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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 1,866,124 people in Latvia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 1,829,763 in Latvia.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 3.48 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Latvia is the 149th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.02% for Latvia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs -0.68% in Latvia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Latvia has declined from 2.22M to 1.83M (17.5% decline).

Bulgaria vs Latvia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Latvia
2100 3,368,029 923,408
2099 3,392,444 932,882
2098 3,416,655 942,357
2097 3,440,938 951,702
2096 3,465,328 961,114
2095 3,489,216 970,470
2094 3,513,318 979,811
2093 3,537,356 989,107
2092 3,561,475 998,497
2091 3,585,597 1,007,961
2090 3,609,873 1,017,465
2089 3,634,642 1,026,994
2088 3,659,749 1,036,657
2087 3,685,668 1,046,527
2086 3,712,363 1,056,483
2085 3,739,898 1,066,499
2084 3,768,305 1,076,818
2083 3,797,217 1,087,423
2082 3,827,186 1,098,154
2081 3,857,721 1,109,075
2080 3,890,095 1,120,211
2079 3,923,403 1,131,602
2078 3,957,241 1,143,002
2077 3,992,168 1,154,458
2076 4,027,738 1,166,122
2075 4,064,356 1,177,964
2074 4,102,642 1,189,889
2073 4,141,518 1,201,798
2072 4,180,975 1,213,804
2071 4,221,261 1,226,159
2070 4,262,568 1,238,635
2069 4,304,304 1,251,199
2068 4,346,623 1,264,197
2067 4,389,924 1,277,382
2066 4,433,953 1,290,492
2065 4,478,521 1,304,082
2064 4,523,406 1,317,729
2063 4,568,385 1,331,316
2062 4,613,363 1,344,939
2061 4,658,825 1,358,659
2060 4,704,379 1,372,730
2059 4,749,738 1,386,684
2058 4,794,388 1,400,736
2057 4,839,236 1,414,911
2056 4,884,068 1,429,035
2055 4,929,309 1,442,863
2054 4,974,635 1,456,686
2053 5,020,162 1,470,334
2052 5,065,364 1,483,843
2051 5,110,833 1,496,515
2050 5,156,741 1,509,248
2049 5,202,941 1,521,989
2048 5,249,351 1,534,656
2047 5,296,642 1,547,203
2046 5,343,848 1,559,641
2045 5,391,354 1,572,396
2044 5,439,559 1,584,822
2043 5,488,407 1,597,317
2042 5,537,839 1,609,668
2041 5,588,510 1,622,468
2040 5,639,850 1,635,132
2039 5,692,028 1,648,215
2038 5,743,725 1,661,175
2037 5,796,645 1,674,137
2036 5,849,741 1,687,461
2035 5,902,025 1,700,759
2034 5,954,460 1,714,411
2033 6,007,050 1,728,562
2032 6,058,858 1,742,976
2031 6,111,118 1,757,310
2030 6,163,564 1,772,264
2029 6,214,784 1,786,824
2028 6,264,738 1,801,228
2027 6,313,255 1,815,599
2026 6,359,449 1,829,763
2025 6,402,394 1,850,593
2024 6,441,421 1,866,124
2023 6,446,596 1,883,710
2022 6,465,097 1,879,383
2021 6,507,301 1,884,490
2020 6,550,696 1,900,449
2019 6,616,726 1,913,822
2018 6,710,798 1,927,174
2017 6,803,468 1,942,248
2016 6,894,139 1,959,537
2015 6,984,225 1,977,527
2014 7,073,572 1,993,782
2013 7,160,005 2,012,647
2012 7,305,888 2,034,319
2011 7,348,328 2,059,709
2010 7,395,599 2,097,555
2009 7,444,443 2,141,669
2008 7,492,561 2,177,322
2007 7,545,338 2,200,325
2006 7,601,022 2,218,357
2005 7,658,972 2,238,799
2004 7,716,860 2,263,122
2003 7,775,327 2,287,955
2002 7,837,161 2,310,173
2001 8,009,142 2,337,170
2000 8,170,172 2,367,550
1999 8,210,624 2,390,482
1998 8,256,786 2,410,019
1997 8,312,068 2,432,851
1996 8,362,826 2,457,222
1995 8,406,067 2,485,056
1994 8,443,591 2,520,742
1993 8,472,313 2,563,290
1992 8,540,164 2,614,338
1991 8,632,367 2,650,581
1990 8,718,289 2,663,151
1989 8,876,972 2,666,955
1988 8,981,446 2,653,434
1987 8,971,359 2,626,583
1986 8,958,171 2,599,892
1985 8,960,547 2,578,873
1984 8,960,679 2,562,047
1983 8,939,738 2,546,011
1982 8,917,457 2,531,080
1981 8,891,117 2,519,421
1980 8,861,535 2,511,701
1979 8,825,940 2,505,953
1978 8,814,032 2,497,921
1977 8,804,183 2,485,073
1976 8,758,599 2,470,989
1975 8,720,742 2,456,130
1974 8,678,745 2,437,186
1973 8,620,967 2,415,819
1972 8,576,200 2,395,674
1971 8,536,395 2,376,389
1970 8,489,574 2,359,164
1969 8,434,172 2,343,173
1968 8,369,603 2,323,619
1967 8,310,226 2,301,220
1966 8,258,057 2,283,217
1965 8,204,168 2,265,919
1964 8,144,340 2,240,623
1963 8,078,145 2,210,919
1962 8,012,946 2,181,586
1961 7,943,118 2,152,681
1960 7,867,374 2,120,979

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/latvia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Latvia lost 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Latvia's population decreased by 129,774 people (a 6.62% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Latvia was ranked 140th in 2006 and ranked 149th 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 Latvia will decrease by 17.5% to 1,509,248 people and rank change from 149th to 155th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 36.3% in Latvia.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Latvia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Latvia
2100 -0.72% -1.02%
2099 -0.71% -1.01%
2098 -0.71% -0.98%
2097 -0.7% -0.98%
2096 -0.68% -0.96%
2095 -0.69% -0.95%
2094 -0.68% -0.94%
2093 -0.68% -0.94%
2092 -0.67% -0.94%
2091 -0.67% -0.93%
2090 -0.68% -0.93%
2089 -0.69% -0.93%
2088 -0.7% -0.94%
2087 -0.72% -0.94%
2086 -0.74% -0.94%
2085 -0.75% -0.96%
2084 -0.76% -0.98%
2083 -0.78% -0.98%
2082 -0.79% -0.98%
2081 -0.83% -0.99%
2080 -0.85% -1.01%
2079 -0.86% -1%
2078 -0.87% -0.99%
2077 -0.88% -1%
2076 -0.9% -1.01%
2075 -0.93% -1%
2074 -0.94% -0.99%
2073 -0.94% -0.99%
2072 -0.95% -1.01%
2071 -0.97% -1.01%
2070 -0.97% -1%
2069 -0.97% -1.03%
2068 -0.99% -1.03%
2067 -0.99% -1.02%
2066 -1% -1.04%
2065 -0.99% -1.04%
2064 -0.98% -1.02%
2063 -0.97% -1.01%
2062 -0.98% -1.01%
2061 -0.97% -1.03%
2060 -0.95% -1.01%
2059 -0.93% -1%
2058 -0.93% -1%
2057 -0.92% -0.99%
2056 -0.92% -0.96%
2055 -0.91% -0.95%
2054 -0.91% -0.93%
2053 -0.89% -0.91%
2052 -0.89% -0.85%
2051 -0.89% -0.84%
2050 -0.89% -0.84%
2049 -0.88% -0.83%
2048 -0.89% -0.81%
2047 -0.88% -0.8%
2046 -0.88% -0.81%
2045 -0.89% -0.78%
2044 -0.89% -0.78%
2043 -0.89% -0.77%
2042 -0.91% -0.79%
2041 -0.91% -0.77%
2040 -0.92% -0.79%
2039 -0.9% -0.78%
2038 -0.91% -0.77%
2037 -0.91% -0.79%
2036 -0.89% -0.78%
2035 -0.88% -0.8%
2034 -0.88% -0.82%
2033 -0.86% -0.83%
2032 -0.86% -0.82%
2031 -0.85% -0.84%
2030 -0.82% -0.81%
2029 -0.8% -0.8%
2028 -0.77% -0.79%
2027 -0.73% -0.77%
2026 -0.67% -1.13%
2025 -0.61% -0.83%
2024 -0.08% -0.93%
2023 -0.29% 0.23%
2022 -0.65% -0.27%
2021 -0.66% -0.84%
2020 -1% -0.7%
2019 -1.4% -0.69%
2018 -1.36% -0.78%
2017 -1.32% -0.88%
2016 -1.29% -0.91%
2015 -1.26% -0.82%
2014 -1.21% -0.94%
2013 -2% -1.07%
2012 -0.58% -1.23%
2011 -0.64% -1.8%
2010 -0.66% -2.06%
2009 -0.64% -1.64%
2008 -0.7% -1.05%
2007 -0.73% -0.81%
2006 -0.76% -0.91%
2005 -0.75% -1.07%
2004 -0.75% -1.09%
2003 -0.79% -0.96%
2002 -2.15% -1.16%
2001 -1.97% -1.28%
2000 -0.49% -0.96%
1999 -0.56% -0.81%
1998 -0.67% -0.94%
1997 -0.61% -0.99%
1996 -0.51% -1.12%
1995 -0.44% -1.42%
1994 -0.34% -1.66%
1993 -0.79% -1.95%
1992 -1.07% -1.37%
1991 -0.99% -0.47%
1990 -1.79% -0.14%
1989 -1.16% 0.51%
1988 0.11% 1.02%
1987 0.15% 1.03%
1986 -0.03% 0.82%
1985 -0.001% 0.66%
1984 0.23% 0.63%
1983 0.25% 0.59%
1982 0.3% 0.46%
1981 0.33% 0.31%
1980 0.4% 0.23%
1979 0.14% 0.32%
1978 0.11% 0.52%
1977 0.52% 0.57%
1976 0.43% 0.6%
1975 0.48% 0.78%
1974 0.67% 0.88%
1973 0.52% 0.84%
1972 0.47% 0.81%
1971 0.55% 0.73%
1970 0.66% 0.68%
1969 0.77% 0.84%
1968 0.71% 0.97%
1967 0.63% 0.79%
1966 0.66% 0.76%
1965 0.73% 1.13%
1964 0.82% 1.34%
1963 0.81% 1.34%
1962 0.88% 1.34%
1961 0.96% 1.49%

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/latvia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Latvia's population declined by 0.93%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Latvia
Current population
6359449
1829763
Population rank 112/197 149/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.02%
One net population change
1.69 hours
29.9 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
36.2 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
18.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 -48
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -17,586
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.93%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 193/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.2 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -7,330
Net migration rank 106/196 125/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 220,471
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 108/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 11.8%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 57/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Latvia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Latvia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -7,330
2024 - 524 - -2,225
2023 -43,837 5,173 -13,563 7,966
2022 -62,065 26,498 -14,847 22,027
2021 -90,452 11,756 -17,337 -280
2020 -65,507 30,167 -11,402 -3,147
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -8,995 -3,416
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -9,636 -4,972
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -7,963 -7,867
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -6,663 -12,327
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -6,526 -10,826
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -6,779 -8,799
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -8,252 -14,386
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -9,154 -11,914
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -9,886 -20,202
2010 -34,759 -21,668 -10,278 -36,128
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -7,924 -34,807
2008 -32,967 -17,595 -6,531 -22,445
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -9,021 -8,027
2006 -39,526 -15,184 -10,204 -9,211
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -10,746 -11,134
2004 -40,128 -13,604 -11,542 -15,136
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -11,439 -11,422
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -12,475 -9,160
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -13,322 -18,634
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -11,838 -15,679
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -13,387 -3,229
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -15,906 -5,504
1997 -58,185 -22,963 -14,841 -9,183
1996 -45,159 -21,520 -14,498 -9,888
1995 -42,030 -22,020 -17,396 -13,288
1994 -32,086 -20,984 -17,645 -21,446
1993 -24,569 -19,973 -12,560 -32,914
1992 -18,789 -120,552 -3,660 -52,180
1991 -14,675 -119,356 0 -12,020
1990 -3,487 -116,817 2,929 -13,196
1989 5,326 -114,705 6,401 -4,960
1988 9,879 215 9,022 15,784
1987 8,971 357 9,981 19,249
1986 16,125 1,104 10,660 13,972
1985 11,649 -19,230 5,673 12,037
1984 20,610 -1,032 7,430 8,847
1983 21,455 -1,872 8,147 8,115
1982 24,077 -1,860 6,327 8,116
1981 29,341 -1,830 3,779 6,536
1980 30,129 -2,045 3,265 3,099
1979 40,599 -872 2,506 3,661
1978 44,070 -62,769 2,997 7,399
1977 47,543 -11,955 3,480 11,992
1976 56,055 -2,522 4,200 8,870
1975 54,941 -38,071 4,913 12,166
1974 64,223 -1,402 6,824 14,420
1973 57,760 -5,409 6,040 15,997
1972 47,169 -11,296 7,666 11,077
1971 52,925 -7,654 8,793 10,846
1970 61,125 -11,315 7,785 12,494
1969 63,256 -3,204 6,561 13,718
1968 69,468 -132 7,668 13,465
1967 49,861 -420 7,825 14,177
1966 54,504 -144 8,677 13,465
1965 58,249 -1,406 8,384 13,218
1964 66,783 505 12,100 13,010
1963 66,241 500 11,055 12,308
1962 64,104 499 11,562 12,344
1961 75,460 378 14,207 12,364
1960 76,314 -1,112 14,211 11,420

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/latvia | 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 Latvia 82.7% is from natural causes (a loss of 103,711 people) and 17.3% is from migration (a loss of 21,641 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 220,471 people or 11.8% in Latvia.

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
Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K

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/latvia | 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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