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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 5.74 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.52% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Bulgaria vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Malaysia
2100 3,368,029 44,353,615
2099 3,392,444 44,467,475
2098 3,416,655 44,579,971
2097 3,440,938 44,695,979
2096 3,465,328 44,814,885
2095 3,489,216 44,932,404
2094 3,513,318 45,047,479
2093 3,537,356 45,165,126
2092 3,561,475 45,278,674
2091 3,585,597 45,390,002
2090 3,609,873 45,501,495
2089 3,634,642 45,610,046
2088 3,659,749 45,717,882
2087 3,685,668 45,823,085
2086 3,712,363 45,926,712
2085 3,739,898 46,020,742
2084 3,768,305 46,111,490
2083 3,797,217 46,202,286
2082 3,827,186 46,284,929
2081 3,857,721 46,359,700
2080 3,890,095 46,435,482
2079 3,923,403 46,496,102
2078 3,957,241 46,549,167
2077 3,992,168 46,594,188
2076 4,027,738 46,619,045
2075 4,064,356 46,643,115
2074 4,102,642 46,658,350
2073 4,141,518 46,670,848
2072 4,180,975 46,670,426
2071 4,221,261 46,660,436
2070 4,262,568 46,645,623
2069 4,304,304 46,623,238
2068 4,346,623 46,600,060
2067 4,389,924 46,569,264
2066 4,433,953 46,530,377
2065 4,478,521 46,481,890
2064 4,523,406 46,417,369
2063 4,568,385 46,350,674
2062 4,613,363 46,272,105
2061 4,658,825 46,178,092
2060 4,704,379 46,075,877
2059 4,749,738 45,958,718
2058 4,794,388 45,837,407
2057 4,839,236 45,707,213
2056 4,884,068 45,566,357
2055 4,929,309 45,418,953
2054 4,974,635 45,252,995
2053 5,020,162 45,069,089
2052 5,065,364 44,873,927
2051 5,110,833 44,668,767
2050 5,156,741 44,445,677
2049 5,202,941 44,217,593
2048 5,249,351 43,974,925
2047 5,296,642 43,712,325
2046 5,343,848 43,438,283
2045 5,391,354 43,157,909
2044 5,439,559 42,866,716
2043 5,488,407 42,557,941
2042 5,537,839 42,239,980
2041 5,588,510 41,922,379
2040 5,639,850 41,598,231
2039 5,692,028 41,270,953
2038 5,743,725 40,929,067
2037 5,796,645 40,584,773
2036 5,849,741 40,234,128
2035 5,902,025 39,876,375
2034 5,954,460 39,515,857
2033 6,007,050 39,152,086
2032 6,058,858 38,772,414
2031 6,111,118 38,386,293
2030 6,163,564 37,995,617
2029 6,214,784 37,606,753
2028 6,264,738 37,207,852
2027 6,313,255 36,806,585
2026 6,359,449 36,403,076
2025 6,402,394 35,987,113
2024 6,441,421 35,557,673
2023 6,446,596 35,126,298
2022 6,465,097 34,695,493
2021 6,507,301 34,282,399
2020 6,550,696 33,889,558
2019 6,616,726 33,440,596
2018 6,710,798 32,910,967
2017 6,803,468 32,355,644
2016 6,894,139 31,789,685
2015 6,984,225 31,232,798
2014 7,073,572 30,696,137
2013 7,160,005 30,174,265
2012 7,305,888 29,662,831
2011 7,348,328 29,162,039
2010 7,395,599 28,655,776
2009 7,444,443 28,124,778
2008 7,492,561 27,570,059
2007 7,545,338 26,998,389
2006 7,601,022 26,417,909
2005 7,658,972 25,836,071
2004 7,716,860 25,256,772
2003 7,775,327 24,679,602
2002 7,837,161 24,102,477
2001 8,009,142 23,526,538
2000 8,170,172 22,967,816
1999 8,210,624 22,435,531
1998 8,256,786 21,906,713
1997 8,312,068 21,375,218
1996 8,362,826 20,850,087
1995 8,406,067 20,330,599
1994 8,443,591 19,820,446
1993 8,472,313 19,322,664
1992 8,540,164 18,834,572
1991 8,632,367 18,342,464
1990 8,718,289 17,833,171
1989 8,876,972 17,314,997
1988 8,981,446 16,796,605
1987 8,971,359 16,276,737
1986 8,958,171 15,760,419
1985 8,960,547 15,252,258
1984 8,960,679 14,759,009
1983 8,939,738 14,285,907
1982 8,917,457 13,832,798
1981 8,891,117 13,399,203
1980 8,861,535 12,983,363
1979 8,825,940 12,627,862
1978 8,814,032 12,328,157
1977 8,804,183 12,035,713
1976 8,758,599 11,750,097
1975 8,720,742 11,471,914
1974 8,678,745 11,200,906
1973 8,620,967 10,935,621
1972 8,576,200 10,676,835
1971 8,536,395 10,423,453
1970 8,489,574 10,178,802
1969 8,434,172 9,947,597
1968 8,369,603 9,725,281
1967 8,310,226 9,507,099
1966 8,258,057 9,284,688
1965 8,204,168 9,056,408
1964 8,144,340 8,828,406
1963 8,078,145 8,602,160
1962 8,012,946 8,380,172
1961 7,943,118 8,164,443
1960 7,867,374 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Malaysia is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 46.7M 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
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Malaysia
2100 -0.72% -0.26%
2099 -0.71% -0.25%
2098 -0.71% -0.26%
2097 -0.7% -0.27%
2096 -0.68% -0.26%
2095 -0.69% -0.26%
2094 -0.68% -0.26%
2093 -0.68% -0.25%
2092 -0.67% -0.25%
2091 -0.67% -0.25%
2090 -0.68% -0.24%
2089 -0.69% -0.24%
2088 -0.7% -0.23%
2087 -0.72% -0.23%
2086 -0.74% -0.2%
2085 -0.75% -0.2%
2084 -0.76% -0.2%
2083 -0.78% -0.18%
2082 -0.79% -0.16%
2081 -0.83% -0.16%
2080 -0.85% -0.13%
2079 -0.86% -0.11%
2078 -0.87% -0.1%
2077 -0.88% -0.05%
2076 -0.9% -0.05%
2075 -0.93% -0.03%
2074 -0.94% -0.03%
2073 -0.94% 0.001%
2072 -0.95% 0.02%
2071 -0.97% 0.03%
2070 -0.97% 0.05%
2069 -0.97% 0.05%
2068 -0.99% 0.07%
2067 -0.99% 0.08%
2066 -1% 0.1%
2065 -0.99% 0.14%
2064 -0.98% 0.14%
2063 -0.97% 0.17%
2062 -0.98% 0.2%
2061 -0.97% 0.22%
2060 -0.95% 0.25%
2059 -0.93% 0.26%
2058 -0.93% 0.28%
2057 -0.92% 0.31%
2056 -0.92% 0.32%
2055 -0.91% 0.37%
2054 -0.91% 0.41%
2053 -0.89% 0.43%
2052 -0.89% 0.46%
2051 -0.89% 0.5%
2050 -0.89% 0.52%
2049 -0.88% 0.55%
2048 -0.89% 0.6%
2047 -0.88% 0.63%
2046 -0.88% 0.65%
2045 -0.89% 0.68%
2044 -0.89% 0.73%
2043 -0.89% 0.75%
2042 -0.91% 0.76%
2041 -0.91% 0.78%
2040 -0.92% 0.79%
2039 -0.9% 0.84%
2038 -0.91% 0.85%
2037 -0.91% 0.87%
2036 -0.89% 0.9%
2035 -0.88% 0.91%
2034 -0.88% 0.93%
2033 -0.86% 0.98%
2032 -0.86% 1.01%
2031 -0.85% 1.03%
2030 -0.82% 1.03%
2029 -0.8% 1.07%
2028 -0.77% 1.09%
2027 -0.73% 1.11%
2026 -0.67% 1.16%
2025 -0.61% 1.21%
2024 -0.08% 1.23%
2023 -0.29% 1.24%
2022 -0.65% 1.2%
2021 -0.66% 1.16%
2020 -1% 1.34%
2019 -1.4% 1.61%
2018 -1.36% 1.72%
2017 -1.32% 1.78%
2016 -1.29% 1.78%
2015 -1.26% 1.75%
2014 -1.21% 1.73%
2013 -2% 1.72%
2012 -0.58% 1.72%
2011 -0.64% 1.77%
2010 -0.66% 1.89%
2009 -0.64% 2.01%
2008 -0.7% 2.12%
2007 -0.73% 2.2%
2006 -0.76% 2.25%
2005 -0.75% 2.29%
2004 -0.75% 2.34%
2003 -0.79% 2.39%
2002 -2.15% 2.45%
2001 -1.97% 2.43%
2000 -0.49% 2.37%
1999 -0.56% 2.41%
1998 -0.67% 2.49%
1997 -0.61% 2.52%
1996 -0.51% 2.56%
1995 -0.44% 2.57%
1994 -0.34% 2.58%
1993 -0.79% 2.59%
1992 -1.07% 2.68%
1991 -0.99% 2.86%
1990 -1.79% 2.99%
1989 -1.16% 3.09%
1988 0.11% 3.19%
1987 0.15% 3.28%
1986 -0.03% 3.33%
1985 -0.001% 3.34%
1984 0.23% 3.31%
1983 0.25% 3.28%
1982 0.3% 3.24%
1981 0.33% 3.2%
1980 0.4% 2.82%
1979 0.14% 2.43%
1978 0.11% 2.43%
1977 0.52% 2.43%
1976 0.43% 2.42%
1975 0.48% 2.42%
1974 0.67% 2.43%
1973 0.52% 2.42%
1972 0.47% 2.43%
1971 0.55% 2.4%
1970 0.66% 2.32%
1969 0.77% 2.29%
1968 0.71% 2.29%
1967 0.63% 2.4%
1966 0.66% 2.52%
1965 0.73% 2.58%
1964 0.82% 2.63%
1963 0.81% 2.65%
1962 0.88% 2.64%
1961 0.96% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Malaysia
Current population
6359449
36512221
Population rank 112/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.44%
One net population change
1.69 hours
1.22 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +1,182
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 89/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +166,615
Net migration rank 106/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 166,615
2024 - 524 - 174,770
2023 -43,837 5,173 254,806 181,071
2022 -62,065 26,498 237,560 188,154
2021 -90,452 11,756 212,002 188,506
2020 -65,507 30,167 283,282 101,907
2019 -46,317 -2,156 309,426 203,284
2018 -46,304 -3,873 324,568 221,965
2017 -45,583 -6,109 336,434 227,677
2016 -42,744 -9,482 345,681 222,141
2015 -44,699 -4,227 358,302 187,663
2014 -41,027 -2,180 367,587 159,791
2013 -37,948 -1,324 366,738 149,637
2012 -40,183 -26,334 371,497 134,975
2011 -37,477 -23,360 372,836 122,269
2010 -34,759 -21,668 360,260 157,164
2009 -26,800 -19,060 366,157 178,410
2008 -32,967 -17,595 362,380 202,481
2007 -37,727 -16,366 348,711 229,784
2006 -39,526 -15,184 349,509 232,971
2005 -42,124 -14,435 355,324 225,864
2004 -40,128 -13,604 365,138 212,278
2003 -44,319 -13,183 377,425 199,510
2002 -46,240 -12,735 381,084 196,227
2001 -44,050 -30,726 400,939 173,613
2000 -41,668 -26,211 417,371 125,499
1999 -39,411 -23,846 432,355 89,335
1998 -52,844 -23,262 436,316 99,639
1997 -58,185 -22,963 447,768 79,266
1996 -45,159 -21,520 450,174 73,040
1995 -42,030 -22,020 443,349 72,393
1994 -32,086 -20,984 437,873 66,685
1993 -24,569 -19,973 429,910 61,079
1992 -18,789 -120,552 418,900 66,286
1991 -14,675 -119,356 401,938 97,111
1990 -3,487 -116,817 384,518 135,020
1989 5,326 -114,705 373,277 143,544
1988 9,879 215 386,507 133,478
1987 8,971 357 381,999 137,759
1986 16,125 1,104 385,799 127,081
1985 11,649 -19,230 383,243 120,215
1984 20,610 -1,032 376,797 106,248
1983 21,455 -1,872 365,290 97,862
1982 24,077 -1,860 353,138 89,942
1981 29,341 -1,830 339,991 84,142
1980 30,129 -2,045 326,947 80,617
1979 40,599 -872 317,439 -13,980
1978 44,070 -62,769 311,027 -15,059
1977 47,543 -11,955 305,515 -16,601
1976 56,055 -2,522 300,615 -18,316
1975 54,941 -38,071 294,541 -20,480
1974 64,223 -1,402 289,880 -21,919
1973 57,760 -5,409 284,611 -21,995
1972 47,169 -11,296 276,263 -21,305
1971 52,925 -7,654 272,323 -20,535
1970 61,125 -11,315 269,341 -31,839
1969 63,256 -3,204 264,327 -39,420
1968 69,468 -132 260,705 -40,996
1967 49,861 -420 258,764 -42,108
1966 54,504 -144 262,162 -33,993
1965 58,249 -1,406 264,836 -36,456
1964 66,783 505 266,406 -38,785
1963 66,241 500 265,815 -40,952
1962 64,104 499 262,140 -43,033
1961 75,460 378 257,270 -44,916
1960 76,314 -1,112 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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