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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 58,952,704 people in Italy in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 58,562,681 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 9.21 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Italy is the 26th.
  • The countries together account for 0.78% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.71% for Italy.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.6M (0.28% growth).

Bulgaria vs Italy: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Italy
2100 3,368,029 35,208,261
2099 3,392,444 35,444,989
2098 3,416,655 35,676,340
2097 3,440,938 35,914,345
2096 3,465,328 36,150,501
2095 3,489,216 36,386,787
2094 3,513,318 36,619,396
2093 3,537,356 36,850,181
2092 3,561,475 37,089,746
2091 3,585,597 37,323,400
2090 3,609,873 37,560,976
2089 3,634,642 37,802,157
2088 3,659,749 38,040,056
2087 3,685,668 38,280,439
2086 3,712,363 38,517,279
2085 3,739,898 38,761,126
2084 3,768,305 39,008,873
2083 3,797,217 39,255,273
2082 3,827,186 39,509,964
2081 3,857,721 39,767,732
2080 3,890,095 40,030,977
2079 3,923,403 40,302,924
2078 3,957,241 40,579,648
2077 3,992,168 40,860,952
2076 4,027,738 41,151,772
2075 4,064,356 41,455,646
2074 4,102,642 41,779,503
2073 4,141,518 42,111,664
2072 4,180,975 42,459,257
2071 4,221,261 42,814,908
2070 4,262,568 43,187,953
2069 4,304,304 43,571,469
2068 4,346,623 43,964,515
2067 4,389,924 44,361,273
2066 4,433,953 44,771,926
2065 4,478,521 45,197,177
2064 4,523,406 45,628,630
2063 4,568,385 46,066,216
2062 4,613,363 46,517,561
2061 4,658,825 46,971,598
2060 4,704,379 47,424,830
2059 4,749,738 47,879,711
2058 4,794,388 48,332,818
2057 4,839,236 48,778,066
2056 4,884,068 49,222,515
2055 4,929,309 49,653,326
2054 4,974,635 50,073,600
2053 5,020,162 50,488,203
2052 5,065,364 50,886,354
2051 5,110,833 51,276,616
2050 5,156,741 51,663,176
2049 5,202,941 52,034,983
2048 5,249,351 52,392,012
2047 5,296,642 52,745,310
2046 5,343,848 53,080,828
2045 5,391,354 53,408,660
2044 5,439,559 53,723,325
2043 5,488,407 54,042,322
2042 5,537,839 54,342,628
2041 5,588,510 54,629,496
2040 5,639,850 54,916,374
2039 5,692,028 55,205,078
2038 5,743,725 55,481,637
2037 5,796,645 55,757,394
2036 5,849,741 56,025,224
2035 5,902,025 56,295,613
2034 5,954,460 56,562,648
2033 6,007,050 56,822,364
2032 6,058,858 57,078,534
2031 6,111,118 57,345,322
2030 6,163,564 57,606,120
2029 6,214,784 57,851,091
2028 6,264,738 58,091,760
2027 6,313,255 58,333,039
2026 6,359,449 58,562,681
2025 6,402,394 58,769,653
2024 6,441,421 58,952,704
2023 6,446,596 58,984,216
2022 6,465,097 59,013,667
2021 6,507,301 59,133,173
2020 6,550,696 59,438,851
2019 6,616,726 59,729,081
2018 6,710,798 60,148,658
2017 6,803,468 60,002,252
2016 6,894,139 60,115,223
2015 6,984,225 60,229,605
2014 7,073,572 60,320,707
2013 7,160,005 60,311,613
2012 7,305,888 60,191,247
2011 7,348,328 60,026,841
2010 7,395,599 59,819,407
2009 7,444,443 59,555,454
2008 7,492,561 59,211,181
2007 7,545,338 58,756,247
2006 7,601,022 58,399,861
2005 7,658,972 58,166,682
2004 7,716,860 57,828,179
2003 7,775,327 57,399,184
2002 7,837,161 57,089,824
2001 8,009,142 56,976,981
2000 8,170,172 56,942,108
1999 8,210,624 56,916,317
1998 8,256,786 56,906,744
1997 8,312,068 56,890,372
1996 8,362,826 56,860,281
1995 8,406,067 56,844,303
1994 8,443,591 56,843,400
1993 8,472,313 56,831,821
1992 8,540,164 56,797,087
1991 8,632,367 56,758,521
1990 8,718,289 56,719,240
1989 8,876,972 56,671,781
1988 8,981,446 56,629,288
1987 8,971,359 56,601,931
1986 8,958,171 56,596,155
1985 8,960,547 56,593,071
1984 8,960,679 56,576,718
1983 8,939,738 56,564,074
1982 8,917,457 56,543,548
1981 8,891,117 56,501,675
1980 8,861,535 56,433,883
1979 8,825,940 56,317,749
1978 8,814,032 56,155,143
1977 8,804,183 55,955,411
1976 8,758,599 55,718,260
1975 8,720,742 55,441,001
1974 8,678,745 55,110,868
1973 8,620,967 54,751,406
1972 8,576,200 54,381,345
1971 8,536,395 54,073,490
1970 8,489,574 53,821,850
1969 8,434,172 53,537,950
1968 8,369,603 53,235,750
1967 8,310,226 52,900,500
1966 8,258,057 52,519,000
1965 8,204,168 52,112,350
1964 8,144,340 51,675,350
1963 8,078,145 51,252,000
1962 8,012,946 50,879,450
1961 7,943,118 50,536,350
1960 7,867,374 50,199,700

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/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Italy gained 1,715,362 people (a 2.94% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Italy's population decreased by 1,552,542 people (a 2.58% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Italy was ranked 23rd in 2006 and ranked 26th 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 Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,663,176 people and rank change from 26th to 40th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 29.7% in Italy.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Italy
2100 -0.72% -0.67%
2099 -0.71% -0.65%
2098 -0.71% -0.66%
2097 -0.7% -0.65%
2096 -0.68% -0.65%
2095 -0.69% -0.64%
2094 -0.68% -0.63%
2093 -0.68% -0.65%
2092 -0.67% -0.63%
2091 -0.67% -0.63%
2090 -0.68% -0.64%
2089 -0.69% -0.63%
2088 -0.7% -0.63%
2087 -0.72% -0.61%
2086 -0.74% -0.63%
2085 -0.75% -0.64%
2084 -0.76% -0.63%
2083 -0.78% -0.64%
2082 -0.79% -0.65%
2081 -0.83% -0.66%
2080 -0.85% -0.67%
2079 -0.86% -0.68%
2078 -0.87% -0.69%
2077 -0.88% -0.71%
2076 -0.9% -0.73%
2075 -0.93% -0.78%
2074 -0.94% -0.79%
2073 -0.94% -0.82%
2072 -0.95% -0.83%
2071 -0.97% -0.86%
2070 -0.97% -0.88%
2069 -0.97% -0.89%
2068 -0.99% -0.89%
2067 -0.99% -0.92%
2066 -1% -0.94%
2065 -0.99% -0.95%
2064 -0.98% -0.95%
2063 -0.97% -0.97%
2062 -0.98% -0.97%
2061 -0.97% -0.96%
2060 -0.95% -0.95%
2059 -0.93% -0.94%
2058 -0.93% -0.91%
2057 -0.92% -0.9%
2056 -0.92% -0.87%
2055 -0.91% -0.84%
2054 -0.91% -0.82%
2053 -0.89% -0.78%
2052 -0.89% -0.76%
2051 -0.89% -0.75%
2050 -0.89% -0.71%
2049 -0.88% -0.68%
2048 -0.89% -0.67%
2047 -0.88% -0.63%
2046 -0.88% -0.61%
2045 -0.89% -0.59%
2044 -0.89% -0.59%
2043 -0.89% -0.55%
2042 -0.91% -0.53%
2041 -0.91% -0.52%
2040 -0.92% -0.52%
2039 -0.9% -0.5%
2038 -0.91% -0.49%
2037 -0.91% -0.48%
2036 -0.89% -0.48%
2035 -0.88% -0.47%
2034 -0.88% -0.46%
2033 -0.86% -0.45%
2032 -0.86% -0.47%
2031 -0.85% -0.45%
2030 -0.82% -0.42%
2029 -0.8% -0.41%
2028 -0.77% -0.41%
2027 -0.73% -0.39%
2026 -0.67% -0.35%
2025 -0.61% -0.31%
2024 -0.08% -0.05%
2023 -0.29% -0.05%
2022 -0.65% -0.2%
2021 -0.66% -0.51%
2020 -1% -0.49%
2019 -1.4% -0.7%
2018 -1.36% 0.24%
2017 -1.32% -0.19%
2016 -1.29% -0.19%
2015 -1.26% -0.15%
2014 -1.21% 0.02%
2013 -2% 0.2%
2012 -0.58% 0.27%
2011 -0.64% 0.35%
2010 -0.66% 0.44%
2009 -0.64% 0.58%
2008 -0.7% 0.77%
2007 -0.73% 0.61%
2006 -0.76% 0.4%
2005 -0.75% 0.59%
2004 -0.75% 0.75%
2003 -0.79% 0.54%
2002 -2.15% 0.2%
2001 -1.97% 0.06%
2000 -0.49% 0.05%
1999 -0.56% 0.02%
1998 -0.67% 0.03%
1997 -0.61% 0.05%
1996 -0.51% 0.03%
1995 -0.44% 0.002%
1994 -0.34% 0.02%
1993 -0.79% 0.06%
1992 -1.07% 0.07%
1991 -0.99% 0.07%
1990 -1.79% 0.08%
1989 -1.16% 0.08%
1988 0.11% 0.05%
1987 0.15% 0.01%
1986 -0.03% 0.005%
1985 -0.001% 0.03%
1984 0.23% 0.02%
1983 0.25% 0.04%
1982 0.3% 0.07%
1981 0.33% 0.12%
1980 0.4% 0.21%
1979 0.14% 0.29%
1978 0.11% 0.36%
1977 0.52% 0.43%
1976 0.43% 0.5%
1975 0.48% 0.6%
1974 0.67% 0.66%
1973 0.52% 0.68%
1972 0.47% 0.57%
1971 0.55% 0.47%
1970 0.66% 0.53%
1969 0.77% 0.57%
1968 0.71% 0.63%
1967 0.63% 0.73%
1966 0.66% 0.78%
1965 0.73% 0.85%
1964 0.82% 0.83%
1963 0.81% 0.73%
1962 0.88% 0.68%
1961 0.96% 0.67%

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/italy | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Italy's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Italy
Current population
6359449
58562681
Population rank 112/197 26/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.71%
One net population change
1.69 hours
16.7 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.39 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
47.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 -86
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -31,512
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 170/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
6.99 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +75,448
Net migration rank 106/196 19/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 6,553,671
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 12/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 11%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 59/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Italy
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Italy
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 75,448
2024 - 524 - 95,246
2023 -43,837 5,173 -283,125 150,189
2022 -62,065 26,498 -318,674 231,228
2021 -90,452 11,756 -301,579 157,327
2020 -65,507 30,167 -338,801 85,281
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -215,025 46,634
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -192,475 83,686
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -192,007 95,147
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -138,265 84,568
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -162,620 39,389
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -96,513 52,679
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -90,468 158,090
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -78,248 252,524
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -48,021 198,544
2010 -34,759 -21,668 -23,928 274,387
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -17,866 283,676
2008 -32,967 -17,595 -11,842 422,534
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -5,876 495,092
2006 -39,526 -15,184 0 215,995
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -17,450 258,702
2004 -40,128 -13,604 11,566 417,970
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -40,179 478,578
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -22,836 223,861
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -11,396 48,903
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -17,082 56,065
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -22,766 54,405
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -39,835 67,985
1997 -58,185 -22,963 -22,756 50,539
1996 -45,159 -21,520 -22,744 53,450
1995 -42,030 -22,020 -34,107 -460,287
1994 -32,086 -20,984 -17,053 502,750
1993 -24,569 -19,973 0 24,321
1992 -18,789 -120,552 22,718 51,747
1991 -14,675 -119,356 11,352 19,721
1990 -3,487 -116,817 22,688 35,317
1989 5,326 -114,705 28,336 19,540
1988 9,879 215 33,977 18,553
1987 8,971 357 16,980 7,825
1986 16,125 1,104 11,319 -6,206
1985 11,649 -19,230 28,297 6,911
1984 20,610 -1,032 50,919 203
1983 21,455 -1,872 33,939 -3,733
1982 24,077 -1,860 79,161 -24,223
1981 29,341 -1,830 73,452 7,182
1980 30,129 -2,045 84,650 295,642
1979 40,599 -872 129,531 42,637
1978 44,070 -62,769 168,465 43,932
1977 47,543 -11,955 190,248 42,246
1976 56,055 -2,522 228,445 40,885
1975 54,941 -38,071 271,660 43,051
1974 64,223 -1,402 336,176 42,487
1973 57,760 -5,409 328,508 41,631
1972 47,169 -11,296 364,355 43,182
1971 52,925 -7,654 383,922 -58,627
1970 61,125 -11,315 376,753 -62,216
1969 63,256 -3,204 390,827 -45,346
1968 69,468 -132 399,268 -50,149
1967 49,861 -420 439,074 -37,992
1966 54,504 -144 488,427 -35,352
1965 58,249 -1,406 474,222 -36,267
1964 66,783 505 527,089 -27,368
1963 66,241 500 440,767 -28,198
1962 64,104 499 427,387 -25,840
1961 75,460 378 459,880 -129,761
1960 76,314 -1,112 426,697 -140,765

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/italy | 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 Italy 68.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,239,084 people) and 31.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,026,128 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 6,553,671 people or 11% in Italy.

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
Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K

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/italy | 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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