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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 20,592,571 people in Kazakhstan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 21,161,809 in Kazakhstan.

Population statistics:

  • Kazakhstan's population is 3.33 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Kazakhstan is the 65th.
  • The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.26% for Kazakhstan.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.46% in Kazakhstan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Kazakhstan has grown from 16.1M to 21.2M (31.4% growth).

Bulgaria vs Kazakhstan: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Kazakhstan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Kazakhstan
2100 3,368,029 33,848,663
2099 3,392,444 33,772,741
2098 3,416,655 33,695,479
2097 3,440,938 33,615,447
2096 3,465,328 33,523,978
2095 3,489,216 33,424,720
2094 3,513,318 33,326,027
2093 3,537,356 33,224,553
2092 3,561,475 33,128,053
2091 3,585,597 33,024,570
2090 3,609,873 32,918,505
2089 3,634,642 32,809,364
2088 3,659,749 32,697,677
2087 3,685,668 32,574,802
2086 3,712,363 32,450,913
2085 3,739,898 32,326,215
2084 3,768,305 32,198,072
2083 3,797,217 32,062,485
2082 3,827,186 31,936,199
2081 3,857,721 31,798,193
2080 3,890,095 31,659,824
2079 3,923,403 31,525,030
2078 3,957,241 31,377,560
2077 3,992,168 31,230,620
2076 4,027,738 31,082,855
2075 4,064,356 30,934,158
2074 4,102,642 30,781,840
2073 4,141,518 30,635,989
2072 4,180,975 30,488,022
2071 4,221,261 30,336,588
2070 4,262,568 30,183,464
2069 4,304,304 30,024,249
2068 4,346,623 29,872,612
2067 4,389,924 29,722,383
2066 4,433,953 29,568,138
2065 4,478,521 29,406,227
2064 4,523,406 29,245,499
2063 4,568,385 29,081,885
2062 4,613,363 28,917,277
2061 4,658,825 28,748,398
2060 4,704,379 28,577,830
2059 4,749,738 28,401,552
2058 4,794,388 28,224,769
2057 4,839,236 28,046,842
2056 4,884,068 27,852,110
2055 4,929,309 27,652,544
2054 4,974,635 27,453,980
2053 5,020,162 27,243,894
2052 5,065,364 27,031,990
2051 5,110,833 26,818,727
2050 5,156,741 26,602,802
2049 5,202,941 26,385,294
2048 5,249,351 26,155,898
2047 5,296,642 25,920,222
2046 5,343,848 25,687,222
2045 5,391,354 25,451,058
2044 5,439,559 25,215,227
2043 5,488,407 24,979,701
2042 5,537,839 24,746,212
2041 5,588,510 24,516,106
2040 5,639,850 24,281,719
2039 5,692,028 24,055,361
2038 5,743,725 23,829,916
2037 5,796,645 23,608,263
2036 5,849,741 23,382,815
2035 5,902,025 23,159,205
2034 5,954,460 22,934,543
2033 6,007,050 22,708,727
2032 6,058,858 22,478,234
2031 6,111,118 22,254,688
2030 6,163,564 22,027,730
2029 6,214,784 21,799,495
2028 6,264,738 21,566,108
2027 6,313,255 21,333,660
2026 6,359,449 21,098,089
2025 6,402,394 20,850,907
2024 6,441,421 20,592,571
2023 6,446,596 20,330,104
2022 6,465,097 20,034,609
2021 6,507,301 19,743,603
2020 6,550,696 19,482,117
2019 6,616,726 19,209,555
2018 6,710,798 18,932,727
2017 6,803,468 18,651,931
2016 6,894,139 18,363,600
2015 6,984,225 18,084,169
2014 7,073,572 17,816,285
2013 7,160,005 17,556,502
2012 7,305,888 17,306,106
2011 7,348,328 17,066,002
2010 7,395,599 16,836,810
2009 7,444,443 16,619,846
2008 7,492,561 16,426,525
2007 7,545,338 16,257,214
2006 7,601,022 16,103,716
2005 7,658,972 15,968,117
2004 7,716,860 15,850,159
2003 7,775,327 15,747,380
2002 7,837,161 15,656,677
2001 8,009,142 15,575,550
2000 8,170,172 15,501,103
1999 8,210,624 15,455,874
1998 8,256,786 15,647,785
1997 8,312,068 16,043,251
1996 8,362,826 16,416,027
1995 8,406,067 16,730,536
1994 8,443,591 17,043,771
1993 8,472,313 17,274,487
1992 8,540,164 17,332,625
1991 8,632,367 17,278,600
1990 8,718,289 17,154,054
1989 8,876,972 16,997,013
1988 8,981,446 16,781,168
1987 8,971,359 16,527,715
1986 8,958,171 16,262,702
1985 8,960,547 16,031,090
1984 8,960,679 15,844,621
1983 8,939,738 15,665,551
1982 8,917,457 15,492,595
1981 8,891,117 15,323,082
1980 8,861,535 15,152,949
1979 8,825,940 14,978,696
1978 8,814,032 14,711,497
1977 8,804,183 14,353,265
1976 8,758,599 13,998,738
1975 8,720,742 13,700,843
1974 8,678,745 13,454,570
1973 8,620,967 13,208,121
1972 8,576,200 12,951,798
1971 8,536,395 12,684,813
1970 8,489,574 12,419,057
1969 8,434,172 12,156,212
1968 8,369,603 11,879,182
1967 8,310,226 11,584,428
1966 8,258,057 11,288,989
1965 8,204,168 10,993,183
1964 8,144,340 10,690,309
1963 8,078,145 10,377,466
1962 8,012,946 10,058,928
1961 7,943,118 9,742,085
1960 7,867,374 9,429,981

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/kazakhstan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Kazakhstan gained 2,259,884 people (a 14% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Kazakhstan's population increased by 2,798,209 people (a 15.2% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Kazakhstan was ranked 62nd in 2006 and ranked 65th 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 Kazakhstan will increase by 25.7% to 26,602,802 people and rank change from 65th to 64th.

Kazakhstan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.8M 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
Kazakhstan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Kazakhstan
2100 -0.72% 0.22%
2099 -0.71% 0.23%
2098 -0.71% 0.24%
2097 -0.7% 0.27%
2096 -0.68% 0.3%
2095 -0.69% 0.3%
2094 -0.68% 0.31%
2093 -0.68% 0.29%
2092 -0.67% 0.31%
2091 -0.67% 0.32%
2090 -0.68% 0.33%
2089 -0.69% 0.34%
2088 -0.7% 0.38%
2087 -0.72% 0.38%
2086 -0.74% 0.39%
2085 -0.75% 0.4%
2084 -0.76% 0.42%
2083 -0.78% 0.4%
2082 -0.79% 0.43%
2081 -0.83% 0.44%
2080 -0.85% 0.43%
2079 -0.86% 0.47%
2078 -0.87% 0.47%
2077 -0.88% 0.48%
2076 -0.9% 0.48%
2075 -0.93% 0.49%
2074 -0.94% 0.48%
2073 -0.94% 0.49%
2072 -0.95% 0.5%
2071 -0.97% 0.51%
2070 -0.97% 0.53%
2069 -0.97% 0.51%
2068 -0.99% 0.51%
2067 -0.99% 0.52%
2066 -1% 0.55%
2065 -0.99% 0.55%
2064 -0.98% 0.56%
2063 -0.97% 0.57%
2062 -0.98% 0.59%
2061 -0.97% 0.6%
2060 -0.95% 0.62%
2059 -0.93% 0.63%
2058 -0.93% 0.63%
2057 -0.92% 0.7%
2056 -0.92% 0.72%
2055 -0.91% 0.72%
2054 -0.91% 0.77%
2053 -0.89% 0.78%
2052 -0.89% 0.8%
2051 -0.89% 0.81%
2050 -0.89% 0.82%
2049 -0.88% 0.88%
2048 -0.89% 0.91%
2047 -0.88% 0.91%
2046 -0.88% 0.93%
2045 -0.89% 0.94%
2044 -0.89% 0.94%
2043 -0.89% 0.94%
2042 -0.91% 0.94%
2041 -0.91% 0.97%
2040 -0.92% 0.94%
2039 -0.9% 0.95%
2038 -0.91% 0.94%
2037 -0.91% 0.96%
2036 -0.89% 0.97%
2035 -0.88% 0.98%
2034 -0.88% 0.99%
2033 -0.86% 1.03%
2032 -0.86% 1%
2031 -0.85% 1.03%
2030 -0.82% 1.05%
2029 -0.8% 1.08%
2028 -0.77% 1.09%
2027 -0.73% 1.12%
2026 -0.67% 1.19%
2025 -0.61% 1.25%
2024 -0.08% 1.29%
2023 -0.29% 1.47%
2022 -0.65% 1.47%
2021 -0.66% 1.34%
2020 -1% 1.42%
2019 -1.4% 1.46%
2018 -1.36% 1.51%
2017 -1.32% 1.57%
2016 -1.29% 1.55%
2015 -1.26% 1.5%
2014 -1.21% 1.48%
2013 -2% 1.45%
2012 -0.58% 1.41%
2011 -0.64% 1.36%
2010 -0.66% 1.31%
2009 -0.64% 1.18%
2008 -0.7% 1.04%
2007 -0.73% 0.95%
2006 -0.76% 0.85%
2005 -0.75% 0.74%
2004 -0.75% 0.65%
2003 -0.79% 0.58%
2002 -2.15% 0.52%
2001 -1.97% 0.48%
2000 -0.49% 0.29%
1999 -0.56% -1.23%
1998 -0.67% -2.46%
1997 -0.61% -2.27%
1996 -0.51% -1.88%
1995 -0.44% -1.84%
1994 -0.34% -1.34%
1993 -0.79% -0.34%
1992 -1.07% 0.31%
1991 -0.99% 0.73%
1990 -1.79% 0.92%
1989 -1.16% 1.29%
1988 0.11% 1.53%
1987 0.15% 1.63%
1986 -0.03% 1.44%
1985 -0.001% 1.18%
1984 0.23% 1.14%
1983 0.25% 1.12%
1982 0.3% 1.11%
1981 0.33% 1.12%
1980 0.4% 1.16%
1979 0.14% 1.82%
1978 0.11% 2.5%
1977 0.52% 2.53%
1976 0.43% 2.17%
1975 0.48% 1.83%
1974 0.67% 1.87%
1973 0.52% 1.98%
1972 0.47% 2.1%
1971 0.55% 2.14%
1970 0.66% 2.16%
1969 0.77% 2.33%
1968 0.71% 2.54%
1967 0.63% 2.62%
1966 0.66% 2.69%
1965 0.73% 2.83%
1964 0.82% 3.01%
1963 0.81% 3.17%
1962 0.88% 3.25%
1961 0.96% 3.31%

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/kazakhstan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Kazakhstan's population grew by 1.29%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Kazakhstan
Current population
6359449
21161809
Population rank 112/197 65/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.26%
One net population change
1.69 hours
2 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.28 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
3.85 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +719
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +262,467
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.29%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 82/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
59.7 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -8,834
Net migration rank 106/196 130/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 2,089,797
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 36/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 10.1%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 66/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Kazakhstan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Kazakhstan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -8,834
2024 - 524 - -7,368
2023 -43,837 5,173 273,013 -4,822
2022 -62,065 26,498 277,019 45,755
2021 -90,452 11,756 269,026 -9,804
2020 -65,507 30,167 272,458 -8,716
2019 -46,317 -2,156 278,788 2,594
2018 -46,304 -3,873 278,917 -6,644
2017 -45,583 -6,109 268,066 21,248
2016 -42,744 -9,482 277,878 9,478
2015 -44,699 -4,227 273,523 -2,011
2014 -41,027 -2,180 274,406 -10,170
2013 -37,948 -1,324 259,239 -3,925
2012 -40,183 -26,334 249,987 -4,512
2011 -37,477 -23,360 237,883 -3,160
2010 -34,759 -21,668 230,479 -6,840
2009 -26,800 -19,060 218,036 -7,758
2008 -32,967 -17,595 214,169 -37,796
2007 -37,727 -16,366 188,486 -26,237
2006 -39,526 -15,184 166,480 -21,728
2005 -42,124 -14,435 146,619 -20,171
2004 -40,128 -13,604 132,286 -22,841
2003 -44,319 -13,183 112,137 -16,027
2002 -46,240 -12,735 93,564 -8,272
2001 -44,050 -30,726 84,279 -7,333
2000 -41,668 -26,211 80,699 -8,754
1999 -39,411 -23,846 79,536 -61,031
1998 -52,844 -23,262 85,735 -488,075
1997 -58,185 -22,963 92,778 -481,380
1996 -45,159 -21,520 112,384 -469,331
1995 -42,030 -22,020 140,721 -412,775
1994 -32,086 -20,984 165,631 -520,028
1993 -24,569 -19,973 185,649 -292,682
1992 -18,789 -120,552 204,785 -214,015
1991 -14,675 -119,356 221,581 -104,271
1990 -3,487 -116,817 235,113 -103,336
1989 5,326 -114,705 254,394 -72,096
1988 9,879 215 275,278 -25,892
1987 8,971 357 290,227 -32,724
1986 16,125 1,104 295,818 -23,297
1985 11,649 -19,230 293,834 -103,115
1984 20,610 -1,032 278,485 -96,266
1983 21,455 -1,872 260,471 -84,566
1982 24,077 -1,860 246,983 -76,976
1981 29,341 -1,830 243,652 -74,624
1980 30,129 -2,045 238,977 -67,731
1979 40,599 -872 237,442 -60,198
1978 44,070 -62,769 225,895 131,248
1977 47,543 -11,955 224,284 135,047
1976 56,055 -2,522 221,992 127,735
1975 54,941 -38,071 219,748 26,332
1974 64,223 -1,402 217,668 28,807
1973 57,760 -5,409 215,940 30,467
1972 47,169 -11,296 212,319 53,914
1971 52,925 -7,654 202,450 65,291
1970 61,125 -11,315 191,775 72,000
1969 63,256 -3,204 184,118 77,805
1968 69,468 -132 186,254 105,890
1967 49,861 -420 191,536 105,830
1966 54,504 -144 191,506 101,999
1965 58,249 -1,406 194,470 103,626
1964 66,783 505 208,899 98,761
1963 66,241 500 223,105 94,932
1962 64,104 499 228,177 90,842
1961 75,460 378 228,686 85,981
1960 76,314 -1,112 226,027 83,525

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/kazakhstan | 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 Kazakhstan 98.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 2,743,094 people) and 1.33% is from migration (a gain of 36,908 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 2,089,797 people or 10.1% in Kazakhstan.

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
Kazakhstan
City Population
Almaty 2.23M
Shymkent 1.19M
Nur-Sultan 1.08M
Karaganda 516K
Taraz 418K
Aktobe 388K
Semey 350K
Pavlodar 333K
Oskemen 333K
Atyrau 295K

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/kazakhstan | 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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