 4,523,406 6,081,606
2063 4,568,385 6,094,455
2062 4,613,363 6,106,325
2061 4,658,825 6,118,587
2060 4,704,379 6,131,482
2059 4,749,738 6,143,979
2058 4,794,388 6,153,447
2057 4,839,236 6,161,059
2056 4,884,068 6,164,047
2055 4,929,309 6,168,611
2054 4,974,635 6,169,455
2053 5,020,162 6,169,673
2052 5,065,364 6,167,591
2051 5,110,833 6,164,894
2050 5,156,741 6,159,756
2049 5,202,941 6,151,623
2048 5,249,351 6,140,272
2047 5,296,642 6,128,245
2046 5,343,848 6,115,454
2045 5,391,354 6,099,562
2044 5,439,559 6,081,384
2043 5,488,407 6,062,477
2042 5,537,839 6,041,683
2041 5,588,510 6,017,573
2040 5,639,850 5,992,311
2039 5,692,028 5,967,604
2038 5,743,725 5,940,474
2037 5,796,645 5,912,327
2036 5,849,741 5,884,159
2035 5,902,025 5,855,902
2034 5,954,460 5,825,178
2033 6,007,050 5,792,751
2032 6,058,858 5,757,842
2031 6,111,118 5,721,671
2030 6,163,564 5,684,420
2029 6,214,784 5,644,008
2028 6,264,738 5,600,083
2027 6,313,255 5,553,725
2026 6,359,449 5,505,248
2025 6,402,394 5,452,752
2024 6,441,421 5,395,790
2023 6,446,596 5,311,538
2022 6,465,097 5,212,836
2021 6,507,301 5,110,585
2020 6,550,696 5,039,747
2019 6,616,726 4,976,456
2018 6,710,798 4,898,022
2017 6,803,468 4,827,445
2016 6,894,139 4,762,722
2015 6,984,225 4,701,957
2014 7,073,572 4,657,740
2013 7,160,005 4,623,816
2012 7,305,888 4,599,533
2011 7,348,328 4,580,084
2010 7,395,599 4,560,155
2009 7,444,443 4,535,375
2008 7,492,561 4,489,544
2007 7,545,338 4,398,942
2006 7,601,022 4,273,591
2005 7,658,972 4,159,914
2004 7,716,860 4,070,262
2003 7,775,327 3,996,521
2002 7,837,161 3,931,947
2001 8,009,142 3,866,243
2000 8,170,172 3,805,174
1999 8,210,624 3,754,786
1998 8,256,786 3,712,696
1997 8,312,068 3,674,171
1996 8,362,826 3,637,510
1995 8,406,067 3,608,841
1994 8,443,591 3,590,386
1993 8,472,313 3,576,261
1992 8,540,164 3,558,430
1991 8,632,367 3,534,235
1990 8,718,289 3,513,974
1989 8,876,972 3,511,009
1988 8,981,446 3,524,949
1987 8,971,359 3,540,057
1986 8,958,171 3,539,690
1985 8,960,547 3,538,082
1984 8,960,679 3,532,423
1983 8,939,738 3,510,600
1982 8,917,457 3,485,800
1981 8,891,117 3,453,000
1980 8,861,535 3,412,800
1979 8,825,940 3,373,750
1978 8,814,032 3,329,100
1977 8,804,183 3,282,200
1976 8,758,599 3,238,050
1975 8,720,742 3,189,550
1974 8,678,745 3,137,500
1973 8,620,967 3,085,950
1972 8,576,200 3,036,850
1971 8,536,395 2,992,050
1970 8,489,574 2,957,250
1969 8,434,172 2,932,650
1968 8,369,603 2,915,550
1967 8,310,226 2,902,450
1966 8,258,057 2,888,800
1965 8,204,168 2,877,300
1964 8,144,340 2,866,550
1963 8,078,145 2,852,650
1962 8,012,946 2,836,050
1961 7,943,118 2,824,400
1960 7,867,374 2,828,600

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/ireland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Ireland gained 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Ireland's population increased by 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and still ranked 121st 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 Ireland will increase by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people and rank change from 121st to 119th.

Ireland is projected to reach its peak in 2053 at 6.17M 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
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Ireland
2100 -0.72% -0.44%
2099 -0.71% -0.43%
2098 -0.71% -0.42%
2097 -0.7% -0.41%
2096 -0.68% -0.37%
2095 -0.69% -0.36%
2094 -0.68% -0.35%
2093 -0.68% -0.34%
2092 -0.67% -0.33%
2091 -0.67% -0.33%
2090 -0.68% -0.31%
2089 -0.69% -0.29%
2088 -0.7% -0.27%
2087 -0.72% -0.24%
2086 -0.74% -0.25%
2085 -0.75% -0.24%
2084 -0.76% -0.24%
2083 -0.78% -0.22%
2082 -0.79% -0.19%
2081 -0.83% -0.21%
2080 -0.85% -0.26%
2079 -0.86% -0.26%
2078 -0.87% -0.27%
2077 -0.88% -0.28%
2076 -0.9% -0.28%
2075 -0.93% -0.3%
2074 -0.94% -0.29%
2073 -0.94% -0.29%
2072 -0.95% -0.29%
2071 -0.97% -0.29%
2070 -0.97% -0.28%
2069 -0.97% -0.27%
2068 -0.99% -0.26%
2067 -0.99% -0.26%
2066 -1% -0.25%
2065 -0.99% -0.24%
2064 -0.98% -0.21%
2063 -0.97% -0.19%
2062 -0.98% -0.2%
2061 -0.97% -0.21%
2060 -0.95% -0.2%
2059 -0.93% -0.15%
2058 -0.93% -0.12%
2057 -0.92% -0.05%
2056 -0.92% -0.07%
2055 -0.91% -0.01%
2054 -0.91% -0.004%
2053 -0.89% 0.03%
2052 -0.89% 0.04%
2051 -0.89% 0.08%
2050 -0.89% 0.13%
2049 -0.88% 0.18%
2048 -0.89% 0.2%
2047 -0.88% 0.21%
2046 -0.88% 0.26%
2045 -0.89% 0.3%
2044 -0.89% 0.31%
2043 -0.89% 0.34%
2042 -0.91% 0.4%
2041 -0.91% 0.42%
2040 -0.92% 0.41%
2039 -0.9% 0.46%
2038 -0.91% 0.48%
2037 -0.91% 0.48%
2036 -0.89% 0.48%
2035 -0.88% 0.53%
2034 -0.88% 0.56%
2033 -0.86% 0.61%
2032 -0.86% 0.63%
2031 -0.85% 0.66%
2030 -0.82% 0.72%
2029 -0.8% 0.78%
2028 -0.77% 0.83%
2027 -0.73% 0.88%
2026 -0.67% 0.96%
2025 -0.61% 1.06%
2024 -0.08% 1.59%
2023 -0.29% 1.89%
2022 -0.65% 2%
2021 -0.66% 1.41%
2020 -1% 1.27%
2019 -1.4% 1.6%
2018 -1.36% 1.46%
2017 -1.32% 1.36%
2016 -1.29% 1.29%
2015 -1.26% 0.95%
2014 -1.21% 0.73%
2013 -2% 0.53%
2012 -0.58% 0.42%
2011 -0.64% 0.44%
2010 -0.66% 0.55%
2009 -0.64% 1.02%
2008 -0.7% 2.06%
2007 -0.73% 2.93%
2006 -0.76% 2.73%
2005 -0.75% 2.2%
2004 -0.75% 1.85%
2003 -0.79% 1.64%
2002 -2.15% 1.7%
2001 -1.97% 1.6%
2000 -0.49% 1.34%
1999 -0.56% 1.13%
1998 -0.67% 1.05%
1997 -0.61% 1.01%
1996 -0.51% 0.79%
1995 -0.44% 0.51%
1994 -0.34% 0.39%
1993 -0.79% 0.5%
1992 -1.07% 0.68%
1991 -0.99% 0.58%
1990 -1.79% 0.08%
1989 -1.16% -0.4%
1988 0.11% -0.43%
1987 0.15% 0.01%
1986 -0.03% 0.05%
1985 -0.001% 0.16%
1984 0.23% 0.62%
1983 0.25% 0.71%
1982 0.3% 0.95%
1981 0.33% 1.18%
1980 0.4% 1.16%
1979 0.14% 1.34%
1978 0.11% 1.43%
1977 0.52% 1.36%
1976 0.43% 1.52%
1975 0.48% 1.66%
1974 0.67% 1.67%
1973 0.52% 1.62%
1972 0.47% 1.5%
1971 0.55% 1.18%
1970 0.66% 0.84%
1969 0.77% 0.59%
1968 0.71% 0.45%
1967 0.63% 0.47%
1966 0.66% 0.4%
1965 0.73% 0.38%
1964 0.82% 0.49%
1963 0.81% 0.59%
1962 0.88% 0.41%
1961 0.96% -0.15%

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/ireland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.59%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Ireland
Current population
6359449
5518360
Population rank 112/197 121/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.07%
One net population change
1.69 hours
6.24 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
9.61 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +231
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +84,252
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.59%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 68/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +35,417
Net migration rank 106/196 27/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,216,237
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 23.1%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Ireland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Ireland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 35,417
2024 - 524 - 39,059
2023 -43,837 5,173 19,652 43,873
2022 -62,065 26,498 19,287 93,535
2021 -90,452 11,756 26,064 27,419
2020 -65,507 30,167 23,687 15,746
2019 -46,317 -2,156 28,365 29,663
2018 -46,304 -3,873 29,878 33,387
2017 -45,583 -6,109 31,379 28,883
2016 -42,744 -9,482 33,339 18,967
2015 -44,699 -4,227 35,265 13,376
2014 -41,027 -2,180 37,728 448
2013 -37,948 -1,324 39,302 -12,309
2012 -40,183 -26,334 42,775 -22,411
2011 -37,477 -23,360 45,801 -26,529
2010 -34,759 -21,668 47,426 -26,974
2009 -26,800 -19,060 47,168 -18,524
2008 -32,967 -17,595 46,691 18,979
2007 -37,727 -16,366 43,109 76,465
2006 -39,526 -15,184 36,752 94,513
2005 -42,124 -14,435 33,279 63,983
2004 -40,128 -13,604 33,376 49,102
2003 -44,319 -13,183 32,372 32,220
2002 -46,240 -12,735 31,062 34,286
2001 -44,050 -30,726 27,837 39,220
2000 -41,668 -26,211 23,592 31,298
1999 -39,411 -23,846 21,402 23,592
1998 -52,844 -23,262 22,277 16,615
1997 -58,185 -22,963 21,311 17,425
1996 -45,159 -21,520 18,915 9,959
1995 -42,030 -22,020 16,601 10,019
1994 -32,086 -20,984 17,234 -3,118
1993 -24,569 -19,973 17,166 -3,762
1992 -18,789 -120,552 20,283 1,335
1991 -14,675 -119,356 21,206 4,944
1990 -3,487 -116,817 21,787 -8,203
1989 5,326 -114,705 20,012 -28,752
1988 9,879 215 22,912 -44,020
1987 8,971 357 26,904 -38,426
1986 16,125 1,104 27,963 -21,139
1985 11,649 -19,230 29,013 -16,178
1984 20,610 -1,032 31,791 -15,549
1983 21,455 -1,872 34,053 -15,043
1982 24,077 -1,860 38,344 -14,464
1981 29,341 -1,830 39,364 -10,834
1980 30,129 -2,045 40,612 -2,876
1979 40,599 -872 38,798 1,486
1978 44,070 -62,769 36,288 15,543
1977 47,543 -11,955 35,448 14,505
1976 56,055 -2,522 33,676 14,200
1975 54,941 -38,071 34,128 13,828
1974 64,223 -1,402 34,199 13,482
1973 57,760 -5,409 34,562 13,164
1972 47,169 -11,296 34,316 12,858
1971 52,925 -7,654 35,606 5,851
1970 61,125 -11,315 30,756 -8,892
1969 63,256 -3,204 29,326 -10,250
1968 69,468 -132 27,697 -11,132
1967 49,861 -420 29,895 -11,708
1966 54,504 -144 26,866 -11,858
1965 58,249 -1,406 30,500 -14,016
1964 66,783 505 31,532 -15,640
1963 66,241 500 29,667 -16,615
1962 64,104 499 28,077 -17,438
1961 75,460 378 25,137 -22,237
1960 76,314 -1,112 28,286 -38,492

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/ireland | 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 Ireland 48.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,216,237 people or 23.1% in Ireland.

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
Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K

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/ireland | 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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