The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 568,847 people in Malta in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 581,729 in Malta.
Population statistics:
- Bulgaria's population is 10.9 times bigger than Malta's.
- Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Malta is the 167th.
- The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.007% for Malta.
- For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +2.69% in Malta.
- Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Malta has grown from 405K to 582K (43.5% growth).
Bulgaria vs Malta: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Bulgaria
|
Malta
|
|
| 2100 | 3,368,029 | 383,244 |
| 2099 | 3,392,444 | 386,421 |
| 2098 | 3,416,655 | 389,613 |
| 2097 | 3,440,938 | 392,917 |
| 2096 | 3,465,328 | 396,295 |
| 2095 | 3,489,216 | 399,956 |
| 2094 | 3,513,318 | 403,710 |
| 2093 | 3,537,356 | 407,487 |
| 2092 | 3,561,475 | 411,340 |
| 2091 | 3,585,597 | 415,407 |
| 2090 | 3,609,873 | 419,592 |
| 2089 | 3,634,642 | 423,826 |
| 2088 | 3,659,749 | 428,052 |
| 2087 | 3,685,668 | 432,556 |
| 2086 | 3,712,363 | 437,240 |
| 2085 | 3,739,898 | 441,882 |
| 2084 | 3,768,305 | 446,649 |
| 2083 | 3,797,217 | 451,551 |
| 2082 | 3,827,186 | 456,344 |
| 2081 | 3,857,721 | 461,335 |
| 2080 | 3,890,095 | 466,229 |
| 2079 | 3,923,403 | 471,100 |
| 2078 | 3,957,241 | 475,924 |
| 2077 | 3,992,168 | 480,771 |
| 2076 | 4,027,738 | 485,655 |
| 2075 | 4,064,356 | 490,208 |
| 2074 | 4,102,642 | 494,656 |
| 2073 | 4,141,518 | 499,046 |
| 2072 | 4,180,975 | 503,370 |
| 2071 | 4,221,261 | 507,604 |
| 2070 | 4,262,568 | 511,683 |
| 2069 | 4,304,304 | 515,748 |
| 2068 | 4,346,623 | 519,737 |
| 2067 | 4,389,924 | 523,520 |
| 2066 | 4,433,953 | 527,140 |
| 2065 | 4,478,521 | 530,620 |
| 2064 | 4,523,406 | 533,923 |
| 2063 | 4,568,385 | 537,029 |
| 2062 | 4,613,363 | 540,145 |
| 2061 | 4,658,825 | 543,018 |
| 2060 | 4,704,379 | 545,828 |
| 2059 | 4,749,738 | 548,562 |
| 2058 | 4,794,388 | 551,048 |
| 2057 | 4,839,236 | 553,389 |
| 2056 | 4,884,068 | 555,804 |
| 2055 | 4,929,309 | 558,190 |
| 2054 | 4,974,635 | 560,309 |
| 2053 | 5,020,162 | 562,511 |
| 2052 | 5,065,364 | 564,772 |
| 2051 | 5,110,833 | 567,078 |
| 2050 | 5,156,741 | 569,189 |
| 2049 | 5,202,941 | 571,016 |
| 2048 | 5,249,351 | 572,923 |
| 2047 | 5,296,642 | 574,977 |
| 2046 | 5,343,848 | 576,728 |
| 2045 | 5,391,354 | 578,442 |
| 2044 | 5,439,559 | 580,046 |
| 2043 | 5,488,407 | 581,639 |
| 2042 | 5,537,839 | 583,042 |
| 2041 | 5,588,510 | 584,485 |
| 2040 | 5,639,850 | 585,747 |
| 2039 | 5,692,028 | 587,035 |
| 2038 | 5,743,725 | 588,223 |
| 2037 | 5,796,645 | 589,140 |
| 2036 | 5,849,741 | 589,886 |
| 2035 | 5,902,025 | 590,469 |
| 2034 | 5,954,460 | 590,868 |
| 2033 | 6,007,050 | 590,759 |
| 2032 | 6,058,858 | 590,166 |
| 2031 | 6,111,118 | 589,366 |
| 2030 | 6,163,564 | 588,281 |
| 2029 | 6,214,784 | 586,978 |
| 2028 | 6,264,738 | 585,310 |
| 2027 | 6,313,255 | 583,310 |
| 2026 | 6,359,449 | 581,144 |
| 2025 | 6,402,394 | 575,661 |
| 2024 | 6,441,421 | 568,847 |
| 2023 | 6,446,596 | 552,747 |
| 2022 | 6,465,097 | 531,113 |
| 2021 | 6,507,301 | 518,150 |
| 2020 | 6,550,696 | 515,490 |
| 2019 | 6,616,726 | 503,912 |
| 2018 | 6,710,798 | 483,903 |
| 2017 | 6,803,468 | 467,106 |
| 2016 | 6,894,139 | 454,505 |
| 2015 | 6,984,225 | 444,220 |
| 2014 | 7,073,572 | 433,481 |
| 2013 | 7,160,005 | 424,810 |
| 2012 | 7,305,888 | 420,028 |
| 2011 | 7,348,328 | 416,268 |
| 2010 | 7,395,599 | 414,508 |
| 2009 | 7,444,443 | 412,477 |
| 2008 | 7,492,561 | 409,379 |
| 2007 | 7,545,338 | 406,724 |
| 2006 | 7,601,022 | 405,308 |
| 2005 | 7,658,972 | 403,834 |
| 2004 | 7,716,860 | 401,268 |
| 2003 | 7,775,327 | 398,582 |
| 2002 | 7,837,161 | 395,969 |
| 2001 | 8,009,142 | 393,028 |
| 2000 | 8,170,172 | 390,087 |
| 1999 | 8,210,624 | 387,578 |
| 1998 | 8,256,786 | 385,287 |
| 1997 | 8,312,068 | 382,791 |
| 1996 | 8,362,826 | 379,905 |
| 1995 | 8,406,067 | 377,419 |
| 1994 | 8,443,591 | 374,797 |
| 1993 | 8,472,313 | 371,308 |
| 1992 | 8,540,164 | 367,618 |
| 1991 | 8,632,367 | 363,845 |
| 1990 | 8,718,289 | 354,170 |
| 1989 | 8,876,972 | 350,722 |
| 1988 | 8,981,446 | 347,325 |
| 1987 | 8,971,359 | 344,485 |
| 1986 | 8,958,171 | 342,121 |
| 1985 | 8,960,547 | 336,452 |
| 1984 | 8,960,679 | 330,593 |
| 1983 | 8,939,738 | 330,524 |
| 1982 | 8,917,457 | 325,898 |
| 1981 | 8,891,117 | 318,982 |
| 1980 | 8,861,535 | 316,645 |
| 1979 | 8,825,940 | 313,342 |
| 1978 | 8,814,032 | 310,182 |
| 1977 | 8,804,183 | 306,970 |
| 1976 | 8,758,599 | 305,774 |
| 1975 | 8,720,742 | 304,222 |
| 1974 | 8,678,745 | 301,996 |
| 1973 | 8,620,967 | 302,200 |
| 1972 | 8,576,200 | 302,450 |
| 1971 | 8,536,395 | 302,700 |
| 1970 | 8,489,574 | 302,650 |
| 1969 | 8,434,172 | 304,300 |
| 1968 | 8,369,603 | 307,900 |
| 1967 | 8,310,226 | 311,550 |
| 1966 | 8,258,057 | 315,200 |
| 1965 | 8,204,168 | 318,800 |
| 1964 | 8,144,340 | 321,250 |
| 1963 | 8,078,145 | 322,550 |
| 1962 | 8,012,946 | 323,900 |
| 1961 | 7,943,118 | 325,250 |
| 1960 | 7,867,374 | 326,550 |
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/malta | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Malta gained 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Malta's population increased by 127,224 people (a 28% growth).
Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Malta was ranked 168th in 2006 and ranked 167th 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 Malta will decrease by 2.16% to 569,189 people and will still be ranked 167th.
Malta is projected to reach its peak in 2034 at 591K 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
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bulgaria
|
Malta
|
|
| 2100 | -0.72% | -0.82% |
| 2099 | -0.71% | -0.82% |
| 2098 | -0.71% | -0.84% |
| 2097 | -0.7% | -0.85% |
| 2096 | -0.68% | -0.92% |
| 2095 | -0.69% | -0.93% |
| 2094 | -0.68% | -0.93% |
| 2093 | -0.68% | -0.94% |
| 2092 | -0.67% | -0.98% |
| 2091 | -0.67% | -1% |
| 2090 | -0.68% | -1% |
| 2089 | -0.69% | -0.99% |
| 2088 | -0.7% | -1.04% |
| 2087 | -0.72% | -1.07% |
| 2086 | -0.74% | -1.05% |
| 2085 | -0.75% | -1.07% |
| 2084 | -0.76% | -1.09% |
| 2083 | -0.78% | -1.05% |
| 2082 | -0.79% | -1.08% |
| 2081 | -0.83% | -1.05% |
| 2080 | -0.85% | -1.03% |
| 2079 | -0.86% | -1.01% |
| 2078 | -0.87% | -1.01% |
| 2077 | -0.88% | -1.01% |
| 2076 | -0.9% | -0.93% |
| 2075 | -0.93% | -0.9% |
| 2074 | -0.94% | -0.88% |
| 2073 | -0.94% | -0.86% |
| 2072 | -0.95% | -0.83% |
| 2071 | -0.97% | -0.8% |
| 2070 | -0.97% | -0.79% |
| 2069 | -0.97% | -0.77% |
| 2068 | -0.99% | -0.72% |
| 2067 | -0.99% | -0.69% |
| 2066 | -1% | -0.66% |
| 2065 | -0.99% | -0.62% |
| 2064 | -0.98% | -0.58% |
| 2063 | -0.97% | -0.58% |
| 2062 | -0.98% | -0.53% |
| 2061 | -0.97% | -0.51% |
| 2060 | -0.95% | -0.5% |
| 2059 | -0.93% | -0.45% |
| 2058 | -0.93% | -0.42% |
| 2057 | -0.92% | -0.43% |
| 2056 | -0.92% | -0.43% |
| 2055 | -0.91% | -0.38% |
| 2054 | -0.91% | -0.39% |
| 2053 | -0.89% | -0.4% |
| 2052 | -0.89% | -0.41% |
| 2051 | -0.89% | -0.37% |
| 2050 | -0.89% | -0.32% |
| 2049 | -0.88% | -0.33% |
| 2048 | -0.89% | -0.36% |
| 2047 | -0.88% | -0.3% |
| 2046 | -0.88% | -0.3% |
| 2045 | -0.89% | -0.28% |
| 2044 | -0.89% | -0.27% |
| 2043 | -0.89% | -0.24% |
| 2042 | -0.91% | -0.25% |
| 2041 | -0.91% | -0.22% |
| 2040 | -0.92% | -0.22% |
| 2039 | -0.9% | -0.2% |
| 2038 | -0.91% | -0.16% |
| 2037 | -0.91% | -0.13% |
| 2036 | -0.89% | -0.1% |
| 2035 | -0.88% | -0.07% |
| 2034 | -0.88% | 0.02% |
| 2033 | -0.86% | 0.1% |
| 2032 | -0.86% | 0.14% |
| 2031 | -0.85% | 0.18% |
| 2030 | -0.82% | 0.22% |
| 2029 | -0.8% | 0.29% |
| 2028 | -0.77% | 0.34% |
| 2027 | -0.73% | 0.37% |
| 2026 | -0.67% | 0.95% |
| 2025 | -0.61% | 1.2% |
| 2024 | -0.08% | 2.91% |
| 2023 | -0.29% | 4.07% |
| 2022 | -0.65% | 2.5% |
| 2021 | -0.66% | 0.52% |
| 2020 | -1% | 2.3% |
| 2019 | -1.4% | 4.13% |
| 2018 | -1.36% | 3.6% |
| 2017 | -1.32% | 2.77% |
| 2016 | -1.29% | 2.32% |
| 2015 | -1.26% | 2.48% |
| 2014 | -1.21% | 2.04% |
| 2013 | -2% | 1.14% |
| 2012 | -0.58% | 0.9% |
| 2011 | -0.64% | 0.42% |
| 2010 | -0.66% | 0.49% |
| 2009 | -0.64% | 0.76% |
| 2008 | -0.7% | 0.65% |
| 2007 | -0.73% | 0.35% |
| 2006 | -0.76% | 0.37% |
| 2005 | -0.75% | 0.64% |
| 2004 | -0.75% | 0.67% |
| 2003 | -0.79% | 0.66% |
| 2002 | -2.15% | 0.75% |
| 2001 | -1.97% | 0.75% |
| 2000 | -0.49% | 0.65% |
| 1999 | -0.56% | 0.59% |
| 1998 | -0.67% | 0.65% |
| 1997 | -0.61% | 0.76% |
| 1996 | -0.51% | 0.66% |
| 1995 | -0.44% | 0.7% |
| 1994 | -0.34% | 0.94% |
| 1993 | -0.79% | 1% |
| 1992 | -1.07% | 1.04% |
| 1991 | -0.99% | 2.73% |
| 1990 | -1.79% | 0.98% |
| 1989 | -1.16% | 0.98% |
| 1988 | 0.11% | 0.82% |
| 1987 | 0.15% | 0.69% |
| 1986 | -0.03% | 1.68% |
| 1985 | -0.001% | 1.77% |
| 1984 | 0.23% | 0.02% |
| 1983 | 0.25% | 1.42% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | 2.17% |
| 1981 | 0.33% | 0.74% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | 1.05% |
| 1979 | 0.14% | 1.02% |
| 1978 | 0.11% | 1.05% |
| 1977 | 0.52% | 0.39% |
| 1976 | 0.43% | 0.51% |
| 1975 | 0.48% | 0.74% |
| 1974 | 0.67% | -0.07% |
| 1973 | 0.52% | -0.08% |
| 1972 | 0.47% | -0.08% |
| 1971 | 0.55% | 0.02% |
| 1970 | 0.66% | -0.54% |
| 1969 | 0.77% | -1.17% |
| 1968 | 0.71% | -1.17% |
| 1967 | 0.63% | -1.16% |
| 1966 | 0.66% | -1.13% |
| 1965 | 0.73% | -0.76% |
| 1964 | 0.82% | -0.4% |
| 1963 | 0.81% | -0.42% |
| 1962 | 0.88% | -0.42% |
| 1961 | 0.96% | -0.4% |
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/malta | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Malta's population grew by 2.91%.
Live population counters
|
Bulgaria
|
Malta
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
6359449
|
581729
|
| Population rank | 112/197 | 167/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.08% | 0.007% |
| One net population change |
1.69 hours
|
32.6 minutes
|
| One birth every |
9.16 minutes
|
1.96 hours
|
| One death every |
5.19 minutes
|
2.17 hours
|
| Daily growth/decline | -14 | +44 |
| Annual growth/decline | -5,175 | +16,100 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | -0.08% | +2.91% |
| Population growth rate rank | 171/197 | 19/197 |
| One migration net change every |
2.97 hours
|
1.7 hours
|
| Annual migration change | -2,961 | +5,161 |
| Net migration rank | 106/196 | 52/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 299,100 | 199,466 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 98/195 | 112/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 4.4% | 37% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 99/195 | 15/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bulgaria
|
Malta
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -2,961 | - | 5,161 |
| 2024 | - | 524 | - | 6,323 |
| 2023 | -43,837 | 5,173 | 442 | 6,591 |
| 2022 | -62,065 | 26,498 | 54 | 2,480 |
| 2021 | -90,452 | 11,756 | 259 | 4,638 |
| 2020 | -65,507 | 30,167 | 361 | 6,904 |
| 2019 | -46,317 | -2,156 | 655 | 20,302 |
| 2018 | -46,304 | -3,873 | 774 | 16,961 |
| 2017 | -45,583 | -6,109 | 747 | 14,372 |
| 2016 | -42,744 | -9,482 | 1,091 | 8,624 |
| 2015 | -44,699 | -4,227 | 888 | 9,588 |
| 2014 | -41,027 | -2,180 | 910 | 9,192 |
| 2013 | -37,948 | -1,324 | 807 | 861 |
| 2012 | -40,183 | -26,334 | 714 | 911 |
| 2011 | -37,477 | -23,360 | 916 | 999 |
| 2010 | -34,759 | -21,668 | 871 | 741 |
| 2009 | -26,800 | -19,060 | 825 | 836 |
| 2008 | -32,967 | -17,595 | 777 | 869 |
| 2007 | -37,727 | -16,366 | 691 | 926 |
| 2006 | -39,526 | -15,184 | 568 | 997 |
| 2005 | -42,124 | -14,435 | 727 | 1,626 |
| 2004 | -40,128 | -13,604 | 883 | 1,662 |
| 2003 | -44,319 | -13,183 | 917 | 1,626 |
| 2002 | -46,240 | -12,735 | 911 | 1,821 |
| 2001 | -44,050 | -30,726 | 1,061 | 1,678 |
| 2000 | -41,668 | -26,211 | 1,482 | 1,591 |
| 1999 | -39,411 | -23,846 | 1,357 | 1,463 |
| 1998 | -52,844 | -23,262 | 1,656 | 1,260 |
| 1997 | -58,185 | -22,963 | 1,991 | 1,003 |
| 1996 | -45,159 | -21,520 | 2,279 | 1,142 |
| 1995 | -42,030 | -22,020 | 1,887 | 1,306 |
| 1994 | -32,086 | -20,984 | 2,136 | 1,136 |
| 1993 | -24,569 | -19,973 | 2,451 | 1,006 |
| 1992 | -18,789 | -120,552 | 2,573 | 737 |
| 1991 | -14,675 | -119,356 | 2,438 | 763 |
| 1990 | -3,487 | -116,817 | 2,621 | 568 |
| 1989 | 5,326 | -114,705 | 2,981 | 248 |
| 1988 | 9,879 | 215 | 2,813 | 164 |
| 1987 | 8,971 | 357 | 2,412 | 295 |
| 1986 | 16,125 | 1,104 | 2,395 | 464 |
| 1985 | 11,649 | -19,230 | 2,590 | -428 |
| 1984 | 20,610 | -1,032 | 2,678 | -558 |
| 1983 | 21,455 | -1,872 | 2,512 | -740 |
| 1982 | 24,077 | -1,860 | 2,835 | -1,059 |
| 1981 | 29,341 | -1,830 | 2,233 | -548 |
| 1980 | 30,129 | -2,045 | 2,375 | -886 |
| 1979 | 40,599 | -872 | 2,852 | -1,311 |
| 1978 | 44,070 | -62,769 | 2,389 | -1,302 |
| 1977 | 47,543 | -11,955 | 2,916 | -1,598 |
| 1976 | 56,055 | -2,522 | 2,721 | -1,641 |
| 1975 | 54,941 | -38,071 | 2,829 | -1,742 |
| 1974 | 64,223 | -1,402 | 2,687 | -1,597 |
| 1973 | 57,760 | -5,409 | 2,327 | -1,549 |
| 1972 | 47,169 | -11,296 | 2,480 | -1,316 |
| 1971 | 52,925 | -7,654 | 2,482 | -1,327 |
| 1970 | 61,125 | -11,315 | 2,270 | -1,123 |
| 1969 | 63,256 | -3,204 | 2,069 | -827 |
| 1968 | 69,468 | -132 | 2,247 | -753 |
| 1967 | 49,861 | -420 | 2,306 | -4,073 |
| 1966 | 54,504 | -144 | 2,458 | -4,318 |
| 1965 | 58,249 | -1,406 | 2,646 | -4,329 |
| 1964 | 66,783 | 505 | 3,630 | -4,768 |
| 1963 | 66,241 | 500 | 3,709 | -4,773 |
| 1962 | 64,104 | 499 | 4,664 | -5,360 |
| 1961 | 75,460 | 378 | 4,748 | -5,099 |
| 1960 | 76,314 | -1,112 | 5,747 | -5,540 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/malta | 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 Malta 5.84% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,181 people) and 94.2% is from migration (a gain of 99,652 people).
As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 199,466 people or 37% in Malta.
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 |
|
Malta
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| St. Paul's Bay | 40.2K |
| Mosta | 25.5K |
| Birkirkara | 24.4K |
| Naxxar | 18.1K |
| Zabbar | 18K |
| Sliema | 16.9K |
| San Gwann | 16.1K |
| Marsaskala | 15.6K |
| Gzira | 8.03K |
| Valletta | 6.44K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Bulgaria and Malta
|
Bulgaria
|
Malta
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 76.1 years | 83.8 years |
| Average age | 44.1 years | 43 years |
| Median age | 45.5 years | 41.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 48.4:51.6 | 51.9:48.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.81 births per woman | 1.06 births per woman |
| Population density | 151.7 ppl/mi² | 4,704 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/malta | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
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