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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 7,873,046 people in Laos in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 8,027,464 in Laos.

Population statistics:

  • Laos' population is 1.26 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Laos is the 103rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.1% for Laos.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +1.47% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8.03M (34.6% growth).

Bulgaria vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Laos
2100 3,384,288 9,340,510
2099 3,408,821 9,387,374
2098 3,433,149 9,433,309
2097 3,457,549 9,478,091
2096 3,482,057 9,521,914
2095 3,506,060 9,564,898
2094 3,530,278 9,607,314
2093 3,554,432 9,648,899
2092 3,578,667 9,689,414
2091 3,602,907 9,729,262
2090 3,627,300 9,767,923
2089 3,652,188 9,805,489
2088 3,677,416 9,841,933
2087 3,703,460 9,876,893
2086 3,730,284 9,910,678
2085 3,757,953 9,942,991
2084 3,786,496 9,973,375
2083 3,815,548 10,002,778
2082 3,845,662 10,030,306
2081 3,876,344 10,056,473
2080 3,908,874 10,080,959
2079 3,942,344 10,104,434
2078 3,976,345 10,126,099
2077 4,011,440 10,146,255
2076 4,047,182 10,163,547
2075 4,083,977 10,179,776
2074 4,122,447 10,194,216
2073 4,161,511 10,206,546
2072 4,201,158 10,216,287
2071 4,241,639 10,223,430
2070 4,283,145 10,229,612
2069 4,325,083 10,233,020
2068 4,367,606 10,233,371
2067 4,411,116 10,231,633
2066 4,455,358 10,226,448
2065 4,500,141 10,219,732
2064 4,545,243 10,210,382
2063 4,590,439 10,198,463
2062 4,635,634 10,184,239
2061 4,681,315 10,166,878
2060 4,727,089 10,146,829
2059 4,772,667 10,124,398
2058 4,817,532 10,098,721
2057 4,862,597 10,070,317
2056 4,907,646 10,039,482
2055 4,953,105 10,006,669
2054 4,998,650 9,970,363
2053 5,044,397 9,931,133
2052 5,089,817 9,889,162
2051 5,135,505 9,844,445
2050 5,181,635 9,797,566
2049 5,228,058 9,748,481
2048 5,274,692 9,695,755
2047 5,322,212 9,641,319
2046 5,369,645 9,584,097
2045 5,417,381 9,524,890
2044 5,465,818 9,462,921
2043 5,514,902 9,399,555
2042 5,564,573 9,332,795
2041 5,615,489 9,264,069
2040 5,667,076 9,193,691
2039 5,719,506 9,120,921
2038 5,771,452 9,044,658
2037 5,824,628 8,966,687
2036 5,877,980 8,886,908
2035 5,930,517 8,805,396
2034 5,983,205 8,721,979
2033 6,036,049 8,636,299
2032 6,088,107 8,548,097
2031 6,140,619 8,457,770
2030 6,193,318 8,365,427
2029 6,244,785 8,271,316
2028 6,294,981 8,174,975
2027 6,343,732 8,076,308
2026 6,390,149 7,975,876
2025 6,433,302 7,873,046
2024 6,441,421 7,769,819
2023 6,446,596 7,664,993
2022 6,465,097 7,559,007
2021 6,507,301 7,453,194
2020 6,550,696 7,346,533
2019 6,616,726 7,237,636
2018 6,710,798 7,128,045
2017 6,803,468 7,018,147
2016 6,894,139 6,908,802
2015 6,984,225 6,801,645
2014 7,073,572 6,703,172
2013 7,160,005 6,611,385
2012 7,305,888 6,518,978
2011 7,348,328 6,426,590
2010 7,395,599 6,334,194
2009 7,444,443 6,241,642
2008 7,492,561 6,148,969
2007 7,545,338 6,056,236
2006 7,601,022 5,963,200
2005 7,658,972 5,869,523
2004 7,716,860 5,781,626
2003 7,775,327 5,697,945
2002 7,837,161 5,610,889
2001 8,009,142 5,521,482
2000 8,170,172 5,431,212
1999 8,210,624 5,340,784
1998 8,256,786 5,248,266
1997 8,312,068 5,152,011
1996 8,362,826 5,045,678
1995 8,406,067 4,929,409
1994 8,443,591 4,809,220
1993 8,472,313 4,685,060
1992 8,540,164 4,559,646
1991 8,632,367 4,435,118
1990 8,718,289 4,311,955
1989 8,876,972 4,190,974
1988 8,981,446 4,072,601
1987 8,971,359 3,957,612
1986 8,958,171 3,846,715
1985 8,960,547 3,739,985
1984 8,960,679 3,637,843
1983 8,939,738 3,541,001
1982 8,917,457 3,450,026
1981 8,891,117 3,366,631
1980 8,861,535 3,292,573
1979 8,825,940 3,228,202
1978 8,814,032 3,171,740
1977 8,804,183 3,118,923
1976 8,758,599 3,064,876
1975 8,720,742 3,005,521
1974 8,678,745 2,939,761
1973 8,620,967 2,870,573
1972 8,576,200 2,801,660
1971 8,536,395 2,734,628
1970 8,489,574 2,669,702
1969 8,434,172 2,606,959
1968 8,369,603 2,546,377
1967 8,310,226 2,487,715
1966 8,258,057 2,431,084
1965 8,204,168 2,376,200
1964 8,144,340 2,322,826
1963 8,078,145 2,271,061
1962 8,012,946 2,219,910
1961 7,943,118 2,169,796
1960 7,867,374 2,121,514

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/laos | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Laos gained 945,602 people (a 15.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Laos' population increased by 1,118,662 people (a 16.2% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Laos was ranked 104th in 2006 and ranked 103rd 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 Laos will increase by 22.1% to 9,797,566 people and rank change from 103rd to 99th.

Laos is projected to reach its peak in 2068 at 10.2M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.38M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Laos
2100 -0.72% -0.5%
2099 -0.71% -0.49%
2098 -0.71% -0.47%
2097 -0.7% -0.46%
2096 -0.68% -0.45%
2095 -0.69% -0.44%
2094 -0.68% -0.43%
2093 -0.68% -0.42%
2092 -0.67% -0.41%
2091 -0.67% -0.4%
2090 -0.68% -0.38%
2089 -0.69% -0.37%
2088 -0.7% -0.35%
2087 -0.72% -0.34%
2086 -0.74% -0.32%
2085 -0.75% -0.3%
2084 -0.76% -0.29%
2083 -0.78% -0.27%
2082 -0.79% -0.26%
2081 -0.83% -0.24%
2080 -0.85% -0.23%
2079 -0.86% -0.21%
2078 -0.87% -0.2%
2077 -0.88% -0.17%
2076 -0.9% -0.16%
2075 -0.93% -0.14%
2074 -0.94% -0.12%
2073 -0.94% -0.1%
2072 -0.95% -0.07%
2071 -0.97% -0.06%
2070 -0.97% -0.03%
2069 -0.97% -0.003%
2068 -0.99% 0.02%
2067 -0.99% 0.05%
2066 -1% 0.07%
2065 -0.99% 0.09%
2064 -0.98% 0.12%
2063 -0.97% 0.14%
2062 -0.98% 0.17%
2061 -0.97% 0.2%
2060 -0.95% 0.22%
2059 -0.93% 0.25%
2058 -0.93% 0.28%
2057 -0.92% 0.31%
2056 -0.92% 0.33%
2055 -0.91% 0.36%
2054 -0.91% 0.4%
2053 -0.89% 0.42%
2052 -0.89% 0.45%
2051 -0.89% 0.48%
2050 -0.89% 0.5%
2049 -0.88% 0.54%
2048 -0.89% 0.56%
2047 -0.88% 0.6%
2046 -0.88% 0.62%
2045 -0.89% 0.65%
2044 -0.89% 0.67%
2043 -0.89% 0.72%
2042 -0.91% 0.74%
2041 -0.91% 0.77%
2040 -0.92% 0.8%
2039 -0.9% 0.84%
2038 -0.91% 0.87%
2037 -0.91% 0.9%
2036 -0.89% 0.93%
2035 -0.88% 0.96%
2034 -0.88% 0.99%
2033 -0.86% 1.03%
2032 -0.86% 1.07%
2031 -0.85% 1.1%
2030 -0.82% 1.14%
2029 -0.8% 1.18%
2028 -0.77% 1.22%
2027 -0.73% 1.26%
2026 -0.67% 1.31%
2025 -0.13% 1.33%
2024 -0.08% 1.37%
2023 -0.29% 1.4%
2022 -0.65% 1.42%
2021 -0.66% 1.45%
2020 -1% 1.5%
2019 -1.4% 1.54%
2018 -1.36% 1.57%
2017 -1.32% 1.58%
2016 -1.29% 1.58%
2015 -1.26% 1.47%
2014 -1.21% 1.39%
2013 -2% 1.42%
2012 -0.58% 1.44%
2011 -0.64% 1.46%
2010 -0.66% 1.48%
2009 -0.64% 1.51%
2008 -0.7% 1.53%
2007 -0.73% 1.56%
2006 -0.76% 1.6%
2005 -0.75% 1.52%
2004 -0.75% 1.47%
2003 -0.79% 1.55%
2002 -2.15% 1.62%
2001 -1.97% 1.66%
2000 -0.49% 1.69%
1999 -0.56% 1.76%
1998 -0.67% 1.87%
1997 -0.61% 2.11%
1996 -0.51% 2.36%
1995 -0.44% 2.5%
1994 -0.34% 2.65%
1993 -0.79% 2.75%
1992 -1.07% 2.81%
1991 -0.99% 2.86%
1990 -1.79% 2.89%
1989 -1.16% 2.91%
1988 0.11% 2.91%
1987 0.15% 2.88%
1986 -0.03% 2.85%
1985 -0.001% 2.81%
1984 0.23% 2.73%
1983 0.25% 2.64%
1982 0.3% 2.48%
1981 0.33% 2.25%
1980 0.4% 1.99%
1979 0.14% 1.78%
1978 0.11% 1.69%
1977 0.52% 1.76%
1976 0.43% 1.97%
1975 0.48% 2.24%
1974 0.67% 2.41%
1973 0.52% 2.46%
1972 0.47% 2.45%
1971 0.55% 2.43%
1970 0.66% 2.41%
1969 0.77% 2.38%
1968 0.71% 2.36%
1967 0.63% 2.33%
1966 0.66% 2.31%
1965 0.73% 2.3%
1964 0.82% 2.28%
1963 0.81% 2.3%
1962 0.88% 2.31%
1961 0.96% 2.28%

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/laos | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Laos' population grew by 1.33%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Laos
Current population
6390149
8027464
Population rank 112/197 103/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.1%
One net population change
1.08 hours
5.11 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
3.23 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
10.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +283
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +103,227
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +1.33%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 76/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
49.5 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -10,645
Net migration rank 106/196 134/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 51,446
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 149/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.7%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 166/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Laos
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Laos
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -10,645
2024 -47,023 524 114,574 -10,284
2023 -43,837 5,173 115,359 -10,003
2022 -62,065 26,498 116,620 -10,003
2021 -90,452 11,756 115,323 -10,305
2020 -65,507 30,167 118,609 -10,305
2019 -46,317 -2,156 119,797 -10,305
2018 -46,304 -3,873 119,986 -10,305
2017 -45,583 -6,109 120,515 -10,400
2016 -42,744 -9,482 119,978 -11,401
2015 -44,699 -4,227 118,723 -12,991
2014 -41,027 -2,180 118,103 -26,881
2013 -37,948 -1,324 119,845 -27,492
2012 -40,183 -26,334 121,324 -28,871
2011 -37,477 -23,360 122,863 -30,538
2010 -34,759 -21,668 122,516 -30,046
2009 -26,800 -19,060 122,174 -29,545
2008 -32,967 -17,595 121,042 -28,318
2007 -37,727 -16,366 119,980 -27,233
2006 -39,526 -15,184 118,602 -25,286
2005 -42,124 -14,435 118,165 -24,138
2004 -40,128 -13,604 121,888 -40,120
2003 -44,319 -13,183 122,158 -36,572
2002 -46,240 -12,735 122,110 -33,595
2001 -44,050 -30,726 123,847 -33,552
2000 -41,668 -26,211 124,201 -33,965
1999 -39,411 -23,846 127,255 -36,632
1998 -52,844 -23,262 128,409 -33,997
1997 -58,185 -22,963 130,388 -32,288
1996 -45,159 -21,520 131,142 -16,574
1995 -42,030 -22,020 132,241 -14,279
1994 -32,086 -20,984 134,201 -11,782
1993 -24,569 -19,973 135,295 -9,390
1992 -18,789 -120,552 132,417 -7,502
1991 -14,675 -119,356 129,523 -5,390
1990 -3,487 -116,817 125,297 -3,100
1989 5,326 -114,705 121,044 -1,272
1988 9,879 215 117,050 -80
1987 8,971 357 113,005 0
1986 16,125 1,104 109,266 -475
1985 11,649 -19,230 106,047 -1,376
1984 20,610 -1,032 102,318 -2,698
1983 21,455 -1,872 98,178 -4,108
1982 24,077 -1,860 94,058 -6,184
1981 29,341 -1,830 89,963 -11,061
1980 30,129 -2,045 86,548 -17,339
1979 40,599 -872 82,852 -23,317
1978 44,070 -62,769 80,604 -27,208
1977 47,543 -11,955 79,149 -26,908
1976 56,055 -2,522 77,575 -21,738
1975 54,941 -38,071 76,725 -13,858
1974 64,223 -1,402 74,652 -6,000
1973 57,760 -5,409 70,513 -774
1972 47,169 -11,296 68,095 0
1971 52,925 -7,654 65,959 0
1970 61,125 -11,315 63,896 0
1969 63,256 -3,204 61,595 0
1968 69,468 -132 59,567 0
1967 49,861 -420 57,763 0
1966 54,504 -144 55,494 0
1965 58,249 -1,406 54,268 0
1964 66,783 505 52,482 0
1963 66,241 500 51,056 0
1962 64,104 499 51,244 0
1961 75,460 378 48,992 0
1960 76,314 -1,112 47,575 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/laos | 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 Laos 91.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,179,484 people) and 8.27% is from migration (a loss of 106,302 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 51,446 people or 0.7% in Laos.

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
Laos
City Population
Vientiane 948K
Thakhek 90.8K
Luang Prabang 53.8K
Vang Vieng 25K

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/laos | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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