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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 21,655,286 people in Malawi in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 22,949,294 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 -0.96% per year vs +2.7% in Malawi.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Malawi has grown from 13.2M to 22.9M (73.9% growth).

Bulgaria vs Malawi: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Malawi
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Malawi
2100 3,368,029 59,786,744
2099 3,392,444 59,528,389
2098 3,416,655 59,275,876
2097 3,440,938 59,028,312
2096 3,465,328 58,761,888
2095 3,489,216 58,508,246
2094 3,513,318 58,240,422
2093 3,537,356 57,966,788
2092 3,561,475 57,672,738
2091 3,585,597 57,377,090
2090 3,609,873 57,060,476
2089 3,634,642 56,739,410
2088 3,659,749 56,397,330
2087 3,685,668 56,053,671
2086 3,712,363 55,706,928
2085 3,739,898 55,348,708
2084 3,768,305 54,997,097
2083 3,797,217 54,605,058
2082 3,827,186 54,206,477
2081 3,857,721 53,795,317
2080 3,890,095 53,372,779
2079 3,923,403 52,948,243
2078 3,957,241 52,521,908
2077 3,992,168 52,063,931
2076 4,027,738 51,600,404
2075 4,064,356 51,141,728
2074 4,102,642 50,684,368
2073 4,141,518 50,229,762
2072 4,180,975 49,769,904
2071 4,221,261 49,287,139
2070 4,262,568 48,797,935
2069 4,304,304 48,301,644
2068 4,346,623 47,792,308
2067 4,389,924 47,277,473
2066 4,433,953 46,752,024
2065 4,478,521 46,228,139
2064 4,523,406 45,701,844
2063 4,568,385 45,179,322
2062 4,613,363 44,638,764
2061 4,658,825 44,076,711
2060 4,704,379 43,508,702
2059 4,749,738 42,916,694
2058 4,794,388 42,344,863
2057 4,839,236 41,762,060
2056 4,884,068 41,184,161
2055 4,929,309 40,584,950
2054 4,974,635 39,994,696
2053 5,020,162 39,377,622
2052 5,065,364 38,766,890
2051 5,110,833 38,153,322
2050 5,156,741 37,545,865
2049 5,202,941 36,936,275
2048 5,249,351 36,339,833
2047 5,296,642 35,725,127
2046 5,343,848 35,107,179
2045 5,391,354 34,491,916
2044 5,439,559 33,862,279
2043 5,488,407 33,247,804
2042 5,537,839 32,636,511
2041 5,588,510 32,019,447
2040 5,639,850 31,402,305
2039 5,692,028 30,782,479
2038 5,743,725 30,166,708
2037 5,796,645 29,527,821
2036 5,849,741 28,896,515
2035 5,902,025 28,267,970
2034 5,954,460 27,643,367
2033 6,007,050 27,018,105
2032 6,058,858 26,404,071
2031 6,111,118 25,795,897
2030 6,163,564 25,181,820
2029 6,214,784 24,566,478
2028 6,264,738 23,968,071
2027 6,313,255 23,374,588
2026 6,359,449 22,791,601
2025 6,402,394 22,220,885
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Malawi's population increased by 5,391,555 people (a 30.7% 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Malawi will increase by 63.6% to 37,545,865 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 3.37M 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 -0.61% 2.61%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Malawi's population grew by 2.61%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Malawi
Current population
6359449
22949294
Population rank 112/197 61/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.28%
One net population change
1.69 hours
57.3 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
47.6 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
4.64 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +1,509
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +550,804
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.61%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 26/197
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 - 524 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/malawi | 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 Malawi 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,019,393 people) and 0.67% is from migration (a loss of 33,768 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
Malawi
City Population
Lilongwe 989K
Blantyre 800K
Mzuzu 150K
Zomba 101K
Mangochi 53.5K
Mzimba 26.1K
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 (1960–2024, 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/malawi | 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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