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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 24,478,595 people in Mali in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 26,143,152 in Mali.

Population statistics:

  • Mali's population is 4.11 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 -0.96% per year vs +3.12% in Mali.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Mali has grown from 14M to 26.1M (86.9% growth).

Bulgaria vs Mali: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Mali
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Mali
2100 3,368,029 80,371,693
2099 3,392,444 80,051,982
2098 3,416,655 79,712,985
2097 3,440,938 79,363,373
2096 3,465,328 78,996,636
2095 3,489,216 78,611,169
2094 3,513,318 78,201,275
2093 3,537,356 77,780,277
2092 3,561,475 77,346,576
2091 3,585,597 76,892,849
2090 3,609,873 76,418,075
2089 3,634,642 75,924,551
2088 3,659,749 75,413,374
2087 3,685,668 74,882,872
2086 3,712,363 74,339,859
2085 3,739,898 73,778,163
2084 3,768,305 73,197,940
2083 3,797,217 72,596,727
2082 3,827,186 71,983,705
2081 3,857,721 71,348,537
2080 3,890,095 70,707,220
2079 3,923,403 70,044,626
2078 3,957,241 69,367,218
2077 3,992,168 68,675,750
2076 4,027,738 67,972,574
2075 4,064,356 67,256,565
2074 4,102,642 66,523,454
2073 4,141,518 65,776,035
2072 4,180,975 65,016,928
2071 4,221,261 64,239,726
2070 4,262,568 63,457,636
2069 4,304,304 62,664,074
2068 4,346,623 61,857,029
2067 4,389,924 61,042,577
2066 4,433,953 60,222,511
2065 4,478,521 59,400,594
2064 4,523,406 58,567,263
2063 4,568,385 57,727,308
2062 4,613,363 56,880,111
2061 4,658,825 56,026,848
2060 4,704,379 55,166,339
2059 4,749,738 54,304,533
2058 4,794,388 53,437,711
2057 4,839,236 52,565,517
2056 4,884,068 51,691,907
2055 4,929,309 50,813,138
2054 4,974,635 49,936,085
2053 5,020,162 49,053,898
2052 5,065,364 48,167,179
2051 5,110,833 47,280,403
2050 5,156,741 46,390,999
2049 5,202,941 45,505,968
2048 5,249,351 44,617,075
2047 5,296,642 43,730,396
2046 5,343,848 42,840,806
2045 5,391,354 41,951,176
2044 5,439,559 41,061,960
2043 5,488,407 40,172,937
2042 5,537,839 39,286,024
2041 5,588,510 38,406,403
2040 5,639,850 37,525,963
2039 5,692,028 36,652,557
2038 5,743,725 35,772,629
2037 5,796,645 34,902,845
2036 5,849,741 34,036,236
2035 5,902,025 33,178,665
2034 5,954,460 32,328,037
2033 6,007,050 31,486,276
2032 6,058,858 30,655,886
2031 6,111,118 29,833,522
2030 6,163,564 29,028,860
2029 6,214,784 28,235,559
2028 6,264,738 27,456,170
2027 6,313,255 26,690,187
2026 6,359,449 25,940,320
2025 6,402,394 25,201,616
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Mali's population increased by 6,951,863 people (a 36.2% 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Mali will increase by 77.4% to 46,390,999 people and rank change from 58th to 46th.

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 3.37M 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 -0.61% 2.95%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Mali's population grew by 2.98%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Mali
Current population
6359449
26143152
Population rank 112/197 58/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.32%
One net population change
1.69 hours
44.5 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
33.1 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
2.56 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +1,944
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +709,468
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.98%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 15/197
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 - 524 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/mali | 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 Mali 94.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,749,473 people) and 5.13% is from migration (a loss of 365,292 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
Mali
City Population
Bamako 4.23M
Sikasso 214K
Segou 134K
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 (1960–2024, 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/mali | 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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