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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 18,087,633 people in the Netherlands in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 18,243,998 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 2.86 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 -0.86% per year vs +0.64% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.2M (11.6% growth).

Bulgaria vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Netherlands
2100 3,384,288 17,329,352
2099 3,408,821 17,362,626
2098 3,433,149 17,395,665
2097 3,457,549 17,429,925
2096 3,482,057 17,465,162
2095 3,506,060 17,502,567
2094 3,530,278 17,540,959
2093 3,554,432 17,580,632
2092 3,578,667 17,619,384
2091 3,602,907 17,658,238
2090 3,627,300 17,700,204
2089 3,652,188 17,739,947
2088 3,677,416 17,779,324
2087 3,703,460 17,815,257
2086 3,730,284 17,854,371
2085 3,757,953 17,890,610
2084 3,786,496 17,926,885
2083 3,815,548 17,963,416
2082 3,845,662 17,998,527
2081 3,876,344 18,032,297
2080 3,908,874 18,062,716
2079 3,942,344 18,093,254
2078 3,976,345 18,121,649
2077 4,011,440 18,150,234
2076 4,047,182 18,175,683
2075 4,083,977 18,196,574
2074 4,122,447 18,214,405
2073 4,161,511 18,232,486
2072 4,201,158 18,249,136
2071 4,241,639 18,264,367
2070 4,283,145 18,279,781
2069 4,325,083 18,295,123
2068 4,367,606 18,310,300
2067 4,411,116 18,325,333
2066 4,455,358 18,343,435
2065 4,500,141 18,364,513
2064 4,545,243 18,386,352
2063 4,590,439 18,409,851
2062 4,635,634 18,433,299
2061 4,681,315 18,460,766
2060 4,727,089 18,488,598
2059 4,772,667 18,517,020
2058 4,817,532 18,545,884
2057 4,862,597 18,576,502
2056 4,907,646 18,606,997
2055 4,953,105 18,634,546
2054 4,998,650 18,660,585
2053 5,044,397 18,686,212
2052 5,089,817 18,709,643
2051 5,135,505 18,736,166
2050 5,181,635 18,757,302
2049 5,228,058 18,777,673
2048 5,274,692 18,795,411
2047 5,322,212 18,812,362
2046 5,369,645 18,823,628
2045 5,417,381 18,834,974
2044 5,465,818 18,844,772
2043 5,514,902 18,850,396
2042 5,564,573 18,853,495
2041 5,615,489 18,852,912
2040 5,667,076 18,847,238
2039 5,719,506 18,837,931
2038 5,771,452 18,823,220
2037 5,824,628 18,804,912
2036 5,877,980 18,779,656
2035 5,930,517 18,751,144
2034 5,983,205 18,718,013
2033 6,036,049 18,676,061
2032 6,088,107 18,630,094
2031 6,140,619 18,577,582
2030 6,193,318 18,517,866
2029 6,244,785 18,449,618
2028 6,294,981 18,372,676
2027 6,343,732 18,289,268
2026 6,390,149 18,196,186
2025 6,433,302 18,087,633
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,213,684 people (a 7.13% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of the Netherlands will increase by 2.81% to 18,757,302 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 3.38M 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 -0.13% 0.52%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.52%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Netherlands
Current population
6390149
18243998
Population rank 112/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.22%
One net population change
1.08 hours
5.6 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
3.18 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
3.04 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +258
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +94,148
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +0.52%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 127/197
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 -47,023 524 -7,197 121,628
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 7.77% is from natural causes (a gain of 91,940 people) and 92.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,091,532 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/netherlands | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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