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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 6,916,140 people in Nicaragua in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 7,124,343 in Nicaragua.

Population statistics:

  • Nicaragua's population is 1.12 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Nicaragua is the 107th.
  • The countries together account for 0.16% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.09% for Nicaragua.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.33% in Nicaragua.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Nicaragua has grown from 5.42M to 7.12M (31.5% growth).

Bulgaria vs Nicaragua: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Nicaragua
2100 3,368,029 8,688,116
2099 3,392,444 8,724,538
2098 3,416,655 8,760,232
2097 3,440,938 8,794,755
2096 3,465,328 8,828,433
2095 3,489,216 8,861,157
2094 3,513,318 8,892,755
2093 3,537,356 8,924,287
2092 3,561,475 8,954,488
2091 3,585,597 8,984,026
2090 3,609,873 9,012,075
2089 3,634,642 9,039,709
2088 3,659,749 9,065,862
2087 3,685,668 9,090,942
2086 3,712,363 9,115,336
2085 3,739,898 9,138,363
2084 3,768,305 9,160,205
2083 3,797,217 9,180,483
2082 3,827,186 9,199,639
2081 3,857,721 9,217,574
2080 3,890,095 9,233,677
2079 3,923,403 9,247,995
2078 3,957,241 9,260,269
2077 3,992,168 9,271,296
2076 4,027,738 9,280,355
2075 4,064,356 9,287,263
2074 4,102,642 9,293,340
2073 4,141,518 9,297,217
2072 4,180,975 9,298,930
2071 4,221,261 9,298,548
2070 4,262,568 9,296,541
2069 4,304,304 9,292,245
2068 4,346,623 9,285,519
2067 4,389,924 9,277,073
2066 4,433,953 9,266,063
2065 4,478,521 9,253,359
2064 4,523,406 9,238,451
2063 4,568,385 9,221,261
2062 4,613,363 9,201,687
2061 4,658,825 9,180,231
2060 4,704,379 9,156,164
2059 4,749,738 9,129,485
2058 4,794,388 9,100,437
2057 4,839,236 9,069,770
2056 4,884,068 9,037,076
2055 4,929,309 9,002,004
2054 4,974,635 8,964,646
2053 5,020,162 8,925,248
2052 5,065,364 8,883,323
2051 5,110,833 8,838,651
2050 5,156,741 8,791,647
2049 5,202,941 8,743,003
2048 5,249,351 8,691,701
2047 5,296,642 8,638,293
2046 5,343,848 8,583,244
2045 5,391,354 8,525,953
2044 5,439,559 8,466,669
2043 5,488,407 8,405,733
2042 5,537,839 8,342,871
2041 5,588,510 8,278,159
2040 5,639,850 8,211,510
2039 5,692,028 8,143,346
2038 5,743,725 8,072,943
2037 5,796,645 8,000,701
2036 5,849,741 7,926,969
2035 5,902,025 7,851,540
2034 5,954,460 7,774,327
2033 6,007,050 7,695,506
2032 6,058,858 7,615,273
2031 6,111,118 7,533,169
2030 6,163,564 7,449,842
2029 6,214,784 7,364,850
2028 6,264,738 7,278,061
2027 6,313,255 7,189,755
2026 6,359,449 7,100,090
2025 6,402,394 7,008,896
2024 6,441,421 6,916,140
2023 6,446,596 6,823,613
2022 6,465,097 6,730,654
2021 6,507,301 6,644,741
2020 6,550,696 6,565,267
2019 6,616,726 6,483,657
2018 6,710,798 6,400,080
2017 6,803,468 6,316,231
2016 6,894,139 6,232,666
2015 6,984,225 6,149,417
2014 7,073,572 6,066,492
2013 7,160,005 5,983,845
2012 7,305,888 5,901,287
2011 7,348,328 5,819,051
2010 7,395,599 5,737,450
2009 7,444,443 5,656,601
2008 7,492,561 5,576,593
2007 7,545,338 5,497,243
2006 7,601,022 5,418,855
2005 7,658,972 5,342,105
2004 7,716,860 5,272,912
2003 7,775,327 5,210,963
2002 7,837,161 5,149,909
2001 8,009,142 5,087,825
2000 8,170,172 5,022,633
1999 8,210,624 4,954,018
1998 8,256,786 4,883,655
1997 8,312,068 4,809,573
1996 8,362,826 4,729,974
1995 8,406,067 4,642,931
1994 8,443,591 4,549,316
1993 8,472,313 4,453,732
1992 8,540,164 4,357,026
1991 8,632,367 4,259,637
1990 8,718,289 4,162,559
1989 8,876,972 4,066,476
1988 8,981,446 3,972,320
1987 8,971,359 3,882,164
1986 8,958,171 3,794,157
1985 8,960,547 3,706,479
1984 8,960,679 3,619,104
1983 8,939,738 3,530,282
1982 8,917,457 3,438,745
1981 8,891,117 3,345,674
1980 8,861,535 3,252,403
1979 8,825,940 3,164,525
1978 8,814,032 3,080,314
1977 8,804,183 2,992,534
1976 8,758,599 2,903,851
1975 8,720,742 2,816,943
1974 8,678,745 2,732,075
1973 8,620,967 2,649,278
1972 8,576,200 2,573,578
1971 8,536,395 2,499,825
1970 8,489,574 2,423,065
1969 8,434,172 2,348,398
1968 8,369,603 2,275,836
1967 8,310,226 2,205,567
1966 8,258,057 2,137,820
1965 8,204,168 2,072,681
1964 8,144,340 2,010,176
1963 8,078,145 1,950,159
1962 8,012,946 1,892,320
1961 7,943,118 1,836,451
1960 7,867,374 1,782,370

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/nicaragua | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Nicaragua gained 813,811 people (a 15% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Nicaragua's population increased by 891,677 people (a 14.3% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Nicaragua was ranked 109th in 2006 and ranked 107th 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 Nicaragua will increase by 23.4% to 8,791,647 people and rank change from 107th to 108th.

Nicaragua is projected to reach its peak in 2072 at 9.3M 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
Nicaragua
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Nicaragua
2100 -0.72% -0.42%
2099 -0.71% -0.41%
2098 -0.71% -0.39%
2097 -0.7% -0.38%
2096 -0.68% -0.37%
2095 -0.69% -0.36%
2094 -0.68% -0.35%
2093 -0.68% -0.34%
2092 -0.67% -0.33%
2091 -0.67% -0.31%
2090 -0.68% -0.31%
2089 -0.69% -0.29%
2088 -0.7% -0.28%
2087 -0.72% -0.27%
2086 -0.74% -0.25%
2085 -0.75% -0.24%
2084 -0.76% -0.22%
2083 -0.78% -0.21%
2082 -0.79% -0.19%
2081 -0.83% -0.17%
2080 -0.85% -0.15%
2079 -0.86% -0.13%
2078 -0.87% -0.12%
2077 -0.88% -0.1%
2076 -0.9% -0.07%
2075 -0.93% -0.07%
2074 -0.94% -0.04%
2073 -0.94% -0.02%
2072 -0.95% 0.004%
2071 -0.97% 0.02%
2070 -0.97% 0.05%
2069 -0.97% 0.07%
2068 -0.99% 0.09%
2067 -0.99% 0.12%
2066 -1% 0.14%
2065 -0.99% 0.16%
2064 -0.98% 0.19%
2063 -0.97% 0.21%
2062 -0.98% 0.23%
2061 -0.97% 0.26%
2060 -0.95% 0.29%
2059 -0.93% 0.32%
2058 -0.93% 0.34%
2057 -0.92% 0.36%
2056 -0.92% 0.39%
2055 -0.91% 0.42%
2054 -0.91% 0.44%
2053 -0.89% 0.47%
2052 -0.89% 0.51%
2051 -0.89% 0.53%
2050 -0.89% 0.56%
2049 -0.88% 0.59%
2048 -0.89% 0.62%
2047 -0.88% 0.64%
2046 -0.88% 0.67%
2045 -0.89% 0.7%
2044 -0.89% 0.72%
2043 -0.89% 0.75%
2042 -0.91% 0.78%
2041 -0.91% 0.81%
2040 -0.92% 0.84%
2039 -0.9% 0.87%
2038 -0.91% 0.9%
2037 -0.91% 0.93%
2036 -0.89% 0.96%
2035 -0.88% 0.99%
2034 -0.88% 1.02%
2033 -0.86% 1.05%
2032 -0.86% 1.09%
2031 -0.85% 1.12%
2030 -0.82% 1.15%
2029 -0.8% 1.19%
2028 -0.77% 1.23%
2027 -0.73% 1.26%
2026 -0.67% 1.3%
2025 -0.61% 1.34%
2024 -0.08% 1.36%
2023 -0.29% 1.38%
2022 -0.65% 1.29%
2021 -0.66% 1.21%
2020 -1% 1.26%
2019 -1.4% 1.31%
2018 -1.36% 1.33%
2017 -1.32% 1.34%
2016 -1.29% 1.35%
2015 -1.26% 1.37%
2014 -1.21% 1.38%
2013 -2% 1.4%
2012 -0.58% 1.41%
2011 -0.64% 1.42%
2010 -0.66% 1.43%
2009 -0.64% 1.43%
2008 -0.7% 1.44%
2007 -0.73% 1.45%
2006 -0.76% 1.44%
2005 -0.75% 1.31%
2004 -0.75% 1.19%
2003 -0.79% 1.19%
2002 -2.15% 1.22%
2001 -1.97% 1.3%
2000 -0.49% 1.39%
1999 -0.56% 1.44%
1998 -0.67% 1.54%
1997 -0.61% 1.68%
1996 -0.51% 1.87%
1995 -0.44% 2.06%
1994 -0.34% 2.15%
1993 -0.79% 2.22%
1992 -1.07% 2.29%
1991 -0.99% 2.33%
1990 -1.79% 2.36%
1989 -1.16% 2.37%
1988 0.11% 2.32%
1987 0.15% 2.32%
1986 -0.03% 2.37%
1985 -0.001% 2.41%
1984 0.23% 2.52%
1983 0.25% 2.66%
1982 0.3% 2.78%
1981 0.33% 2.87%
1980 0.4% 2.78%
1979 0.14% 2.73%
1978 0.11% 2.93%
1977 0.52% 3.05%
1976 0.43% 3.09%
1975 0.48% 3.11%
1974 0.67% 3.13%
1973 0.52% 2.94%
1972 0.47% 2.95%
1971 0.55% 3.17%
1970 0.66% 3.18%
1969 0.77% 3.19%
1968 0.71% 3.19%
1967 0.63% 3.17%
1966 0.66% 3.14%
1965 0.73% 3.11%
1964 0.82% 3.08%
1963 0.81% 3.06%
1962 0.88% 3.04%
1961 0.96% 3.03%

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/nicaragua | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Nicaragua's population grew by 1.36%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Nicaragua
Current population
6359449
7124343
Population rank 112/197 107/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.09%
One net population change
1.69 hours
5.68 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
3.98 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
16.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +253
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +92,527
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.36%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 78/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.05 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -8,371
Net migration rank 106/196 129/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 43,757
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 154/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 172/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Nicaragua
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Nicaragua
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -8,371
2024 - 524 - -8,189
2023 -43,837 5,173 100,921 -7,996
2022 -62,065 26,498 100,987 -7,996
2021 -90,452 11,756 89,213 -10,383
2020 -65,507 30,167 90,515 -10,383
2019 -46,317 -2,156 102,817 -19,730
2018 -46,304 -3,873 104,814 -20,742
2017 -45,583 -6,109 105,468 -21,849
2016 -42,744 -9,482 106,585 -23,076
2015 -44,699 -4,227 107,344 -24,353
2014 -41,027 -2,180 108,420 -25,570
2013 -37,948 -1,324 109,032 -26,587
2012 -40,183 -26,334 110,065 -27,389
2011 -37,477 -23,360 110,026 -28,221
2010 -34,759 -21,668 110,475 -29,081
2009 -26,800 -19,060 110,213 -29,913
2008 -32,967 -17,595 110,395 -30,675
2007 -37,727 -16,366 110,341 -31,357
2006 -39,526 -15,184 110,073 -32,274
2005 -42,124 -14,435 108,984 -33,280
2004 -40,128 -13,604 106,904 -44,222
2003 -44,319 -13,183 106,142 -44,931
2002 -46,240 -12,735 105,805 -44,906
2001 -44,050 -30,726 107,109 -43,837
2000 -41,668 -26,211 109,192 -42,087
1999 -39,411 -23,846 110,217 -40,095
1998 -52,844 -23,262 108,862 -38,260
1997 -58,185 -22,963 114,415 -36,851
1996 -45,159 -21,520 116,849 -35,208
1995 -42,030 -22,020 118,325 -25,889
1994 -32,086 -20,984 119,565 -24,773
1993 -24,569 -19,973 120,469 -24,091
1992 -18,789 -120,552 121,204 -24,171
1991 -14,675 -119,356 121,787 -24,028
1990 -3,487 -116,817 120,677 -24,280
1989 5,326 -114,705 120,128 -24,364
1988 9,879 215 117,299 -24,753
1987 8,971 357 112,885 -25,127
1986 16,125 1,104 113,054 -24,805
1985 11,649 -19,230 110,949 -23,840
1984 20,610 -1,032 110,133 -22,493
1983 21,455 -1,872 110,618 -20,620
1982 24,077 -1,860 112,468 -19,395
1981 29,341 -1,830 110,421 -17,353
1980 30,129 -2,045 108,604 -15,130
1979 40,599 -872 96,429 -14,152
1978 44,070 -62,769 98,419 -12,273
1977 47,543 -11,955 100,498 -11,082
1976 56,055 -2,522 98,100 -10,155
1975 54,941 -38,071 95,230 -9,349
1974 64,223 -1,402 92,505 -8,639
1973 57,760 -5,409 89,662 -7,947
1972 47,169 -11,296 76,906 -7,219
1971 52,925 -7,654 84,139 -6,328
1970 61,125 -11,315 81,127 -5,423
1969 63,256 -3,204 78,237 -4,592
1968 69,468 -132 75,458 -3,979
1967 49,861 -420 72,722 -3,666
1966 54,504 -144 69,883 -3,443
1965 58,249 -1,406 67,056 -3,231
1964 66,783 505 64,227 -3,043
1963 66,241 500 61,738 -2,881
1962 64,104 499 59,547 -2,727
1961 75,460 378 57,499 -2,579
1960 76,314 -1,112 55,664 -2,418

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/nicaragua | 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 Nicaragua 85.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,017,084 people) and 14.5% is from migration (a loss of 172,078 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 43,757 people or 0.6% in Nicaragua.

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
Nicaragua
City Population
Managua 937K
Leon 174K
Masaya 140K
Matagalpa 133K
Chinandega 122K
Esteli 112K
Granada 105K
Jinotega 99.4K
Juigalpa 51.8K
San Juan del Sur 14.7K

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/nicaragua | 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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