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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 9,974,400 people in Israel in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 10,290,887 in Israel.

Population statistics:

  • Israel's population is 1.62 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Israel is the 95th.
  • The countries together account for 0.2% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.12% for Israel.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.96% in Israel.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Israel has grown from 7.05M to 10.3M (45.9% growth).

Bulgaria vs Israel: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Israel
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Israel
2100 3,368,029 21,079,031
2099 3,392,444 20,971,907
2098 3,416,655 20,869,188
2097 3,440,938 20,764,637
2096 3,465,328 20,651,056
2095 3,489,216 20,537,392
2094 3,513,318 20,420,251
2093 3,537,356 20,294,077
2092 3,561,475 20,167,075
2091 3,585,597 20,038,540
2090 3,609,873 19,910,123
2089 3,634,642 19,788,579
2088 3,659,749 19,660,357
2087 3,685,668 19,527,597
2086 3,712,363 19,388,628
2085 3,739,898 19,246,899
2084 3,768,305 19,099,510
2083 3,797,217 18,955,502
2082 3,827,186 18,813,463
2081 3,857,721 18,667,367
2080 3,890,095 18,512,469
2079 3,923,403 18,362,060
2078 3,957,241 18,208,724
2077 3,992,168 18,053,774
2076 4,027,738 17,908,513
2075 4,064,356 17,761,880
2074 4,102,642 17,618,257
2073 4,141,518 17,477,875
2072 4,180,975 17,343,227
2071 4,221,261 17,195,556
2070 4,262,568 17,043,216
2069 4,304,304 16,890,521
2068 4,346,623 16,742,334
2067 4,389,924 16,593,617
2066 4,433,953 16,448,006
2065 4,478,521 16,297,575
2064 4,523,406 16,152,550
2063 4,568,385 15,997,249
2062 4,613,363 15,847,545
2061 4,658,825 15,695,962
2060 4,704,379 15,537,020
2059 4,749,738 15,383,512
2058 4,794,388 15,227,838
2057 4,839,236 15,069,709
2056 4,884,068 14,910,638
2055 4,929,309 14,746,579
2054 4,974,635 14,578,352
2053 5,020,162 14,414,886
2052 5,065,364 14,252,277
2051 5,110,833 14,090,930
2050 5,156,741 13,927,651
2049 5,202,941 13,765,178
2048 5,249,351 13,606,737
2047 5,296,642 13,448,310
2046 5,343,848 13,286,110
2045 5,391,354 13,126,049
2044 5,439,559 12,960,184
2043 5,488,407 12,796,533
2042 5,537,839 12,632,183
2041 5,588,510 12,471,494
2040 5,639,850 12,312,998
2039 5,692,028 12,152,920
2038 5,743,725 11,995,851
2037 5,796,645 11,841,052
2036 5,849,741 11,693,469
2035 5,902,025 11,543,041
2034 5,954,460 11,396,608
2033 6,007,050 11,252,344
2032 6,058,858 11,108,763
2031 6,111,118 10,961,050
2030 6,163,564 10,815,614
2029 6,214,784 10,675,258
2028 6,264,738 10,533,711
2027 6,313,255 10,393,227
2026 6,359,449 10,252,942
2025 6,402,394 10,113,937
2024 6,441,421 9,974,400
2023 6,446,596 9,849,000
2022 6,465,097 9,557,500
2021 6,507,301 9,371,400
2020 6,550,696 9,215,100
2019 6,616,726 9,054,000
2018 6,710,798 8,882,800
2017 6,803,468 8,713,300
2016 6,894,139 8,546,000
2015 6,984,225 8,380,100
2014 7,073,572 8,215,700
2013 7,160,005 8,059,500
2012 7,305,888 7,910,500
2011 7,348,328 7,765,800
2010 7,395,599 7,623,600
2009 7,444,443 7,485,600
2008 7,492,561 7,308,800
2007 7,545,338 7,180,100
2006 7,601,022 7,053,700
2005 7,658,972 6,930,100
2004 7,716,860 6,809,000
2003 7,775,327 6,689,700
2002 7,837,161 6,570,000
2001 8,009,142 6,439,000
2000 8,170,172 6,289,000
1999 8,210,624 6,125,000
1998 8,256,786 5,971,000
1997 8,312,068 5,836,000
1996 8,362,826 5,692,000
1995 8,406,067 5,545,000
1994 8,443,591 5,399,000
1993 8,472,313 5,261,000
1992 8,540,164 5,123,000
1991 8,632,367 4,949,000
1990 8,718,289 4,660,000
1989 8,876,972 4,518,000
1988 8,981,446 4,442,000
1987 8,971,359 4,369,000
1986 8,958,171 4,299,000
1985 8,960,547 4,233,000
1984 8,960,679 4,159,000
1983 8,939,738 4,105,000
1982 8,917,457 4,031,000
1981 8,891,117 3,956,000
1980 8,861,535 3,878,000
1979 8,825,940 3,786,000
1978 8,814,032 3,690,000
1977 8,804,183 3,613,000
1976 8,758,599 3,533,000
1975 8,720,742 3,455,000
1974 8,678,745 3,377,000
1973 8,620,967 3,278,000
1972 8,576,200 3,148,000
1971 8,536,395 3,069,000
1970 8,489,574 2,974,000
1969 8,434,172 2,877,000
1968 8,369,603 2,803,000
1967 8,310,226 2,745,000
1966 8,258,057 2,629,000
1965 8,204,168 2,563,000
1964 8,144,340 2,475,000
1963 8,078,145 2,379,000
1962 8,012,946 2,293,000
1961 7,943,118 2,185,000
1960 7,867,374 2,114,020

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/israel | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Israel gained 1,492,300 people (a 21.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Israel's population increased by 1,744,887 people (a 20.4% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Israel was ranked 99th in 2006 and ranked 95th 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 Israel will increase by 35.3% to 13,927,651 people and rank change from 95th to 88th.

Israel is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 21.1M 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
Israel
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Israel
2100 -0.72% 0.51%
2099 -0.71% 0.49%
2098 -0.71% 0.5%
2097 -0.7% 0.55%
2096 -0.68% 0.55%
2095 -0.69% 0.57%
2094 -0.68% 0.62%
2093 -0.68% 0.63%
2092 -0.67% 0.64%
2091 -0.67% 0.64%
2090 -0.68% 0.61%
2089 -0.69% 0.65%
2088 -0.7% 0.68%
2087 -0.72% 0.72%
2086 -0.74% 0.74%
2085 -0.75% 0.77%
2084 -0.76% 0.76%
2083 -0.78% 0.75%
2082 -0.79% 0.78%
2081 -0.83% 0.84%
2080 -0.85% 0.82%
2079 -0.86% 0.84%
2078 -0.87% 0.86%
2077 -0.88% 0.81%
2076 -0.9% 0.83%
2075 -0.93% 0.82%
2074 -0.94% 0.8%
2073 -0.94% 0.78%
2072 -0.95% 0.86%
2071 -0.97% 0.89%
2070 -0.97% 0.9%
2069 -0.97% 0.89%
2068 -0.99% 0.9%
2067 -0.99% 0.89%
2066 -1% 0.92%
2065 -0.99% 0.9%
2064 -0.98% 0.97%
2063 -0.97% 0.94%
2062 -0.98% 0.97%
2061 -0.97% 1.02%
2060 -0.95% 1%
2059 -0.93% 1.02%
2058 -0.93% 1.05%
2057 -0.92% 1.07%
2056 -0.92% 1.11%
2055 -0.91% 1.15%
2054 -0.91% 1.13%
2053 -0.89% 1.14%
2052 -0.89% 1.15%
2051 -0.89% 1.17%
2050 -0.89% 1.18%
2049 -0.88% 1.16%
2048 -0.89% 1.18%
2047 -0.88% 1.22%
2046 -0.88% 1.22%
2045 -0.89% 1.28%
2044 -0.89% 1.28%
2043 -0.89% 1.3%
2042 -0.91% 1.29%
2041 -0.91% 1.29%
2040 -0.92% 1.32%
2039 -0.9% 1.31%
2038 -0.91% 1.31%
2037 -0.91% 1.26%
2036 -0.89% 1.3%
2035 -0.88% 1.28%
2034 -0.88% 1.28%
2033 -0.86% 1.29%
2032 -0.86% 1.35%
2031 -0.85% 1.34%
2030 -0.82% 1.31%
2029 -0.8% 1.34%
2028 -0.77% 1.35%
2027 -0.73% 1.37%
2026 -0.67% 1.37%
2025 -0.61% 1.4%
2024 -0.08% 1.27%
2023 -0.29% 3.05%
2022 -0.65% 1.99%
2021 -0.66% 1.7%
2020 -1% 1.78%
2019 -1.4% 1.93%
2018 -1.36% 1.95%
2017 -1.32% 1.96%
2016 -1.29% 1.98%
2015 -1.26% 2%
2014 -1.21% 1.94%
2013 -2% 1.88%
2012 -0.58% 1.86%
2011 -0.64% 1.87%
2010 -0.66% 1.84%
2009 -0.64% 2.42%
2008 -0.7% 1.79%
2007 -0.73% 1.79%
2006 -0.76% 1.78%
2005 -0.75% 1.78%
2004 -0.75% 1.78%
2003 -0.79% 1.82%
2002 -2.15% 2.03%
2001 -1.97% 2.39%
2000 -0.49% 2.68%
1999 -0.56% 2.58%
1998 -0.67% 2.31%
1997 -0.61% 2.53%
1996 -0.51% 2.65%
1995 -0.44% 2.7%
1994 -0.34% 2.62%
1993 -0.79% 2.69%
1992 -1.07% 3.52%
1991 -0.99% 6.2%
1990 -1.79% 3.14%
1989 -1.16% 1.71%
1988 0.11% 1.67%
1987 0.15% 1.63%
1986 -0.03% 1.56%
1985 -0.001% 1.78%
1984 0.23% 1.32%
1983 0.25% 1.84%
1982 0.3% 1.9%
1981 0.33% 2.01%
1980 0.4% 2.43%
1979 0.14% 2.6%
1978 0.11% 2.13%
1977 0.52% 2.26%
1976 0.43% 2.26%
1975 0.48% 2.31%
1974 0.67% 3.02%
1973 0.52% 4.13%
1972 0.47% 2.57%
1971 0.55% 3.19%
1970 0.66% 3.37%
1969 0.77% 2.64%
1968 0.71% 2.11%
1967 0.63% 4.41%
1966 0.66% 2.58%
1965 0.73% 3.56%
1964 0.82% 4.04%
1963 0.81% 3.75%
1962 0.88% 4.94%
1961 0.96% 3.36%

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/israel | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Israel's population grew by 1.27%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Israel
Current population
6359449
10290887
Population rank 112/197 95/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.12%
One net population change
1.69 hours
4.19 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
2.87 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
10.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +344
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +125,400
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.27%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 84/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
46 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +11,466
Net migration rank 106/196 42/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 2,091,569
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 35/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 22.3%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 26/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Israel
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Israel
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 11,466
2024 - 524 - 10,612
2023 -43,837 5,173 131,977 9,999
2022 -62,065 26,498 129,982 50,004
2021 -90,452 11,756 134,011 16,859
2020 -65,507 30,167 128,089 16,573
2019 -46,317 -2,156 135,810 16,134
2018 -46,304 -3,873 140,348 15,615
2017 -45,583 -6,109 138,541 14,518
2016 -42,744 -9,482 136,736 24,308
2015 -44,699 -4,227 134,082 29,735
2014 -41,027 -2,180 133,916 25,303
2013 -37,948 -1,324 129,758 17,075
2012 -40,183 -26,334 128,941 16,549
2011 -37,477 -23,360 125,030 10,470
2010 -34,759 -21,668 126,552 12,906
2009 -26,800 -19,060 122,015 7,269
2008 -32,967 -17,595 117,672 7,974
2007 -37,727 -16,366 111,292 9,654
2006 -39,526 -15,184 109,332 11,446
2005 -42,124 -14,435 105,338 10,975
2004 -40,128 -13,604 106,901 8,494
2003 -44,319 -13,183 106,366 6,684
2002 -46,240 -12,735 101,178 17,420
2001 -44,050 -30,726 99,160 38,643
2000 -41,668 -26,211 98,737 63,409
1999 -39,411 -23,846 94,325 78,422
1998 -52,844 -23,262 93,744 52,713
1997 -58,185 -22,963 88,707 60,297
1996 -45,159 -21,520 86,518 66,811
1995 -42,030 -22,020 82,066 61,800
1994 -32,086 -20,984 79,365 57,273
1993 -24,569 -19,973 77,337 49,345
1992 -18,789 -120,552 77,357 57,522
1991 -14,675 -119,356 73,740 153,141
1990 -3,487 -116,817 71,764 178,732
1989 5,326 -114,705 68,674 14,192
1988 9,879 215 71,072 1,675
1987 8,971 357 69,904 7,511
1986 16,125 1,104 70,073 -3,598
1985 11,649 -19,230 71,538 -3,686
1984 20,610 -1,032 70,703 10,933
1983 21,455 -1,872 70,196 689
1982 24,077 -1,860 68,931 16,563
1981 29,341 -1,830 67,647 16,021
1980 30,129 -2,045 68,253 16,284
1979 40,599 -872 68,148 15,591
1978 44,070 -62,769 67,158 15,556
1977 47,543 -11,955 70,092 12,747
1976 56,055 -2,522 74,899 10,459
1975 54,941 -38,071 70,828 11,726
1974 64,223 -1,402 68,891 11,929
1973 57,760 -5,409 65,560 14,310
1972 47,169 -11,296 62,960 27,415
1971 52,925 -7,654 64,449 52,632
1970 61,125 -11,315 56,506 56,173
1969 63,256 -3,204 53,800 59,928
1968 69,468 -132 51,014 60,804
1967 49,861 -420 47,488 59,483
1966 54,504 -144 50,477 57,347
1965 58,249 -1,406 49,979 54,694
1964 66,783 505 48,015 54,050
1963 66,241 500 44,964 53,877
1962 64,104 499 43,337 52,313
1961 75,460 378 42,170 34,482
1960 76,314 -1,112 44,818 10,990

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/israel | 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 Israel 86% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,343,492 people) and 14% is from migration (a gain of 219,048 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 2,091,569 people or 22.3% in Israel.

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
Israel
City Population
Jerusalem 936K
Tel Aviv 468K
Haifa 283K
Rishon LeZion 250K
Petah Tikva 236K
Netanya 217K
Beersheba 209K
Holon 194K
Bnei Brak 194K
Ramat Gan 159K

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/israel | 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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