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Population in Bulgaria compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 2.87 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Bulgaria vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Netherlands
2100 3,368,029 17,359,081
2099 3,392,444 17,392,412
2098 3,416,655 17,425,508
2097 3,440,938 17,459,827
2096 3,465,328 17,495,124
2095 3,489,216 17,532,593
2094 3,513,318 17,571,051
2093 3,537,356 17,610,792
2092 3,561,475 17,649,611
2091 3,585,597 17,688,532
2090 3,609,873 17,730,570
2089 3,634,642 17,770,380
2088 3,659,749 17,809,825
2087 3,685,668 17,845,820
2086 3,712,363 17,885,001
2085 3,739,898 17,921,302
2084 3,768,305 17,957,639
2083 3,797,217 17,994,232
2082 3,827,186 18,029,404
2081 3,857,721 18,063,233
2080 3,890,095 18,093,703
2079 3,923,403 18,124,294
2078 3,957,241 18,152,738
2077 3,992,168 18,181,372
2076 4,027,738 18,206,864
2075 4,064,356 18,227,791
2074 4,102,642 18,245,652
2073 4,141,518 18,263,765
2072 4,180,975 18,280,443
2071 4,221,261 18,295,700
2070 4,262,568 18,311,141
2069 4,304,304 18,326,509
2068 4,346,623 18,341,711
2067 4,389,924 18,356,770
2066 4,433,953 18,374,904
2065 4,478,521 18,396,018
2064 4,523,406 18,417,894
2063 4,568,385 18,441,434
2062 4,613,363 18,464,922
2061 4,658,825 18,492,436
2060 4,704,379 18,520,315
2059 4,749,738 18,548,786
2058 4,794,388 18,577,700
2057 4,839,236 18,608,370
2056 4,884,068 18,638,918
2055 4,929,309 18,666,514
2054 4,974,635 18,692,598
2053 5,020,162 18,718,268
2052 5,065,364 18,741,740
2051 5,110,833 18,768,309
2050 5,156,741 18,789,481
2049 5,202,941 18,809,886
2048 5,249,351 18,827,655
2047 5,296,642 18,844,635
2046 5,343,848 18,855,920
2045 5,391,354 18,867,286
2044 5,439,559 18,877,101
2043 5,488,407 18,882,735
2042 5,537,839 18,885,839
2041 5,588,510 18,885,255
2040 5,639,850 18,879,571
2039 5,692,028 18,870,248
2038 5,743,725 18,855,512
2037 5,796,645 18,837,172
2036 5,849,741 18,811,873
2035 5,902,025 18,783,312
2034 5,954,460 18,750,125
2033 6,007,050 18,708,101
2032 6,058,858 18,662,054
2031 6,111,118 18,609,452
2030 6,163,564 18,549,634
2029 6,214,784 18,481,269
2028 6,264,738 18,404,195
2027 6,313,255 18,320,644
2026 6,359,449 18,227,403
2025 6,402,394 18,118,662
2024 6,441,421 17,993,485
2023 6,446,596 17,877,117
2022 6,465,097 17,700,982
2021 6,507,301 17,533,044
2020 6,550,696 17,441,500
2019 6,616,726 17,344,874
2018 6,710,798 17,231,624
2017 6,803,468 17,131,296
2016 6,894,139 17,030,314
2015 6,984,225 16,939,923
2014 7,073,572 16,865,008
2013 7,160,005 16,804,432
2012 7,305,888 16,754,962
2011 7,348,328 16,693,074
2010 7,395,599 16,615,394
2009 7,444,443 16,530,388
2008 7,492,561 16,445,593
2007 7,545,338 16,381,696
2006 7,601,022 16,346,101
2005 7,658,972 16,319,868
2004 7,716,860 16,281,779
2003 7,775,327 16,225,302
2002 7,837,161 16,148,929
2001 8,009,142 16,046,180
2000 8,170,172 15,925,513
1999 8,210,624 15,812,088
1998 8,256,786 15,707,209
1997 8,312,068 15,610,650
1996 8,362,826 15,530,498
1995 8,406,067 15,459,006
1994 8,443,591 15,382,838
1993 8,472,313 15,290,368
1992 8,540,164 15,184,166
1991 8,632,367 15,069,798
1990 8,718,289 14,951,510
1989 8,876,972 14,848,907
1988 8,981,446 14,760,094
1987 8,971,359 14,665,037
1986 8,958,171 14,572,278
1985 8,960,547 14,491,632
1984 8,960,679 14,424,211
1983 8,939,738 14,367,070
1982 8,917,457 14,312,690
1981 8,891,117 14,247,208
1980 8,861,535 14,149,800
1979 8,825,940 14,038,270
1978 8,814,032 13,941,700
1977 8,804,183 13,856,185
1976 8,758,599 13,774,037
1975 8,720,742 13,666,335
1974 8,678,745 13,545,056
1973 8,620,967 13,439,322
1972 8,576,200 13,328,593
1971 8,536,395 13,194,497
1970 8,489,574 13,038,526
1969 8,434,172 12,877,984
1968 8,369,603 12,729,721
1967 8,310,226 12,598,201
1966 8,258,057 12,456,251
1965 8,204,168 12,294,732
1964 8,144,340 12,127,120
1963 8,078,145 11,965,966
1962 8,012,946 11,805,689
1961 7,943,118 11,638,712
1960 7,867,374 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

The Netherlands is projected to reach its peak in 2042 at 18.9M 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
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Netherlands
2100 -0.72% -0.19%
2099 -0.71% -0.19%
2098 -0.71% -0.2%
2097 -0.7% -0.2%
2096 -0.68% -0.21%
2095 -0.69% -0.22%
2094 -0.68% -0.23%
2093 -0.68% -0.22%
2092 -0.67% -0.22%
2091 -0.67% -0.24%
2090 -0.68% -0.22%
2089 -0.69% -0.22%
2088 -0.7% -0.2%
2087 -0.72% -0.22%
2086 -0.74% -0.2%
2085 -0.75% -0.2%
2084 -0.76% -0.2%
2083 -0.78% -0.2%
2082 -0.79% -0.19%
2081 -0.83% -0.17%
2080 -0.85% -0.17%
2079 -0.86% -0.16%
2078 -0.87% -0.16%
2077 -0.88% -0.14%
2076 -0.9% -0.11%
2075 -0.93% -0.1%
2074 -0.94% -0.1%
2073 -0.94% -0.09%
2072 -0.95% -0.08%
2071 -0.97% -0.08%
2070 -0.97% -0.08%
2069 -0.97% -0.08%
2068 -0.99% -0.08%
2067 -0.99% -0.1%
2066 -1% -0.11%
2065 -0.99% -0.12%
2064 -0.98% -0.13%
2063 -0.97% -0.13%
2062 -0.98% -0.15%
2061 -0.97% -0.15%
2060 -0.95% -0.15%
2059 -0.93% -0.16%
2058 -0.93% -0.16%
2057 -0.92% -0.16%
2056 -0.92% -0.15%
2055 -0.91% -0.14%
2054 -0.91% -0.14%
2053 -0.89% -0.13%
2052 -0.89% -0.14%
2051 -0.89% -0.11%
2050 -0.89% -0.11%
2049 -0.88% -0.09%
2048 -0.89% -0.09%
2047 -0.88% -0.06%
2046 -0.88% -0.06%
2045 -0.89% -0.05%
2044 -0.89% -0.03%
2043 -0.89% -0.02%
2042 -0.91% 0.003%
2041 -0.91% 0.03%
2040 -0.92% 0.05%
2039 -0.9% 0.08%
2038 -0.91% 0.1%
2037 -0.91% 0.13%
2036 -0.89% 0.15%
2035 -0.88% 0.18%
2034 -0.88% 0.22%
2033 -0.86% 0.25%
2032 -0.86% 0.28%
2031 -0.85% 0.32%
2030 -0.82% 0.37%
2029 -0.8% 0.42%
2028 -0.77% 0.46%
2027 -0.73% 0.51%
2026 -0.67% 0.6%
2025 -0.61% 0.7%
2024 -0.08% 0.65%
2023 -0.29% 1%
2022 -0.65% 0.96%
2021 -0.66% 0.52%
2020 -1% 0.56%
2019 -1.4% 0.66%
2018 -1.36% 0.59%
2017 -1.32% 0.59%
2016 -1.29% 0.53%
2015 -1.26% 0.44%
2014 -1.21% 0.36%
2013 -2% 0.3%
2012 -0.58% 0.37%
2011 -0.64% 0.47%
2010 -0.66% 0.51%
2009 -0.64% 0.52%
2008 -0.7% 0.39%
2007 -0.73% 0.22%
2006 -0.76% 0.16%
2005 -0.75% 0.23%
2004 -0.75% 0.35%
2003 -0.79% 0.47%
2002 -2.15% 0.64%
2001 -1.97% 0.76%
2000 -0.49% 0.72%
1999 -0.56% 0.67%
1998 -0.67% 0.62%
1997 -0.61% 0.52%
1996 -0.51% 0.46%
1995 -0.44% 0.5%
1994 -0.34% 0.6%
1993 -0.79% 0.7%
1992 -1.07% 0.76%
1991 -0.99% 0.79%
1990 -1.79% 0.69%
1989 -1.16% 0.6%
1988 0.11% 0.65%
1987 0.15% 0.64%
1986 -0.03% 0.56%
1985 -0.001% 0.47%
1984 0.23% 0.4%
1983 0.25% 0.38%
1982 0.3% 0.46%
1981 0.33% 0.69%
1980 0.4% 0.79%
1979 0.14% 0.69%
1978 0.11% 0.62%
1977 0.52% 0.6%
1976 0.43% 0.79%
1975 0.48% 0.9%
1974 0.67% 0.79%
1973 0.52% 0.83%
1972 0.47% 1.02%
1971 0.55% 1.2%
1970 0.66% 1.25%
1969 0.77% 1.16%
1968 0.71% 1.04%
1967 0.63% 1.14%
1966 0.66% 1.31%
1965 0.73% 1.38%
1964 0.82% 1.35%
1963 0.81% 1.36%
1962 0.88% 1.43%
1961 0.96% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Netherlands
Current population
6359449
18252623
Population rank 112/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.22%
One net population change
1.69 hours
4.52 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
3.2 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +319
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 121/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +104,681
Net migration rank 106/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 104,681
2024 - 524 - 121,628
2023 -43,837 5,173 -5,363 144,558
2022 -62,065 26,498 -1,770 224,472
2021 -90,452 11,756 7,014 106,416
2020 -65,507 30,167 0 67,598
2019 -46,317 -2,156 17,345 109,003
2018 -46,304 -3,873 15,508 87,197
2017 -45,583 -6,109 18,844 86,332
2016 -42,744 -9,482 23,843 88,743
2015 -44,699 -4,227 23,716 55,585
2014 -41,027 -2,180 35,417 36,591
2013 -37,948 -1,324 30,248 19,973
2012 -40,183 -26,334 35,186 14,861
2011 -37,477 -23,360 45,072 31,224
2010 -34,759 -21,668 48,184 33,703
2009 -26,800 -19,060 51,244 39,832
2008 -32,967 -17,595 49,337 32,406
2007 -37,727 -16,366 49,145 -304
2006 -39,526 -15,184 49,038 -25,401
2005 -42,124 -14,435 50,592 -22,496
2004 -40,128 -13,604 56,987 -9,230
2003 -44,319 -13,183 58,411 7,937
2002 -46,240 -12,735 59,751 28,824
2001 -44,050 -30,726 62,580 56,096
2000 -41,668 -26,211 66,887 59,308
1999 -39,411 -23,846 60,086 47,179
1998 -52,844 -23,262 61,258 52,058
1997 -58,185 -22,963 56,198 31,302
1996 -45,159 -21,520 51,251 21,792
1995 -42,030 -22,020 54,106 15,056
1994 -32,086 -20,984 61,532 20,193
1993 -24,569 -19,973 58,103 44,514
1992 -18,789 -120,552 66,811 50,148
1991 -14,675 -119,356 69,321 51,670
1990 -3,487 -116,817 68,777 53,564
1989 5,326 -114,705 59,396 31,165
1988 9,879 215 61,993 31,026
1987 8,971 357 64,526 39,559
1986 16,125 1,104 59,746 30,380
1985 11,649 -19,230 55,069 27,356
1984 20,610 -1,032 54,812 12,902
1983 21,455 -1,872 51,722 11,007
1982 24,077 -1,860 54,388 7,644
1981 29,341 -1,830 62,688 17,643
1980 30,129 -2,045 66,504 54,010
1979 40,599 -872 63,172 42,772
1978 44,070 -62,769 61,344 26,639
1977 47,543 -11,955 63,739 19,809
1976 56,055 -2,522 63,361 18,774
1975 54,941 -38,071 64,232 68,569
1974 64,223 -1,402 75,853 31,645
1973 57,760 -5,409 84,668 18,705
1972 47,169 -11,296 101,297 17,470
1971 52,925 -7,654 116,112 32,756
1970 61,125 -11,315 129,082 32,438
1969 63,256 -3,204 139,082 21,850
1968 69,468 -132 132,389 7,243
1967 49,861 -420 138,580 -10,673
1966 54,504 -144 138,265 20,740
1965 58,249 -1,406 146,308 19,444
1964 66,783 505 157,653 15,014
1963 66,241 500 154,361 -21
1962 64,104 499 153,474 18,024
1961 75,460 378 159,450 8,258
1960 76,314 -1,112 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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