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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 58,915,656 people in Italy in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 58,708,169 in Italy.

Population statistics:

  • Italy's population is 9.19 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 -0.86% per year vs -0.21% in Italy.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Italy has grown from 58.4M to 58.7M (0.53% growth).

Bulgaria vs Italy: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Italy
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Italy
2100 3,384,288 35,295,729
2099 3,408,821 35,533,045
2098 3,433,149 35,764,971
2097 3,457,549 36,003,567
2096 3,482,057 36,240,310
2095 3,506,060 36,477,183
2094 3,530,278 36,710,370
2093 3,554,432 36,941,728
2092 3,578,667 37,181,889
2091 3,602,907 37,416,123
2090 3,627,300 37,654,289
2089 3,652,188 37,896,069
2088 3,677,416 38,134,560
2087 3,703,460 38,375,540
2086 3,730,284 38,612,968
2085 3,757,953 38,857,421
2084 3,786,496 39,105,783
2083 3,815,548 39,352,795
2082 3,845,662 39,608,119
2081 3,876,344 39,866,527
2080 3,908,874 40,130,426
2079 3,942,344 40,403,049
2078 3,976,345 40,680,460
2077 4,011,440 40,962,463
2076 4,047,182 41,254,005
2075 4,083,977 41,558,635
2074 4,122,447 41,883,296
2073 4,161,511 42,216,283
2072 4,201,158 42,564,739
2071 4,241,639 42,921,274
2070 4,283,145 43,295,245
2069 4,325,083 43,679,714
2068 4,367,606 44,073,736
2067 4,411,116 44,471,480
2066 4,455,358 44,883,154
2065 4,500,141 45,309,461
2064 4,545,243 45,741,985
2063 4,590,439 46,180,658
2062 4,635,634 46,633,125
2061 4,681,315 47,088,290
2060 4,727,089 47,542,648
2059 4,772,667 47,998,659
2058 4,817,532 48,452,892
2057 4,862,597 48,899,246
2056 4,907,646 49,344,799
2055 4,953,105 49,776,680
2054 4,998,650 50,197,999
2053 5,044,397 50,613,632
2052 5,089,817 51,012,772
2051 5,135,505 51,404,003
2050 5,181,635 51,791,523
2049 5,228,058 52,164,254
2048 5,274,692 52,522,170
2047 5,322,212 52,876,346
2046 5,369,645 53,212,697
2045 5,417,381 53,541,344
2044 5,465,818 53,856,790
2043 5,514,902 54,176,580
2042 5,564,573 54,477,632
2041 5,615,489 54,765,213
2040 5,667,076 55,052,803
2039 5,719,506 55,342,225
2038 5,771,452 55,619,470
2037 5,824,628 55,895,913
2036 5,877,980 56,164,408
2035 5,930,517 56,435,468
2034 5,983,205 56,703,168
2033 6,036,049 56,963,528
2032 6,088,107 57,220,334
2031 6,140,619 57,487,786
2030 6,193,318 57,749,232
2029 6,244,785 57,994,812
2028 6,294,981 58,236,078
2027 6,343,732 58,477,957
2026 6,390,149 58,708,169
2025 6,433,302 58,915,656
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 59,877,221
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Italy's population decreased by 1,407,054 people (a 2.34% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Italy will decrease by 11.8% to 51,791,523 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 -0.13% -0.06%
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% -0.25%
2018 -1.36% -0.21%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Italy's population declined by 0.06%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Italy
Current population
6390149
58708169
Population rank 112/197 26/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.71%
One net population change
1.08 hours
14.2 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
1.42 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
48.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline -22 -102
Annual growth/decline -8,119 -37,048
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.06%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 162/197
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 -47,023 524 -277,077 95,246
2023 -43,837 5,173 -294,922 150,189
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 -197,595 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/italy | 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 Italy 69.5% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,436,565 people) and 30.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,068,695 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/italy | 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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