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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 25,198,821 people in Mali in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 26,322,576 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 4.12 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Mali is the 58th.
  • The countries together account for 0.39% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.32% for Mali.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +3.1% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.3M (88.2% growth).

Bulgaria vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Mali
2100 3,384,288 80,362,778
2099 3,408,821 80,043,103
2098 3,433,149 79,704,143
2097 3,457,549 79,354,569
2096 3,482,057 78,987,874
2095 3,506,060 78,602,449
2094 3,530,278 78,192,601
2093 3,554,432 77,771,649
2092 3,578,667 77,337,997
2091 3,602,907 76,884,320
2090 3,627,300 76,409,599
2089 3,652,188 75,916,129
2088 3,677,416 75,405,009
2087 3,703,460 74,874,565
2086 3,730,284 74,331,613
2085 3,757,953 73,769,979
2084 3,786,496 73,189,821
2083 3,815,548 72,588,675
2082 3,845,662 71,975,720
2081 3,876,344 71,340,622
2080 3,908,874 70,699,377
2079 3,942,344 70,036,857
2078 3,976,345 69,359,523
2077 4,011,440 68,668,133
2076 4,047,182 67,965,034
2075 4,083,977 67,249,105
2074 4,122,447 66,516,075
2073 4,161,511 65,768,739
2072 4,201,158 65,009,716
2071 4,241,639 64,232,600
2070 4,283,145 63,450,597
2069 4,325,083 62,657,123
2068 4,367,606 61,850,168
2067 4,411,116 61,035,806
2066 4,455,358 60,215,831
2065 4,500,141 59,394,005
2064 4,545,243 58,560,766
2063 4,590,439 57,720,905
2062 4,635,634 56,873,801
2061 4,681,315 56,020,633
2060 4,727,089 55,160,220
2059 4,772,667 54,298,509
2058 4,817,532 53,431,783
2057 4,862,597 52,559,686
2056 4,907,646 51,686,173
2055 4,953,105 50,807,502
2054 4,998,650 49,930,546
2053 5,044,397 49,048,457
2052 5,089,817 48,161,836
2051 5,135,505 47,275,159
2050 5,181,635 46,385,854
2049 5,228,058 45,500,920
2048 5,274,692 44,612,126
2047 5,322,212 43,725,546
2046 5,369,645 42,836,054
2045 5,417,381 41,946,522
2044 5,465,818 41,057,406
2043 5,514,902 40,168,481
2042 5,564,573 39,281,666
2041 5,615,489 38,402,142
2040 5,667,076 37,521,801
2039 5,719,506 36,648,491
2038 5,771,452 35,768,661
2037 5,824,628 34,898,973
2036 5,877,980 34,032,460
2035 5,930,517 33,174,985
2034 5,983,205 32,324,451
2033 6,036,049 31,482,783
2032 6,088,107 30,652,485
2031 6,140,619 29,830,213
2030 6,193,318 29,025,640
2029 6,244,785 28,232,427
2028 6,294,981 27,453,124
2027 6,343,732 26,687,226
2026 6,390,149 25,937,442
2025 6,433,302 25,198,821
2024 6,441,421 24,478,595
2023 6,446,596 23,769,127
2022 6,465,097 23,072,640
2021 6,507,301 22,388,630
2020 6,550,696 21,713,836
2019 6,616,726 21,068,405
2018 6,710,798 20,442,030
2017 6,803,468 19,813,011
2016 6,894,139 19,191,289
2015 6,984,225 18,593,022
2014 7,073,572 18,020,267
2013 7,160,005 17,459,615
2012 7,305,888 16,957,033
2011 7,348,328 16,469,049
2010 7,395,599 15,945,198
2009 7,444,443 15,435,539
2008 7,492,561 14,940,782
2007 7,545,338 14,457,775
2006 7,601,022 13,990,139
2005 7,658,972 13,538,647
2004 7,716,860 13,102,409
2003 7,775,327 12,684,955
2002 7,837,161 12,288,050
2001 8,009,142 11,912,158
2000 8,170,172 11,559,290
1999 8,210,624 11,227,415
1998 8,256,786 10,919,573
1997 8,312,068 10,646,495
1996 8,362,826 10,407,278
1995 8,406,067 10,185,365
1994 8,443,591 9,967,031
1993 8,472,313 9,754,786
1992 8,540,164 9,553,540
1991 8,632,367 9,362,888
1990 8,718,289 9,178,830
1989 8,876,972 8,999,938
1988 8,981,446 8,833,996
1987 8,971,359 8,681,164
1986 8,958,171 8,531,277
1985 8,960,547 8,374,663
1984 8,960,679 8,208,599
1983 8,939,738 8,034,400
1982 8,917,457 7,860,194
1981 8,891,117 7,692,766
1980 8,861,535 7,530,515
1979 8,825,940 7,375,266
1978 8,814,032 7,229,651
1977 8,804,183 7,090,979
1976 8,758,599 6,960,979
1975 8,720,742 6,837,261
1974 8,678,745 6,715,436
1973 8,620,967 6,597,106
1972 8,576,200 6,483,726
1971 8,536,395 6,377,944
1970 8,489,574 6,276,472
1969 8,434,172 6,177,704
1968 8,369,603 6,082,979
1967 8,310,226 5,990,906
1966 8,258,057 5,902,204
1965 8,204,168 5,815,487
1964 8,144,340 5,730,125
1963 8,078,145 5,646,605
1962 8,012,946 5,563,917
1961 7,943,118 5,482,283
1960 7,867,374 5,402,550

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/mali | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Mali gained 5,201,150 people (a 37.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Mali's population increased by 7,131,287 people (a 37.2% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Mali was ranked 66th in 2006 and ranked 58th 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 Mali will increase by 76.2% to 46,385,854 people and rank change from 58th to 47th.

Mali is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 80.4M 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
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Mali
2100 -0.72% 0.4%
2099 -0.71% 0.43%
2098 -0.71% 0.44%
2097 -0.7% 0.46%
2096 -0.68% 0.49%
2095 -0.69% 0.52%
2094 -0.68% 0.54%
2093 -0.68% 0.56%
2092 -0.67% 0.59%
2091 -0.67% 0.62%
2090 -0.68% 0.65%
2089 -0.69% 0.68%
2088 -0.7% 0.71%
2087 -0.72% 0.73%
2086 -0.74% 0.76%
2085 -0.75% 0.79%
2084 -0.76% 0.83%
2083 -0.78% 0.85%
2082 -0.79% 0.89%
2081 -0.83% 0.91%
2080 -0.85% 0.95%
2079 -0.86% 0.98%
2078 -0.87% 1.01%
2077 -0.88% 1.03%
2076 -0.9% 1.06%
2075 -0.93% 1.1%
2074 -0.94% 1.14%
2073 -0.94% 1.17%
2072 -0.95% 1.21%
2071 -0.97% 1.23%
2070 -0.97% 1.27%
2069 -0.97% 1.3%
2068 -0.99% 1.33%
2067 -0.99% 1.36%
2066 -1% 1.38%
2065 -0.99% 1.42%
2064 -0.98% 1.46%
2063 -0.97% 1.49%
2062 -0.98% 1.52%
2061 -0.97% 1.56%
2060 -0.95% 1.59%
2059 -0.93% 1.62%
2058 -0.93% 1.66%
2057 -0.92% 1.69%
2056 -0.92% 1.73%
2055 -0.91% 1.76%
2054 -0.91% 1.8%
2053 -0.89% 1.84%
2052 -0.89% 1.88%
2051 -0.89% 1.92%
2050 -0.89% 1.94%
2049 -0.88% 1.99%
2048 -0.89% 2.03%
2047 -0.88% 2.08%
2046 -0.88% 2.12%
2045 -0.89% 2.17%
2044 -0.89% 2.21%
2043 -0.89% 2.26%
2042 -0.91% 2.29%
2041 -0.91% 2.35%
2040 -0.92% 2.38%
2039 -0.9% 2.46%
2038 -0.91% 2.49%
2037 -0.91% 2.55%
2036 -0.89% 2.58%
2035 -0.88% 2.63%
2034 -0.88% 2.67%
2033 -0.86% 2.71%
2032 -0.86% 2.76%
2031 -0.85% 2.77%
2030 -0.82% 2.81%
2029 -0.8% 2.84%
2028 -0.77% 2.87%
2027 -0.73% 2.89%
2026 -0.67% 2.93%
2025 -0.13% 2.94%
2024 -0.08% 2.98%
2023 -0.29% 3.02%
2022 -0.65% 3.06%
2021 -0.66% 3.11%
2020 -1% 3.06%
2019 -1.4% 3.06%
2018 -1.36% 3.17%
2017 -1.32% 3.24%
2016 -1.29% 3.22%
2015 -1.26% 3.18%
2014 -1.21% 3.21%
2013 -2% 2.96%
2012 -0.58% 2.96%
2011 -0.64% 3.29%
2010 -0.66% 3.3%
2009 -0.64% 3.31%
2008 -0.7% 3.34%
2007 -0.73% 3.34%
2006 -0.76% 3.33%
2005 -0.75% 3.33%
2004 -0.75% 3.29%
2003 -0.79% 3.23%
2002 -2.15% 3.16%
2001 -1.97% 3.05%
2000 -0.49% 2.96%
1999 -0.56% 2.82%
1998 -0.67% 2.56%
1997 -0.61% 2.3%
1996 -0.51% 2.18%
1995 -0.44% 2.19%
1994 -0.34% 2.18%
1993 -0.79% 2.11%
1992 -1.07% 2.04%
1991 -0.99% 2.01%
1990 -1.79% 1.99%
1989 -1.16% 1.88%
1988 0.11% 1.76%
1987 0.15% 1.76%
1986 -0.03% 1.87%
1985 -0.001% 2.02%
1984 0.23% 2.17%
1983 0.25% 2.22%
1982 0.3% 2.18%
1981 0.33% 2.15%
1980 0.4% 2.1%
1979 0.14% 2.01%
1978 0.11% 1.96%
1977 0.52% 1.87%
1976 0.43% 1.81%
1975 0.48% 1.81%
1974 0.67% 1.79%
1973 0.52% 1.75%
1972 0.47% 1.66%
1971 0.55% 1.62%
1970 0.66% 1.6%
1969 0.77% 1.56%
1968 0.71% 1.54%
1967 0.63% 1.5%
1966 0.66% 1.49%
1965 0.73% 1.49%
1964 0.82% 1.48%
1963 0.81% 1.49%
1962 0.88% 1.49%
1961 0.96% 1.48%

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/mali | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Mali's population grew by 2.94%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Mali
Current population
6390149
26322576
Population rank 112/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.32%
One net population change
1.08 hours
43.9 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
32.6 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
2.52 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +1,973
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +720,226
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.94%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 14/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
11 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -48,019
Net migration rank 106/196 173/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 545,323
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 76/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 2.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 131/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Mali
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Mali
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -48,019
2024 -47,023 524 759,375 -46,880
2023 -43,837 5,173 746,398 -39,953
2022 -62,065 26,498 726,465 -39,951
2021 -90,452 11,756 703,674 -22,210
2020 -65,507 30,167 683,053 -14,962
2019 -46,317 -2,156 667,110 -44,373
2018 -46,304 -3,873 670,723 -40,710
2017 -45,583 -6,109 661,973 -33,942
2016 -42,744 -9,482 645,652 -30,251
2015 -44,699 -4,227 630,006 -48,872
2014 -41,027 -2,180 614,419 -50,068
2013 -37,948 -1,324 597,887 -40,951
2012 -40,183 -26,334 588,748 -140,507
2011 -37,477 -23,360 570,899 -43,160
2010 -34,759 -21,668 554,447 -34,483
2009 -26,800 -19,060 533,730 -34,383
2008 -32,967 -17,595 514,665 -24,509
2007 -37,727 -16,366 495,800 -19,945
2006 -39,526 -15,184 477,665 -18,247
2005 -42,124 -14,435 460,964 -17,413
2004 -40,128 -13,604 439,717 -10,796
2003 -44,319 -13,183 417,766 -11,768
2002 -46,240 -12,735 396,732 -8,914
2001 -44,050 -30,726 376,472 -12,507
2000 -41,668 -26,211 359,159 -17,395
1999 -39,411 -23,846 343,705 -21,702
1998 -52,844 -23,262 323,940 -30,255
1997 -58,185 -22,963 308,429 -55,978
1996 -45,159 -21,520 293,953 -67,974
1995 -42,030 -22,020 285,598 -67,763
1994 -32,086 -20,984 282,356 -63,533
1993 -24,569 -19,973 274,480 -68,816
1992 -18,789 -120,552 267,605 -70,789
1991 -14,675 -119,356 261,656 -77,172
1990 -3,487 -116,817 252,308 -68,668
1989 5,326 -114,705 249,929 -75,771
1988 9,879 215 245,682 -87,952
1987 8,971 357 238,871 -90,940
1986 16,125 1,104 233,799 -81,970
1985 11,649 -19,230 224,734 -63,347
1984 20,610 -1,032 218,078 -47,331
1983 21,455 -1,872 211,795 -34,132
1982 24,077 -1,860 204,892 -34,140
1981 29,341 -1,830 198,227 -34,130
1980 30,129 -2,045 190,560 -30,156
1979 40,599 -872 182,449 -32,353
1978 44,070 -62,769 172,652 -31,520
1977 47,543 -11,955 165,071 -28,853
1976 56,055 -2,522 157,778 -33,999
1975 54,941 -38,071 150,222 -26,572
1974 64,223 -1,402 142,448 -22,449
1973 57,760 -5,409 135,801 -19,137
1972 47,169 -11,296 129,687 -19,594
1971 52,925 -7,654 123,591 -22,127
1970 61,125 -11,315 118,952 -17,479
1969 63,256 -3,204 114,361 -18,302
1968 69,468 -132 111,403 -18,015
1967 49,861 -420 107,650 -16,900
1966 54,504 -144 103,684 -17,032
1965 58,249 -1,406 100,451 -13,662
1964 66,783 505 97,166 -13,226
1963 66,241 500 95,055 -11,951
1962 64,104 499 93,101 -10,821
1961 75,460 378 91,115 -10,139
1960 76,314 -1,112 88,802 -10,314

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/mali | 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 Mali 95% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,894,429 people) and 4.99% is from migration (a loss of 362,104 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 545,323 people or 2.2% in Mali.

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
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 226K
Segou 131K
Bougouni 59.7K
Markala 46K
Koulikoro 43.2K
Banamba 30.6K

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

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