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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 7,769,819 people in Laos in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 8,004,838 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 -0.96% per year vs +1.48% in Laos.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Laos has grown from 5.96M to 8M (34.2% growth).

Bulgaria vs Laos: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Laos
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Laos
2100 3,368,029 9,342,607
2099 3,392,444 9,389,481
2098 3,416,655 9,435,427
2097 3,440,938 9,480,219
2096 3,465,328 9,524,052
2095 3,489,216 9,567,045
2094 3,513,318 9,609,471
2093 3,537,356 9,651,065
2092 3,561,475 9,691,590
2091 3,585,597 9,731,446
2090 3,609,873 9,770,116
2089 3,634,642 9,807,690
2088 3,659,749 9,844,143
2087 3,685,668 9,879,110
2086 3,712,363 9,912,903
2085 3,739,898 9,945,223
2084 3,768,305 9,975,614
2083 3,797,217 10,005,023
2082 3,827,186 10,032,558
2081 3,857,721 10,058,731
2080 3,890,095 10,083,222
2079 3,923,403 10,106,703
2078 3,957,241 10,128,372
2077 3,992,168 10,148,533
2076 4,027,738 10,165,829
2075 4,064,356 10,182,062
2074 4,102,642 10,196,505
2073 4,141,518 10,208,837
2072 4,180,975 10,218,581
2071 4,221,261 10,225,726
2070 4,262,568 10,231,909
2069 4,304,304 10,235,317
2068 4,346,623 10,235,668
2067 4,389,924 10,233,930
2066 4,433,953 10,228,744
2065 4,478,521 10,222,027
2064 4,523,406 10,212,674
2063 4,568,385 10,200,753
2062 4,613,363 10,186,526
2061 4,658,825 10,169,161
2060 4,704,379 10,149,107
2059 4,749,738 10,126,671
2058 4,794,388 10,100,989
2057 4,839,236 10,072,578
2056 4,884,068 10,041,736
2055 4,929,309 10,008,916
2054 4,974,635 9,972,602
2053 5,020,162 9,933,363
2052 5,065,364 9,891,383
2051 5,110,833 9,846,656
2050 5,156,741 9,799,766
2049 5,202,941 9,750,669
2048 5,249,351 9,697,931
2047 5,296,642 9,643,484
2046 5,343,848 9,586,249
2045 5,391,354 9,527,029
2044 5,439,559 9,465,046
2043 5,488,407 9,401,665
2042 5,537,839 9,334,890
2041 5,588,510 9,266,149
2040 5,639,850 9,195,755
2039 5,692,028 9,122,969
2038 5,743,725 9,046,689
2037 5,796,645 8,968,700
2036 5,849,741 8,888,903
2035 5,902,025 8,807,373
2034 5,954,460 8,723,937
2033 6,007,050 8,638,238
2032 6,058,858 8,550,017
2031 6,111,118 8,459,669
2030 6,163,564 8,367,305
2029 6,214,784 8,273,173
2028 6,264,738 8,176,811
2027 6,313,255 8,078,122
2026 6,359,449 7,977,666
2025 6,402,394 7,874,813
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Laos' population increased by 1,096,036 people (a 15.9% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Laos was ranked 105th 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Laos will increase by 22.4% to 9,799,766 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 3.37M 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 -0.61% 1.35%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Laos' population grew by 1.37%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Laos
Current population
6359449
8004838
Population rank 112/197 103/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.1%
One net population change
1.69 hours
5.01 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
3.22 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
11 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +287
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +104,826
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.37%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 77/197
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 - 524 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/laos | 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 Laos 90.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,183,013 people) and 9.41% is from migration (a loss of 122,899 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 (1960–2024, 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/laos | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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