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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 2.65 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Bulgaria vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Lesotho
2100 3,368,029 3,280,784
2099 3,392,444 3,286,697
2098 3,416,655 3,292,498
2097 3,440,938 3,298,102
2096 3,465,328 3,303,027
2095 3,489,216 3,307,947
2094 3,513,318 3,312,002
2093 3,537,356 3,315,757
2092 3,561,475 3,319,661
2091 3,585,597 3,322,573
2090 3,609,873 3,324,769
2089 3,634,642 3,326,847
2088 3,659,749 3,328,480
2087 3,685,668 3,329,964
2086 3,712,363 3,330,456
2085 3,739,898 3,331,259
2084 3,768,305 3,331,485
2083 3,797,217 3,331,492
2082 3,827,186 3,331,234
2081 3,857,721 3,330,412
2080 3,890,095 3,329,267
2079 3,923,403 3,327,166
2078 3,957,241 3,324,646
2077 3,992,168 3,321,422
2076 4,027,738 3,317,850
2075 4,064,356 3,314,237
2074 4,102,642 3,309,174
2073 4,141,518 3,303,860
2072 4,180,975 3,298,181
2071 4,221,261 3,291,492
2070 4,262,568 3,283,654
2069 4,304,304 3,275,244
2068 4,346,623 3,266,152
2067 4,389,924 3,256,626
2066 4,433,953 3,246,903
2065 4,478,521 3,237,153
2064 4,523,406 3,226,489
2063 4,568,385 3,215,103
2062 4,613,363 3,202,287
2061 4,658,825 3,188,933
2060 4,704,379 3,174,998
2059 4,749,738 3,160,204
2058 4,794,388 3,145,053
2057 4,839,236 3,129,261
2056 4,884,068 3,113,129
2055 4,929,309 3,095,904
2054 4,974,635 3,078,567
2053 5,020,162 3,060,152
2052 5,065,364 3,040,649
2051 5,110,833 3,020,109
2050 5,156,741 2,999,457
2049 5,202,941 2,978,037
2048 5,249,351 2,955,727
2047 5,296,642 2,932,688
2046 5,343,848 2,909,307
2045 5,391,354 2,885,537
2044 5,439,559 2,861,372
2043 5,488,407 2,836,777
2042 5,537,839 2,811,663
2041 5,588,510 2,786,147
2040 5,639,850 2,760,391
2039 5,692,028 2,734,400
2038 5,743,725 2,708,216
2037 5,796,645 2,681,863
2036 5,849,741 2,654,755
2035 5,902,025 2,627,701
2034 5,954,460 2,600,880
2033 6,007,050 2,574,065
2032 6,058,858 2,547,344
2031 6,111,118 2,520,831
2030 6,163,564 2,494,646
2029 6,214,784 2,468,268
2028 6,264,738 2,441,871
2027 6,313,255 2,415,830
2026 6,359,449 2,389,516
2025 6,402,394 2,363,516
2024 6,441,421 2,337,423
2023 6,446,596 2,311,472
2022 6,465,097 2,286,110
2021 6,507,301 2,261,542
2020 6,550,696 2,235,727
2019 6,616,726 2,209,405
2018 6,710,798 2,183,603
2017 6,803,468 2,157,110
2016 6,894,139 2,130,422
2015 6,984,225 2,104,611
2014 7,073,572 2,080,089
2013 7,160,005 2,056,504
2012 7,305,888 2,034,354
2011 7,348,328 2,014,009
2010 7,395,599 1,996,251
2009 7,444,443 1,980,883
2008 7,492,561 1,966,541
2007 7,545,338 1,953,268
2006 7,601,022 1,945,063
2005 7,658,972 1,953,076
2004 7,716,860 1,971,129
2003 7,775,327 1,985,059
2002 7,837,161 1,994,679
2001 8,009,142 2,000,853
2000 8,170,172 2,003,913
1999 8,210,624 2,003,234
1998 8,256,786 1,998,049
1997 8,312,068 1,988,130
1996 8,362,826 1,972,418
1995 8,406,067 1,951,437
1994 8,443,591 1,927,707
1993 8,472,313 1,901,793
1992 8,540,164 1,873,274
1991 8,632,367 1,842,379
1990 8,718,289 1,809,696
1989 8,876,972 1,775,436
1988 8,981,446 1,739,841
1987 8,971,359 1,703,390
1986 8,958,171 1,666,138
1985 8,960,547 1,624,379
1984 8,960,679 1,578,986
1983 8,939,738 1,534,413
1982 8,917,457 1,490,732
1981 8,891,117 1,448,069
1980 8,861,535 1,406,521
1979 8,825,940 1,366,169
1978 8,814,032 1,327,240
1977 8,804,183 1,289,967
1976 8,758,599 1,253,214
1975 8,720,742 1,213,643
1974 8,678,745 1,172,420
1973 8,620,967 1,132,697
1972 8,576,200 1,094,063
1971 8,536,395 1,056,246
1970 8,489,574 1,019,273
1969 8,434,172 983,202
1968 8,369,603 948,105
1967 8,310,226 913,982
1966 8,258,057 881,870
1965 8,204,168 854,090
1964 8,144,340 829,437
1963 8,078,145 805,373
1962 8,012,946 781,814
1961 7,943,118 758,824
1960 7,867,374 736,500

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/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd 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 Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M 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
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Lesotho
2100 -0.72% -0.18%
2099 -0.71% -0.18%
2098 -0.71% -0.17%
2097 -0.7% -0.15%
2096 -0.68% -0.15%
2095 -0.69% -0.12%
2094 -0.68% -0.11%
2093 -0.68% -0.12%
2092 -0.67% -0.09%
2091 -0.67% -0.07%
2090 -0.68% -0.06%
2089 -0.69% -0.05%
2088 -0.7% -0.04%
2087 -0.72% -0.01%
2086 -0.74% -0.02%
2085 -0.75% -0.007%
2084 -0.76% -0%
2083 -0.78% 0.008%
2082 -0.79% 0.02%
2081 -0.83% 0.03%
2080 -0.85% 0.06%
2079 -0.86% 0.08%
2078 -0.87% 0.1%
2077 -0.88% 0.11%
2076 -0.9% 0.11%
2075 -0.93% 0.15%
2074 -0.94% 0.16%
2073 -0.94% 0.17%
2072 -0.95% 0.2%
2071 -0.97% 0.24%
2070 -0.97% 0.26%
2069 -0.97% 0.28%
2068 -0.99% 0.29%
2067 -0.99% 0.3%
2066 -1% 0.3%
2065 -0.99% 0.33%
2064 -0.98% 0.35%
2063 -0.97% 0.4%
2062 -0.98% 0.42%
2061 -0.97% 0.44%
2060 -0.95% 0.47%
2059 -0.93% 0.48%
2058 -0.93% 0.5%
2057 -0.92% 0.52%
2056 -0.92% 0.56%
2055 -0.91% 0.56%
2054 -0.91% 0.6%
2053 -0.89% 0.64%
2052 -0.89% 0.68%
2051 -0.89% 0.69%
2050 -0.89% 0.72%
2049 -0.88% 0.75%
2048 -0.89% 0.79%
2047 -0.88% 0.8%
2046 -0.88% 0.82%
2045 -0.89% 0.84%
2044 -0.89% 0.87%
2043 -0.89% 0.89%
2042 -0.91% 0.92%
2041 -0.91% 0.93%
2040 -0.92% 0.95%
2039 -0.9% 0.97%
2038 -0.91% 0.98%
2037 -0.91% 1.02%
2036 -0.89% 1.03%
2035 -0.88% 1.03%
2034 -0.88% 1.04%
2033 -0.86% 1.05%
2032 -0.86% 1.05%
2031 -0.85% 1.05%
2030 -0.82% 1.07%
2029 -0.8% 1.08%
2028 -0.77% 1.08%
2027 -0.73% 1.1%
2026 -0.67% 1.1%
2025 -0.61% 1.12%
2024 -0.08% 1.12%
2023 -0.29% 1.11%
2022 -0.65% 1.09%
2021 -0.66% 1.15%
2020 -1% 1.19%
2019 -1.4% 1.18%
2018 -1.36% 1.23%
2017 -1.32% 1.25%
2016 -1.29% 1.23%
2015 -1.26% 1.18%
2014 -1.21% 1.15%
2013 -2% 1.09%
2012 -0.58% 1.01%
2011 -0.64% 0.89%
2010 -0.66% 0.78%
2009 -0.64% 0.73%
2008 -0.7% 0.68%
2007 -0.73% 0.42%
2006 -0.76% -0.41%
2005 -0.75% -0.92%
2004 -0.75% -0.7%
2003 -0.79% -0.48%
2002 -2.15% -0.31%
2001 -1.97% -0.15%
2000 -0.49% 0.03%
1999 -0.56% 0.26%
1998 -0.67% 0.5%
1997 -0.61% 0.8%
1996 -0.51% 1.08%
1995 -0.44% 1.23%
1994 -0.34% 1.36%
1993 -0.79% 1.52%
1992 -1.07% 1.68%
1991 -0.99% 1.81%
1990 -1.79% 1.93%
1989 -1.16% 2.05%
1988 0.11% 2.14%
1987 0.15% 2.24%
1986 -0.03% 2.57%
1985 -0.001% 2.87%
1984 0.23% 2.9%
1983 0.25% 2.93%
1982 0.3% 2.95%
1981 0.33% 2.95%
1980 0.4% 2.95%
1979 0.14% 2.93%
1978 0.11% 2.89%
1977 0.52% 2.93%
1976 0.43% 3.26%
1975 0.48% 3.52%
1974 0.67% 3.51%
1973 0.52% 3.53%
1972 0.47% 3.58%
1971 0.55% 3.63%
1970 0.66% 3.67%
1969 0.77% 3.7%
1968 0.71% 3.73%
1967 0.63% 3.64%
1966 0.66% 3.25%
1965 0.73% 2.97%
1964 0.82% 2.99%
1963 0.81% 3.01%
1962 0.88% 3.03%
1961 0.96% 3.03%

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/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Lesotho
Current population
6359449
2396633
Population rank 112/197 143/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.03%
One net population change
1.69 hours
20.3 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
9.43 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +71
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 93/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.69 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -5,192
Net migration rank 106/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -5,192
2024 - 524 - -5,107
2023 -43,837 5,173 31,115 -5,168
2022 -62,065 26,498 30,803 -6,023
2021 -90,452 11,756 27,806 -3,449
2020 -65,507 30,167 30,721 -3,449
2019 -46,317 -2,156 32,279 -6,896
2018 -46,304 -3,873 33,112 -6,892
2017 -45,583 -6,109 33,601 -6,850
2016 -42,744 -9,482 33,390 -6,766
2015 -44,699 -4,227 32,087 -7,087
2014 -41,027 -2,180 30,922 -6,877
2013 -37,948 -1,324 29,789 -6,659
2012 -40,183 -26,334 27,592 -6,425
2011 -37,477 -23,360 25,647 -6,118
2010 -34,759 -21,668 21,877 -5,886
2009 -26,800 -19,060 20,335 -5,599
2008 -32,967 -17,595 19,349 -5,392
2007 -37,727 -16,366 17,763 -5,179
2006 -39,526 -15,184 15,234 -11,416
2005 -42,124 -14,435 15,831 -35,679
2004 -40,128 -13,604 17,271 -33,530
2003 -44,319 -13,183 20,133 -31,723
2002 -46,240 -12,735 22,274 -29,924
2001 -44,050 -30,726 23,190 -27,874
2000 -41,668 -26,211 24,786 -26,220
1999 -39,411 -23,846 27,393 -24,610
1998 -52,844 -23,262 30,889 -23,299
1997 -58,185 -22,963 34,637 -22,396
1996 -45,159 -21,520 36,228 -17,042
1995 -42,030 -22,020 37,370 -14,588
1994 -32,086 -20,984 38,629 -13,953
1993 -24,569 -19,973 40,505 -13,347
1992 -18,789 -120,552 42,579 -12,707
1991 -14,675 -119,356 44,026 -12,114
1990 -3,487 -116,817 45,060 -11,598
1989 5,326 -114,705 46,264 -11,207
1988 9,879 215 47,158 -11,028
1987 8,971 357 47,718 -10,946
1986 16,125 1,104 45,232 -7,501
1985 11,649 -19,230 44,575 1,222
1984 20,610 -1,032 43,785 1,199
1983 21,455 -1,872 42,899 1,253
1982 24,077 -1,860 41,941 1,281
1981 29,341 -1,830 40,808 1,307
1980 30,129 -2,045 39,617 1,361
1979 40,599 -872 38,440 1,285
1978 44,070 -62,769 37,084 1,047
1977 47,543 -11,955 35,654 746
1976 56,055 -2,522 34,117 2,986
1975 54,941 -38,071 32,311 9,723
1974 64,223 -1,402 30,444 9,972
1973 57,760 -5,409 28,859 10,183
1972 47,169 -11,296 27,841 10,386
1971 52,925 -7,654 26,838 10,563
1970 61,125 -11,315 25,935 10,605
1969 63,256 -3,204 25,137 10,465
1968 69,468 -132 24,490 10,108
1967 49,861 -420 23,911 9,734
1966 54,504 -144 23,326 7,248
1965 58,249 -1,406 22,755 2,239
1964 66,783 505 22,116 2,198
1963 66,241 500 21,585 2,220
1962 64,104 499 21,132 2,172
1961 75,460 378 20,581 2,100
1960 76,314 -1,112 19,981 1,989

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/lesotho | 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 Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

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
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

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/lesotho | 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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