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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 2,402,306 people in Moldova in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 2,341,166 in Moldova.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 2.72 times bigger than Moldova's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Moldova is the 145th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.03% for Moldova.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs -1.57% in Moldova.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Moldova has declined from 2.88M to 2.34M (18.7% decline).

Bulgaria vs Moldova: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Moldova
2100 3,368,029 1,175,882
2099 3,392,444 1,186,641
2098 3,416,655 1,197,541
2097 3,440,938 1,208,458
2096 3,465,328 1,219,478
2095 3,489,216 1,230,573
2094 3,513,318 1,241,540
2093 3,537,356 1,252,531
2092 3,561,475 1,263,471
2091 3,585,597 1,274,372
2090 3,609,873 1,285,020
2089 3,634,642 1,295,696
2088 3,659,749 1,306,424
2087 3,685,668 1,317,064
2086 3,712,363 1,327,799
2085 3,739,898 1,338,702
2084 3,768,305 1,349,432
2083 3,797,217 1,360,333
2082 3,827,186 1,371,322
2081 3,857,721 1,382,447
2080 3,890,095 1,393,733
2079 3,923,403 1,405,298
2078 3,957,241 1,417,062
2077 3,992,168 1,429,240
2076 4,027,738 1,441,240
2075 4,064,356 1,453,677
2074 4,102,642 1,466,568
2073 4,141,518 1,479,672
2072 4,180,975 1,493,311
2071 4,221,261 1,507,315
2070 4,262,568 1,522,149
2069 4,304,304 1,537,091
2068 4,346,623 1,552,724
2067 4,389,924 1,568,676
2066 4,433,953 1,584,782
2065 4,478,521 1,601,356
2064 4,523,406 1,618,317
2063 4,568,385 1,635,288
2062 4,613,363 1,652,720
2061 4,658,825 1,670,255
2060 4,704,379 1,688,120
2059 4,749,738 1,705,595
2058 4,794,388 1,722,942
2057 4,839,236 1,740,252
2056 4,884,068 1,757,829
2055 4,929,309 1,775,082
2054 4,974,635 1,792,262
2053 5,020,162 1,809,221
2052 5,065,364 1,825,831
2051 5,110,833 1,842,337
2050 5,156,741 1,858,281
2049 5,202,941 1,874,666
2048 5,249,351 1,890,586
2047 5,296,642 1,906,615
2046 5,343,848 1,922,962
2045 5,391,354 1,939,938
2044 5,439,559 1,956,858
2043 5,488,407 1,974,616
2042 5,537,839 1,992,765
2041 5,588,510 2,011,342
2040 5,639,850 2,030,732
2039 5,692,028 2,051,163
2038 5,743,725 2,071,871
2037 5,796,645 2,093,068
2036 5,849,741 2,114,669
2035 5,902,025 2,136,998
2034 5,954,460 2,159,450
2033 6,007,050 2,182,023
2032 6,058,858 2,204,431
2031 6,111,118 2,227,006
2030 6,163,564 2,250,038
2029 6,214,784 2,272,963
2028 6,264,738 2,295,739
2027 6,313,255 2,318,425
2026 6,359,449 2,341,166
2025 6,402,394 2,373,265
2024 6,441,421 2,402,306
2023 6,446,596 2,457,783
2022 6,465,097 2,528,654
2021 6,507,301 2,595,809
2020 6,550,696 2,635,130
2019 6,616,726 2,664,224
2018 6,710,798 2,707,203
2017 6,803,468 2,755,189
2016 6,894,139 2,803,186
2015 6,984,225 2,835,978
2014 7,073,572 2,857,815
2013 7,160,005 2,859,558
2012 7,305,888 2,860,324
2011 7,348,328 2,860,699
2010 7,395,599 2,862,354
2009 7,444,443 2,865,213
2008 7,492,561 2,868,833
2007 7,545,338 2,874,299
2006 7,601,022 2,880,967
2005 7,658,972 2,888,985
2004 7,716,860 2,896,023
2003 7,775,327 2,903,198
2002 7,837,161 2,911,385
2001 8,009,142 2,918,135
2000 8,170,172 2,924,668
1999 8,210,624 2,930,622
1998 8,256,786 2,935,227
1997 8,312,068 2,936,413
1996 8,362,826 2,947,293
1995 8,406,067 2,953,200
1994 8,443,591 2,966,745
1993 8,472,313 2,975,966
1992 8,540,164 2,980,965
1991 8,632,367 2,981,566
1990 8,718,289 2,977,912
1989 8,876,972 2,970,039
1988 8,981,446 2,948,891
1987 8,971,359 2,916,306
1986 8,958,171 2,883,057
1985 8,960,547 2,850,787
1984 8,960,679 2,820,518
1983 8,939,738 2,791,207
1982 8,917,457 2,763,101
1981 8,891,117 2,735,987
1980 8,861,535 2,708,675
1979 8,825,940 2,683,035
1978 8,814,032 2,656,211
1977 8,804,183 2,626,298
1976 8,758,599 2,596,491
1975 8,720,742 2,566,998
1974 8,678,745 2,538,164
1973 8,620,967 2,510,584
1972 8,576,200 2,484,742
1971 8,536,395 2,460,611
1970 8,489,574 2,437,590
1969 8,434,172 2,408,469
1968 8,369,603 2,373,073
1967 8,310,226 2,337,695
1966 8,258,057 2,301,871
1965 8,204,168 2,265,287
1964 8,144,340 2,228,000
1963 8,078,145 2,188,895
1962 8,012,946 2,147,227
1961 7,943,118 2,103,327
1960 7,867,374 2,058,020

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/moldova | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Moldova lost 77,781 people (a 2.7% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Moldova's population decreased by 462,020 people (a 16.5% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Moldova was ranked 134th in 2006 and ranked 145th 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 Moldova will decrease by 20.6% to 1,858,281 people and rank change from 145th to 150th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 38.4% in Moldova.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Moldova
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Moldova
2100 -0.72% -0.91%
2099 -0.71% -0.91%
2098 -0.71% -0.9%
2097 -0.7% -0.9%
2096 -0.68% -0.9%
2095 -0.69% -0.88%
2094 -0.68% -0.88%
2093 -0.68% -0.87%
2092 -0.67% -0.86%
2091 -0.67% -0.83%
2090 -0.68% -0.82%
2089 -0.69% -0.82%
2088 -0.7% -0.81%
2087 -0.72% -0.81%
2086 -0.74% -0.81%
2085 -0.75% -0.8%
2084 -0.76% -0.8%
2083 -0.78% -0.8%
2082 -0.79% -0.8%
2081 -0.83% -0.81%
2080 -0.85% -0.82%
2079 -0.86% -0.83%
2078 -0.87% -0.85%
2077 -0.88% -0.83%
2076 -0.9% -0.86%
2075 -0.93% -0.88%
2074 -0.94% -0.89%
2073 -0.94% -0.91%
2072 -0.95% -0.93%
2071 -0.97% -0.97%
2070 -0.97% -0.97%
2069 -0.97% -1.01%
2068 -0.99% -1.02%
2067 -0.99% -1.02%
2066 -1% -1.03%
2065 -0.99% -1.05%
2064 -0.98% -1.04%
2063 -0.97% -1.05%
2062 -0.98% -1.05%
2061 -0.97% -1.06%
2060 -0.95% -1.02%
2059 -0.93% -1.01%
2058 -0.93% -0.99%
2057 -0.92% -1%
2056 -0.92% -0.97%
2055 -0.91% -0.96%
2054 -0.91% -0.94%
2053 -0.89% -0.91%
2052 -0.89% -0.9%
2051 -0.89% -0.86%
2050 -0.89% -0.87%
2049 -0.88% -0.84%
2048 -0.89% -0.84%
2047 -0.88% -0.85%
2046 -0.88% -0.88%
2045 -0.89% -0.86%
2044 -0.89% -0.9%
2043 -0.89% -0.91%
2042 -0.91% -0.92%
2041 -0.91% -0.95%
2040 -0.92% -1%
2039 -0.9% -1%
2038 -0.91% -1.01%
2037 -0.91% -1.02%
2036 -0.89% -1.04%
2035 -0.88% -1.04%
2034 -0.88% -1.03%
2033 -0.86% -1.02%
2032 -0.86% -1.01%
2031 -0.85% -1.02%
2030 -0.82% -1.01%
2029 -0.8% -0.99%
2028 -0.77% -0.98%
2027 -0.73% -0.97%
2026 -0.67% -1.35%
2025 -0.61% -1.21%
2024 -0.08% -2.26%
2023 -0.29% -2.8%
2022 -0.65% -2.59%
2021 -0.66% -1.49%
2020 -1% -1.09%
2019 -1.4% -1.59%
2018 -1.36% -1.74%
2017 -1.32% -1.71%
2016 -1.29% -1.16%
2015 -1.26% -0.76%
2014 -1.21% -0.06%
2013 -2% -0.03%
2012 -0.58% -0.01%
2011 -0.64% -0.06%
2010 -0.66% -0.1%
2009 -0.64% -0.13%
2008 -0.7% -0.19%
2007 -0.73% -0.23%
2006 -0.76% -0.28%
2005 -0.75% -0.24%
2004 -0.75% -0.25%
2003 -0.79% -0.28%
2002 -2.15% -0.23%
2001 -1.97% -0.22%
2000 -0.49% -0.2%
1999 -0.56% -0.16%
1998 -0.67% -0.04%
1997 -0.61% -0.37%
1996 -0.51% -0.2%
1995 -0.44% -0.46%
1994 -0.34% -0.31%
1993 -0.79% -0.17%
1992 -1.07% -0.02%
1991 -0.99% 0.12%
1990 -1.79% 0.27%
1989 -1.16% 0.72%
1988 0.11% 1.12%
1987 0.15% 1.15%
1986 -0.03% 1.13%
1985 -0.001% 1.07%
1984 0.23% 1.05%
1983 0.25% 1.02%
1982 0.3% 0.99%
1981 0.33% 1.01%
1980 0.4% 0.96%
1979 0.14% 1.01%
1978 0.11% 1.14%
1977 0.52% 1.15%
1976 0.43% 1.15%
1975 0.48% 1.14%
1974 0.67% 1.1%
1973 0.52% 1.04%
1972 0.47% 0.98%
1971 0.55% 0.94%
1970 0.66% 1.21%
1969 0.77% 1.49%
1968 0.71% 1.51%
1967 0.63% 1.56%
1966 0.66% 1.61%
1965 0.73% 1.67%
1964 0.82% 1.79%
1963 0.81% 1.94%
1962 0.88% 2.09%
1961 0.96% 2.2%

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/moldova | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Moldova's population declined by 2.26%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Moldova
Current population
6359449
2341166
Population rank 112/197 145/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.03%
One net population change
1.69 hours
9.47 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
19.9 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
15.7 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 -152
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -55,477
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -2.26%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 196/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -29,766
Net migration rank 106/196 164/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 188,207
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 116/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 6.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 85/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Moldova
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Moldova
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -29,766
2024 - 524 - -27,088
2023 -43,837 5,173 -7,007 -18,570
2022 -62,065 26,498 -6,385 89,154
2021 -90,452 11,756 -13,444 -33,405
2020 -65,507 30,167 -7,067 -33,405
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -3,416 -41,233
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -961 -36,085
2017 -45,583 -6,109 1,402 -43,871
2016 -42,744 -9,482 4,580 -51,642
2015 -44,699 -4,227 6,049 -59,399
2014 -41,027 -2,180 7,248 -67,175
2013 -37,948 -1,324 3,537 -77,571
2012 -40,183 -26,334 5,581 -81,215
2011 -37,477 -23,360 5,948 -82,271
2010 -34,759 -21,668 7,456 -84,039
2009 -26,800 -19,060 7,492 -83,546
2008 -32,967 -17,595 5,210 -79,593
2007 -37,727 -16,366 3,490 -75,734
2006 -39,526 -15,184 2,406 -72,061
2005 -42,124 -14,435 2,005 -68,681
2004 -40,128 -13,604 1,714 -52,491
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -322 -46,947
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -1,249 -45,833
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -718 -45,043
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -324 -43,854
1999 -39,411 -23,846 642 -43,111
1998 -52,844 -23,262 2,140 -41,975
1997 -58,185 -22,963 4,669 -41,743
1996 -45,159 -21,520 2,655 -33,369
1995 -42,030 -22,020 5,534 -31,975
1994 -32,086 -20,984 9,921 -31,616
1993 -24,569 -19,973 13,886 -31,526
1992 -18,789 -120,552 17,373 -30,136
1991 -14,675 -119,356 21,127 -29,204
1990 -3,487 -116,817 25,824 -30,053
1989 5,326 -114,705 29,638 -29,307
1988 9,879 215 35,608 -4,989
1987 8,971 357 40,122 -10,796
1986 16,125 1,104 39,463 -8,769
1985 11,649 -19,230 38,060 -10,627
1984 20,610 -1,032 38,108 -12,732
1983 21,455 -1,872 36,076 -10,543
1982 24,077 -1,860 32,814 -8,412
1981 29,341 -1,830 31,360 -6,452
1980 30,129 -2,045 30,053 -3,693
1979 40,599 -872 28,322 -6,912
1978 44,070 -62,769 27,622 3,483
1977 47,543 -11,955 27,707 3,245
1976 56,055 -2,522 27,801 2,885
1975 54,941 -38,071 27,677 2,355
1974 64,223 -1,402 27,219 1,785
1973 57,760 -5,409 25,967 1,156
1972 47,169 -11,296 24,626 481
1971 52,925 -7,654 23,359 -61
1970 61,125 -11,315 22,314 606
1969 63,256 -3,204 21,768 20,561
1968 69,468 -132 22,005 19,830
1967 49,861 -420 22,654 19,175
1966 54,504 -144 23,720 18,601
1965 58,249 -1,406 24,916 18,066
1964 66,783 505 25,860 17,509
1963 66,241 500 29,382 16,816
1962 64,104 499 32,082 15,884
1961 75,460 378 35,180 14,818
1960 76,314 -1,112 36,352 13,697

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/moldova | 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 Moldova 6.04% is from natural causes (a loss of 19,001 people) and 94% is from migration (a loss of 295,631 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 188,207 people or 6.2% in Moldova.

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
Moldova
City Population
Chisinau 567K
Tiraspol 134K
Balti 91K
Bender 76.2K
Dubasari 28.5K
Ungheni 26.5K
Cahul 22.2K
Orhei 22.2K
Soroca 21.1K
Comrat 19.1K

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/moldova | 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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