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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 19.3 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.56% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Bulgaria vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Japan
2100 3,368,029 76,978,998
2099 3,392,444 77,363,458
2098 3,416,655 77,742,445
2097 3,440,938 78,118,375
2096 3,465,328 78,498,614
2095 3,489,216 78,875,245
2094 3,513,318 79,250,325
2093 3,537,356 79,628,057
2092 3,561,475 80,007,967
2091 3,585,597 80,383,529
2090 3,609,873 80,760,724
2089 3,634,642 81,140,553
2088 3,659,749 81,521,696
2087 3,685,668 81,908,373
2086 3,712,363 82,304,497
2085 3,739,898 82,709,534
2084 3,768,305 83,123,058
2083 3,797,217 83,544,006
2082 3,827,186 83,980,325
2081 3,857,721 84,429,305
2080 3,890,095 84,899,768
2079 3,923,403 85,387,247
2078 3,957,241 85,897,934
2077 3,992,168 86,434,291
2076 4,027,738 86,993,007
2075 4,064,356 87,577,777
2074 4,102,642 88,190,392
2073 4,141,518 88,834,763
2072 4,180,975 89,499,356
2071 4,221,261 90,184,464
2070 4,262,568 90,899,136
2069 4,304,304 91,625,421
2068 4,346,623 92,367,969
2067 4,389,924 93,113,499
2066 4,433,953 93,869,240
2065 4,478,521 94,633,430
2064 4,523,406 95,391,433
2063 4,568,385 96,148,081
2062 4,613,363 96,902,907
2061 4,658,825 97,654,031
2060 4,704,379 98,400,894
2059 4,749,738 99,144,216
2058 4,794,388 99,868,968
2057 4,839,236 100,585,601
2056 4,884,068 101,295,868
2055 4,929,309 101,989,736
2054 4,974,635 102,683,462
2053 5,020,162 103,359,083
2052 5,065,364 104,036,901
2051 5,110,833 104,706,698
2050 5,156,741 105,377,283
2049 5,202,941 106,053,011
2048 5,249,351 106,731,207
2047 5,296,642 107,419,237
2046 5,343,848 108,115,358
2045 5,391,354 108,820,982
2044 5,439,559 109,529,333
2043 5,488,407 110,245,586
2042 5,537,839 110,968,174
2041 5,588,510 111,704,629
2040 5,639,850 112,438,759
2039 5,692,028 113,175,948
2038 5,743,725 113,915,783
2037 5,796,645 114,662,374
2036 5,849,741 115,410,956
2035 5,902,025 116,162,381
2034 5,954,460 116,911,001
2033 6,007,050 117,652,676
2032 6,058,858 118,393,188
2031 6,111,118 119,127,425
2030 6,163,564 119,856,131
2029 6,214,784 120,574,242
2028 6,264,738 121,287,543
2027 6,313,255 121,989,133
2026 6,359,449 122,677,250
2025 6,402,394 123,339,586
2024 6,441,421 123,975,371
2023 6,446,596 124,516,650
2022 6,465,097 125,124,989
2021 6,507,301 125,681,593
2020 6,550,696 126,261,000
2019 6,616,726 126,633,000
2018 6,710,798 126,811,000
2017 6,803,468 126,972,000
2016 6,894,139 127,076,000
2015 6,984,225 127,141,000
2014 7,073,572 127,276,000
2013 7,160,005 127,445,000
2012 7,305,888 127,629,000
2011 7,348,328 127,833,000
2010 7,395,599 128,070,000
2009 7,444,443 128,047,000
2008 7,492,561 128,063,000
2007 7,545,338 128,001,000
2006 7,601,022 127,854,000
2005 7,658,972 127,773,000
2004 7,716,860 127,761,000
2003 7,775,327 127,718,000
2002 7,837,161 127,445,000
2001 8,009,142 127,149,000
2000 8,170,172 126,843,000
1999 8,210,624 126,631,000
1998 8,256,786 126,400,000
1997 8,312,068 126,057,000
1996 8,362,826 125,757,000
1995 8,406,067 125,472,000
1994 8,443,591 125,178,000
1993 8,472,313 124,829,000
1992 8,540,164 124,425,000
1991 8,632,367 123,964,000
1990 8,718,289 123,478,000
1989 8,876,972 123,069,000
1988 8,981,446 122,578,000
1987 8,971,359 122,069,000
1986 8,958,171 121,482,000
1985 8,960,547 120,837,000
1984 8,960,679 120,083,000
1983 8,939,738 119,307,000
1982 8,917,457 118,480,000
1981 8,891,117 117,661,000
1980 8,861,535 116,807,000
1979 8,825,940 115,890,000
1978 8,814,032 114,913,000
1977 8,804,183 113,872,000
1976 8,758,599 112,775,000
1975 8,720,742 111,573,000
1974 8,678,745 110,162,000
1973 8,620,967 108,707,000
1972 8,576,200 107,188,000
1971 8,536,395 105,697,000
1970 8,489,574 103,403,000
1969 8,434,172 102,219,000
1968 8,369,603 101,011,000
1967 8,310,226 99,879,000
1966 8,258,057 98,851,000
1965 8,204,168 97,952,000
1964 8,144,340 96,903,000
1963 8,078,145 95,900,000
1962 8,012,946 94,933,000
1961 7,943,118 94,055,000
1960 7,867,374 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 29.1% in Japan.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Japan
2100 -0.72% -0.5%
2099 -0.71% -0.49%
2098 -0.71% -0.48%
2097 -0.7% -0.48%
2096 -0.68% -0.48%
2095 -0.69% -0.47%
2094 -0.68% -0.47%
2093 -0.68% -0.47%
2092 -0.67% -0.47%
2091 -0.67% -0.47%
2090 -0.68% -0.47%
2089 -0.69% -0.47%
2088 -0.7% -0.47%
2087 -0.72% -0.48%
2086 -0.74% -0.49%
2085 -0.75% -0.5%
2084 -0.76% -0.5%
2083 -0.78% -0.52%
2082 -0.79% -0.53%
2081 -0.83% -0.55%
2080 -0.85% -0.57%
2079 -0.86% -0.59%
2078 -0.87% -0.62%
2077 -0.88% -0.64%
2076 -0.9% -0.67%
2075 -0.93% -0.69%
2074 -0.94% -0.73%
2073 -0.94% -0.74%
2072 -0.95% -0.76%
2071 -0.97% -0.79%
2070 -0.97% -0.79%
2069 -0.97% -0.8%
2068 -0.99% -0.8%
2067 -0.99% -0.81%
2066 -1% -0.81%
2065 -0.99% -0.79%
2064 -0.98% -0.79%
2063 -0.97% -0.78%
2062 -0.98% -0.77%
2061 -0.97% -0.76%
2060 -0.95% -0.75%
2059 -0.93% -0.73%
2058 -0.93% -0.71%
2057 -0.92% -0.7%
2056 -0.92% -0.68%
2055 -0.91% -0.68%
2054 -0.91% -0.65%
2053 -0.89% -0.65%
2052 -0.89% -0.64%
2051 -0.89% -0.64%
2050 -0.89% -0.64%
2049 -0.88% -0.64%
2048 -0.89% -0.64%
2047 -0.88% -0.64%
2046 -0.88% -0.65%
2045 -0.89% -0.65%
2044 -0.89% -0.65%
2043 -0.89% -0.65%
2042 -0.91% -0.66%
2041 -0.91% -0.65%
2040 -0.92% -0.65%
2039 -0.9% -0.65%
2038 -0.91% -0.65%
2037 -0.91% -0.65%
2036 -0.89% -0.65%
2035 -0.88% -0.64%
2034 -0.88% -0.63%
2033 -0.86% -0.63%
2032 -0.86% -0.62%
2031 -0.85% -0.61%
2030 -0.82% -0.6%
2029 -0.8% -0.59%
2028 -0.77% -0.58%
2027 -0.73% -0.56%
2026 -0.67% -0.54%
2025 -0.61% -0.51%
2024 -0.08% -0.43%
2023 -0.29% -0.49%
2022 -0.65% -0.44%
2021 -0.66% -0.46%
2020 -1% -0.29%
2019 -1.4% -0.14%
2018 -1.36% -0.13%
2017 -1.32% -0.08%
2016 -1.29% -0.05%
2015 -1.26% -0.11%
2014 -1.21% -0.13%
2013 -2% -0.14%
2012 -0.58% -0.16%
2011 -0.64% -0.19%
2010 -0.66% 0.02%
2009 -0.64% -0.01%
2008 -0.7% 0.05%
2007 -0.73% 0.11%
2006 -0.76% 0.06%
2005 -0.75% 0.009%
2004 -0.75% 0.03%
2003 -0.79% 0.21%
2002 -2.15% 0.23%
2001 -1.97% 0.24%
2000 -0.49% 0.17%
1999 -0.56% 0.18%
1998 -0.67% 0.27%
1997 -0.61% 0.24%
1996 -0.51% 0.23%
1995 -0.44% 0.23%
1994 -0.34% 0.28%
1993 -0.79% 0.32%
1992 -1.07% 0.37%
1991 -0.99% 0.39%
1990 -1.79% 0.33%
1989 -1.16% 0.4%
1988 0.11% 0.42%
1987 0.15% 0.48%
1986 -0.03% 0.53%
1985 -0.001% 0.63%
1984 0.23% 0.65%
1983 0.25% 0.7%
1982 0.3% 0.7%
1981 0.33% 0.73%
1980 0.4% 0.79%
1979 0.14% 0.85%
1978 0.11% 0.91%
1977 0.52% 0.97%
1976 0.43% 1.08%
1975 0.48% 1.28%
1974 0.67% 1.34%
1973 0.52% 1.42%
1972 0.47% 1.41%
1971 0.55% 2.22%
1970 0.66% 1.16%
1969 0.77% 1.2%
1968 0.71% 1.13%
1967 0.63% 1.04%
1966 0.66% 0.92%
1965 0.73% 1.08%
1964 0.82% 1.05%
1963 0.81% 1.02%
1962 0.88% 0.93%
1961 0.96% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Japan
Current population
6359449
122677250
Population rank 112/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.48%
One net population change
1.69 hours
58.3 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 -1,483
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 185/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +140,579
Net migration rank 106/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 140,579
2024 - 524 - 153,357
2023 -43,837 5,173 -871,617 175,003
2022 -62,065 26,498 -825,825 175,003
2021 -90,452 11,756 -640,976 -34,996
2020 -65,507 30,167 -542,923 42,001
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -531,858 318,190
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -456,520 320,601
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -406,310 322,564
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -343,106 314,732
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -292,424 168,896
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -267,279 58,109
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -242,146 66,449
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -229,733 67,904
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -204,533 97,720
2010 -34,759 -21,668 -128,070 131,860
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -76,828 125,450
2008 -32,967 -17,595 -51,225 142,605
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -25,600 138,024
2006 -39,526 -15,184 12,785 130,065
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -25,554 113,017
2004 -40,128 -13,604 76,656 69,014
2003 -44,319 -13,183 114,946 74,875
2002 -46,240 -12,735 178,423 60,864
2001 -44,050 -30,726 203,438 59,563
2000 -41,668 -26,211 228,317 23,468
1999 -39,411 -23,846 202,610 56,901
1998 -52,844 -23,262 265,440 45,912
1997 -58,185 -22,963 277,325 43,366
1996 -45,159 -21,520 314,392 25,030
1995 -42,030 -22,020 276,039 87,714
1994 -32,086 -20,984 363,017 154,214
1993 -24,569 -19,973 312,073 168,836
1992 -18,789 -120,552 360,833 170,878
1991 -14,675 -119,356 396,685 161,331
1990 -3,487 -116,817 407,478 124,582
1989 5,326 -114,705 467,662 31,202
1988 9,879 215 527,085 51,154
1987 8,971 357 598,138 28,001
1986 16,125 1,104 631,706 27,987
1985 11,649 -19,230 676,687 -141,323
1984 20,610 -1,032 756,523 -273,686
1983 21,455 -1,872 775,495 -269,755
1982 24,077 -1,860 805,664 -288,550
1981 29,341 -1,830 811,861 -278,525
1980 30,129 -2,045 864,372 -92,314
1979 40,599 -872 950,298 -57,692
1978 44,070 -62,769 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 47,543 -11,955 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 56,055 -2,522 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 54,941 -38,071 1,204,989 107
1974 64,223 -1,402 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 57,760 -5,409 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 47,169 -11,296 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 52,925 -7,654 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 61,125 -11,315 1,230,496 33,731
1969 63,256 -3,204 1,195,962 49,447
1968 69,468 -132 1,191,930 43,593
1967 49,861 -420 1,258,475 29,632
1966 54,504 -144 682,072 68,934
1965 58,249 -1,406 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 66,783 505 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 66,241 500 987,770 -100,742
1962 64,104 499 901,864 -57,075
1961 75,460 378 893,522 -58,882
1960 76,314 -1,112 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | 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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