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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 22,216,120 people in Malawi in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 23,086,106 in Malawi.

Population statistics:

  • Malawi's population is 3.61 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Malawi is the 61st.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.28% for Malawi.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +2.67% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 23.1M (74.9% growth).

Bulgaria vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Malawi
2100 3,384,288 59,773,923
2099 3,408,821 59,515,624
2098 3,433,149 59,263,165
2097 3,457,549 59,015,654
2096 3,482,057 58,749,288
2095 3,506,060 58,495,699
2094 3,530,278 58,227,933
2093 3,554,432 57,954,358
2092 3,578,667 57,660,371
2091 3,602,907 57,364,786
2090 3,627,300 57,048,240
2089 3,652,188 56,727,243
2088 3,677,416 56,385,237
2087 3,703,460 56,041,651
2086 3,730,284 55,694,983
2085 3,757,953 55,336,839
2084 3,786,496 54,985,304
2083 3,815,548 54,593,349
2082 3,845,662 54,194,853
2081 3,876,344 53,783,781
2080 3,908,874 53,361,334
2079 3,942,344 52,936,889
2078 3,976,345 52,510,645
2077 4,011,440 52,052,767
2076 4,047,182 51,589,339
2075 4,083,977 51,130,762
2074 4,122,447 50,673,499
2073 4,161,511 50,218,991
2072 4,201,158 49,759,232
2071 4,241,639 49,276,570
2070 4,283,145 48,787,471
2069 4,325,083 48,291,287
2068 4,367,606 47,782,059
2067 4,411,116 47,267,335
2066 4,455,358 46,741,998
2065 4,500,141 46,218,226
2064 4,545,243 45,692,044
2063 4,590,439 45,169,634
2062 4,635,634 44,629,192
2061 4,681,315 44,067,259
2060 4,727,089 43,499,372
2059 4,772,667 42,907,491
2058 4,817,532 42,335,782
2057 4,862,597 41,753,105
2056 4,907,646 41,175,330
2055 4,953,105 40,576,247
2054 4,998,650 39,986,120
2053 5,044,397 39,369,178
2052 5,089,817 38,758,577
2051 5,135,505 38,145,141
2050 5,181,635 37,537,814
2049 5,228,058 36,928,354
2048 5,274,692 36,332,040
2047 5,322,212 35,717,466
2046 5,369,645 35,099,651
2045 5,417,381 34,484,520
2044 5,465,818 33,855,018
2043 5,514,902 33,240,675
2042 5,564,573 32,629,513
2041 5,615,489 32,012,581
2040 5,667,076 31,395,572
2039 5,719,506 30,775,878
2038 5,771,452 30,160,239
2037 5,824,628 29,521,489
2036 5,877,980 28,890,318
2035 5,930,517 28,261,909
2034 5,983,205 27,637,439
2033 6,036,049 27,012,311
2032 6,088,107 26,398,409
2031 6,140,619 25,790,366
2030 6,193,318 25,176,420
2029 6,244,785 24,561,210
2028 6,294,981 23,962,931
2027 6,343,732 23,369,575
2026 6,390,149 22,786,713
2025 6,433,302 22,216,120
2024 6,441,421 21,655,286
2023 6,446,596 21,104,482
2022 6,465,097 20,568,728
2021 6,507,301 20,047,258
2020 6,550,696 19,533,888
2019 6,616,726 19,025,752
2018 6,710,798 18,528,081
2017 6,803,468 18,039,715
2016 6,894,139 17,557,739
2015 6,984,225 17,085,587
2014 7,073,572 16,621,538
2013 7,160,005 16,161,816
2012 7,305,888 15,709,577
2011 7,348,328 15,265,022
2010 7,395,599 14,826,463
2009 7,444,443 14,395,788
2008 7,492,561 13,976,417
2007 7,545,338 13,576,343
2006 7,601,022 13,198,701
2005 7,658,972 12,840,031
2004 7,716,860 12,500,737
2003 7,775,327 12,181,574
2002 7,837,161 11,880,440
2001 8,009,142 11,593,058
2000 8,170,172 11,315,942
1999 8,210,624 11,047,804
1998 8,256,786 10,792,876
1997 8,312,068 10,562,035
1996 8,362,826 10,352,228
1995 8,406,067 10,150,117
1994 8,443,591 10,164,894
1993 8,472,313 10,284,024
1992 8,540,164 10,135,079
1991 8,632,367 9,844,227
1990 8,718,289 9,545,852
1989 8,876,972 9,176,220
1988 8,981,446 8,753,262
1987 8,971,359 8,293,174
1986 8,958,171 7,906,480
1985 8,960,547 7,620,508
1984 8,960,679 7,332,810
1983 8,939,738 7,051,709
1982 8,917,457 6,778,879
1981 8,891,117 6,516,454
1980 8,861,535 6,265,529
1979 8,825,940 6,028,749
1978 8,814,032 5,810,132
1977 8,804,183 5,614,983
1976 8,758,599 5,443,384
1975 8,720,742 5,287,367
1974 8,678,745 5,141,337
1973 8,620,967 5,003,938
1972 8,576,200 4,874,475
1971 8,536,395 4,751,434
1970 8,489,574 4,633,944
1969 8,434,172 4,521,184
1968 8,369,603 4,411,054
1967 8,310,226 4,303,012
1966 8,258,057 4,197,926
1965 8,204,168 4,096,157
1964 8,144,340 3,997,305
1963 8,078,145 3,900,506
1962 8,012,946 3,806,307
1961 7,943,118 3,715,534
1960 7,867,374 3,628,134

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/malawi | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Malawi gained 4,359,038 people (a 33% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Malawi's population increased by 5,528,367 people (a 31.5% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Malawi was ranked 69th in 2006 and ranked 61st 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 Malawi will increase by 62.6% to 37,537,814 people and rank change from 61st to 55th.

Malawi is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 59.8M 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
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Malawi
2100 -0.72% 0.43%
2099 -0.71% 0.43%
2098 -0.71% 0.42%
2097 -0.7% 0.45%
2096 -0.68% 0.43%
2095 -0.69% 0.46%
2094 -0.68% 0.47%
2093 -0.68% 0.51%
2092 -0.67% 0.52%
2091 -0.67% 0.55%
2090 -0.68% 0.57%
2089 -0.69% 0.61%
2088 -0.7% 0.61%
2087 -0.72% 0.62%
2086 -0.74% 0.65%
2085 -0.75% 0.64%
2084 -0.76% 0.72%
2083 -0.78% 0.74%
2082 -0.79% 0.76%
2081 -0.83% 0.79%
2080 -0.85% 0.8%
2079 -0.86% 0.81%
2078 -0.87% 0.88%
2077 -0.88% 0.9%
2076 -0.9% 0.9%
2075 -0.93% 0.9%
2074 -0.94% 0.91%
2073 -0.94% 0.92%
2072 -0.95% 0.98%
2071 -0.97% 1%
2070 -0.97% 1.03%
2069 -0.97% 1.07%
2068 -0.99% 1.09%
2067 -0.99% 1.12%
2066 -1% 1.13%
2065 -0.99% 1.15%
2064 -0.98% 1.16%
2063 -0.97% 1.21%
2062 -0.98% 1.28%
2061 -0.97% 1.31%
2060 -0.95% 1.38%
2059 -0.93% 1.35%
2058 -0.93% 1.4%
2057 -0.92% 1.4%
2056 -0.92% 1.48%
2055 -0.91% 1.48%
2054 -0.91% 1.57%
2053 -0.89% 1.58%
2052 -0.89% 1.61%
2051 -0.89% 1.62%
2050 -0.89% 1.65%
2049 -0.88% 1.64%
2048 -0.89% 1.72%
2047 -0.88% 1.76%
2046 -0.88% 1.78%
2045 -0.89% 1.86%
2044 -0.89% 1.85%
2043 -0.89% 1.87%
2042 -0.91% 1.93%
2041 -0.91% 1.97%
2040 -0.92% 2.01%
2039 -0.9% 2.04%
2038 -0.91% 2.16%
2037 -0.91% 2.18%
2036 -0.89% 2.22%
2035 -0.88% 2.26%
2034 -0.88% 2.31%
2033 -0.86% 2.33%
2032 -0.86% 2.36%
2031 -0.85% 2.44%
2030 -0.82% 2.5%
2029 -0.8% 2.5%
2028 -0.77% 2.54%
2027 -0.73% 2.56%
2026 -0.67% 2.57%
2025 -0.13% 2.59%
2024 -0.08% 2.61%
2023 -0.29% 2.6%
2022 -0.65% 2.6%
2021 -0.66% 2.63%
2020 -1% 2.67%
2019 -1.4% 2.69%
2018 -1.36% 2.71%
2017 -1.32% 2.75%
2016 -1.29% 2.76%
2015 -1.26% 2.79%
2014 -1.21% 2.84%
2013 -2% 2.88%
2012 -0.58% 2.91%
2011 -0.64% 2.96%
2010 -0.66% 2.99%
2009 -0.64% 3%
2008 -0.7% 2.95%
2007 -0.73% 2.86%
2006 -0.76% 2.79%
2005 -0.75% 2.71%
2004 -0.75% 2.62%
2003 -0.79% 2.53%
2002 -2.15% 2.48%
2001 -1.97% 2.45%
2000 -0.49% 2.43%
1999 -0.56% 2.36%
1998 -0.67% 2.19%
1997 -0.61% 2.03%
1996 -0.51% 1.99%
1995 -0.44% -0.15%
1994 -0.34% -1.16%
1993 -0.79% 1.47%
1992 -1.07% 2.95%
1991 -0.99% 3.13%
1990 -1.79% 4.03%
1989 -1.16% 4.83%
1988 0.11% 5.55%
1987 0.15% 4.89%
1986 -0.03% 3.75%
1985 -0.001% 3.92%
1984 0.23% 3.99%
1983 0.25% 4.02%
1982 0.3% 4.03%
1981 0.33% 4%
1980 0.4% 3.93%
1979 0.14% 3.76%
1978 0.11% 3.48%
1977 0.52% 3.15%
1976 0.43% 2.95%
1975 0.48% 2.84%
1974 0.67% 2.75%
1973 0.52% 2.66%
1972 0.47% 2.59%
1971 0.55% 2.54%
1970 0.66% 2.49%
1969 0.77% 2.5%
1968 0.71% 2.51%
1967 0.63% 2.5%
1966 0.66% 2.48%
1965 0.73% 2.47%
1964 0.82% 2.48%
1963 0.81% 2.47%
1962 0.88% 2.44%
1961 0.96% 2.41%

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/malawi | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.59%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Malawi
Current population
6390149
23086106
Population rank 112/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.28%
One net population change
1.08 hours
56.4 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
46.8 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
4.59 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +1,537
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +560,834
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.59%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 23/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -5,628
Net migration rank 106/196 118/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 186,719
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 117/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.9%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 158/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Malawi
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Malawi
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -5,628
2024 -47,023 524 559,811 -1,507
2023 -43,837 5,173 549,096 -5,811
2022 -62,065 26,498 533,450 -5,231
2021 -90,452 11,756 517,400 -2,666
2020 -65,507 30,167 514,659 -2,655
2019 -46,317 -2,156 506,104 -1,837
2018 -46,304 -3,873 494,348 -3,267
2017 -45,583 -6,109 484,655 982
2016 -42,744 -9,482 474,779 3,505
2015 -44,699 -4,227 472,484 -6,471
2014 -41,027 -2,180 472,418 -10,317
2013 -37,948 -1,324 470,293 -12,934
2012 -40,183 -26,334 460,684 -13,561
2011 -37,477 -23,360 454,149 -12,170
2010 -34,759 -21,668 444,468 -9,327
2009 -26,800 -19,060 434,811 -8,590
2008 -32,967 -17,595 421,781 -9,264
2007 -37,727 -16,366 410,290 -22,680
2006 -39,526 -15,184 397,123 -29,450
2005 -42,124 -14,435 381,130 -31,462
2004 -40,128 -13,604 361,133 -32,221
2003 -44,319 -13,183 341,133 -31,729
2002 -46,240 -12,735 322,863 -30,013
2001 -44,050 -30,726 310,833 -28,933
2000 -41,668 -26,211 300,439 -28,098
1999 -39,411 -23,846 295,629 -31,686
1998 -52,844 -23,262 285,407 -39,491
1997 -58,185 -22,963 277,433 -61,646
1996 -45,159 -21,520 270,048 -66,212
1995 -42,030 -22,020 266,745 -66,366
1994 -32,086 -20,984 275,439 -505,365
1993 -24,569 -19,973 276,538 -284,867
1992 -18,789 -120,552 269,066 37,142
1991 -14,675 -119,356 260,193 15,291
1990 -3,487 -116,817 250,159 71,111
1989 5,326 -114,705 237,967 180,031
1988 9,879 215 226,911 201,011
1987 8,971 357 220,566 271,693
1986 16,125 1,104 218,519 62,615
1985 11,649 -19,230 216,179 74,625
1984 20,610 -1,032 212,146 72,435
1983 21,455 -1,872 209,422 68,197
1982 24,077 -1,860 205,386 62,661
1981 29,341 -1,830 199,436 57,376
1980 30,129 -2,045 192,746 52,294
1979 40,599 -872 182,123 46,388
1978 44,070 -62,769 172,503 36,225
1977 47,543 -11,955 161,930 19,638
1976 56,055 -2,522 153,422 8,206
1975 54,941 -38,071 145,254 5,162
1974 64,223 -1,402 137,819 3,833
1973 57,760 -5,409 131,529 1,623
1972 47,169 -11,296 125,728 48
1971 52,925 -7,654 121,015 -710
1970 61,125 -11,315 116,822 -2,147
1969 63,256 -3,204 113,120 -2,266
1968 69,468 -132 110,329 -924
1967 49,861 -420 106,668 0
1966 54,504 -144 103,512 0
1965 58,249 -1,406 100,040 0
1964 66,783 505 97,658 0
1963 66,241 500 95,933 0
1962 64,104 499 92,463 0
1961 75,460 378 89,091 0
1960 76,314 -1,112 85,718 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,106,786 people) and 0.49% is from migration (a loss of 24,958 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 186,719 people or 0.9% in Malawi.

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
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Mzimba 936K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mulanje 14.8K
Ntcheu 14.6K
Monkey Bay 14.6K

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

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