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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 232,679,478 people in Nigeria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 243,824,469 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 38.3 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.02% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 2.94% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +2.31% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 244M (63.6% growth).

Bulgaria vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Nigeria
2100 3,368,029 481,678,166
2099 3,392,444 481,494,914
2098 3,416,655 481,219,866
2097 3,440,938 480,876,108
2096 3,465,328 480,460,381
2095 3,489,216 479,976,454
2094 3,513,318 479,432,855
2093 3,537,356 478,807,152
2092 3,561,475 478,097,591
2091 3,585,597 477,274,569
2090 3,609,873 476,367,086
2089 3,634,642 475,363,859
2088 3,659,749 474,268,867
2087 3,685,668 473,072,894
2086 3,712,363 471,769,229
2085 3,739,898 470,365,292
2084 3,768,305 468,843,169
2083 3,797,217 467,224,322
2082 3,827,186 465,509,151
2081 3,857,721 463,679,779
2080 3,890,095 461,741,930
2079 3,923,403 459,680,797
2078 3,957,241 457,513,367
2077 3,992,168 455,254,796
2076 4,027,738 452,885,729
2075 4,064,356 450,402,898
2074 4,102,642 447,825,224
2073 4,141,518 445,152,156
2072 4,180,975 442,375,349
2071 4,221,261 439,499,004
2070 4,262,568 436,539,777
2069 4,304,304 433,472,204
2068 4,346,623 430,320,190
2067 4,389,924 427,066,199
2066 4,433,953 423,736,078
2065 4,478,521 420,318,527
2064 4,523,406 416,811,285
2063 4,568,385 413,231,409
2062 4,613,363 409,583,480
2061 4,658,825 405,859,509
2060 4,704,379 402,073,494
2059 4,749,738 398,228,736
2058 4,794,388 394,315,883
2057 4,839,236 390,341,867
2056 4,884,068 386,298,064
2055 4,929,309 382,193,151
2054 4,974,635 378,030,342
2053 5,020,162 373,799,276
2052 5,065,364 369,501,634
2051 5,110,833 365,149,555
2050 5,156,741 360,734,783
2049 5,202,941 356,271,401
2048 5,249,351 351,752,501
2047 5,296,642 347,169,674
2046 5,343,848 342,532,578
2045 5,391,354 337,834,528
2044 5,439,559 333,076,416
2043 5,488,407 328,256,555
2042 5,537,839 323,388,886
2041 5,588,510 318,469,120
2040 5,639,850 313,492,800
2039 5,692,028 308,474,350
2038 5,743,725 303,423,786
2037 5,796,645 298,351,344
2036 5,849,741 293,250,795
2035 5,902,025 288,138,368
2034 5,954,460 283,018,151
2033 6,007,050 277,897,810
2032 6,058,858 272,769,123
2031 6,111,118 267,666,779
2030 6,163,564 262,583,487
2029 6,214,784 257,504,936
2028 6,264,738 252,465,743
2027 6,313,255 247,457,208
2026 6,359,449 242,477,499
2025 6,402,394 237,546,527
2024 6,441,421 232,679,478
2023 6,446,596 227,882,945
2022 6,465,097 223,150,896
2021 6,507,301 218,529,286
2020 6,550,696 213,996,181
2019 6,616,726 209,485,641
2018 6,710,798 204,938,755
2017 6,803,468 200,254,579
2016 6,894,139 195,443,700
2015 6,984,225 190,671,878
2014 7,073,572 185,896,915
2013 7,160,005 181,049,443
2012 7,305,888 176,200,625
2011 7,348,328 171,379,598
2010 7,395,599 166,642,886
2009 7,444,443 162,049,464
2008 7,492,561 157,595,014
2007 7,545,338 153,267,261
2006 7,601,022 149,077,334
2005 7,658,972 145,017,253
2004 7,716,860 141,057,045
2003 7,775,327 137,202,644
2002 7,837,161 133,471,989
2001 8,009,142 129,862,595
2000 8,170,172 126,382,494
1999 8,210,624 123,047,320
1998 8,256,786 119,846,254
1997 8,312,068 116,754,792
1996 8,362,826 113,754,779
1995 8,406,067 110,819,428
1994 8,443,591 107,935,714
1993 8,472,313 105,122,069
1992 8,540,164 102,372,770
1991 8,632,367 99,720,162
1990 8,718,289 97,120,925
1989 8,876,972 94,531,014
1988 8,981,446 92,020,090
1987 8,971,359 89,591,716
1986 8,958,171 87,235,953
1985 8,960,547 84,897,973
1984 8,960,679 82,526,443
1983 8,939,738 80,438,260
1982 8,917,457 78,378,701
1981 8,891,117 76,068,103
1980 8,861,535 73,764,641
1979 8,825,940 71,498,242
1978 8,814,032 69,326,532
1977 8,804,183 67,234,590
1976 8,758,599 65,258,009
1975 8,720,742 63,410,815
1974 8,678,745 61,679,144
1973 8,620,967 60,082,139
1972 8,576,200 58,601,748
1971 8,536,395 57,214,684
1970 8,489,574 55,893,838
1969 8,434,172 54,631,914
1968 8,369,603 53,432,783
1967 8,310,226 52,293,065
1966 8,258,057 51,188,234
1965 8,204,168 50,086,764
1964 8,144,340 49,012,016
1963 8,078,145 47,973,575
1962 8,012,946 46,965,292
1961 7,943,118 45,989,310
1960 7,867,374 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Nigeria's population increased by 48,380,769 people (a 24.8% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.9% to 360,734,783 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Nigeria is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 482M 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
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Nigeria
2100 -0.72% 0.04%
2099 -0.71% 0.06%
2098 -0.71% 0.07%
2097 -0.7% 0.09%
2096 -0.68% 0.1%
2095 -0.69% 0.11%
2094 -0.68% 0.13%
2093 -0.68% 0.15%
2092 -0.67% 0.17%
2091 -0.67% 0.19%
2090 -0.68% 0.21%
2089 -0.69% 0.23%
2088 -0.7% 0.25%
2087 -0.72% 0.28%
2086 -0.74% 0.3%
2085 -0.75% 0.32%
2084 -0.76% 0.35%
2083 -0.78% 0.37%
2082 -0.79% 0.39%
2081 -0.83% 0.42%
2080 -0.85% 0.45%
2079 -0.86% 0.47%
2078 -0.87% 0.5%
2077 -0.88% 0.52%
2076 -0.9% 0.55%
2075 -0.93% 0.58%
2074 -0.94% 0.6%
2073 -0.94% 0.63%
2072 -0.95% 0.65%
2071 -0.97% 0.68%
2070 -0.97% 0.71%
2069 -0.97% 0.73%
2068 -0.99% 0.76%
2067 -0.99% 0.79%
2066 -1% 0.81%
2065 -0.99% 0.84%
2064 -0.98% 0.87%
2063 -0.97% 0.89%
2062 -0.98% 0.92%
2061 -0.97% 0.94%
2060 -0.95% 0.97%
2059 -0.93% 0.99%
2058 -0.93% 1.02%
2057 -0.92% 1.05%
2056 -0.92% 1.07%
2055 -0.91% 1.1%
2054 -0.91% 1.13%
2053 -0.89% 1.16%
2052 -0.89% 1.19%
2051 -0.89% 1.22%
2050 -0.89% 1.25%
2049 -0.88% 1.28%
2048 -0.89% 1.32%
2047 -0.88% 1.35%
2046 -0.88% 1.39%
2045 -0.89% 1.43%
2044 -0.89% 1.47%
2043 -0.89% 1.51%
2042 -0.91% 1.54%
2041 -0.91% 1.59%
2040 -0.92% 1.63%
2039 -0.9% 1.66%
2038 -0.91% 1.7%
2037 -0.91% 1.74%
2036 -0.89% 1.77%
2035 -0.88% 1.81%
2034 -0.88% 1.84%
2033 -0.86% 1.88%
2032 -0.86% 1.91%
2031 -0.85% 1.94%
2030 -0.82% 1.97%
2029 -0.8% 2%
2028 -0.77% 2.02%
2027 -0.73% 2.05%
2026 -0.67% 2.08%
2025 -0.61% 2.09%
2024 -0.08% 2.1%
2023 -0.29% 2.12%
2022 -0.65% 2.11%
2021 -0.66% 2.12%
2020 -1% 2.15%
2019 -1.4% 2.22%
2018 -1.36% 2.34%
2017 -1.32% 2.46%
2016 -1.29% 2.5%
2015 -1.26% 2.57%
2014 -1.21% 2.68%
2013 -2% 2.75%
2012 -0.58% 2.81%
2011 -0.64% 2.84%
2010 -0.66% 2.83%
2009 -0.64% 2.83%
2008 -0.7% 2.82%
2007 -0.73% 2.81%
2006 -0.76% 2.8%
2005 -0.75% 2.81%
2004 -0.75% 2.81%
2003 -0.79% 2.8%
2002 -2.15% 2.78%
2001 -1.97% 2.75%
2000 -0.49% 2.71%
1999 -0.56% 2.67%
1998 -0.67% 2.65%
1997 -0.61% 2.64%
1996 -0.51% 2.65%
1995 -0.44% 2.67%
1994 -0.34% 2.68%
1993 -0.79% 2.69%
1992 -1.07% 2.66%
1991 -0.99% 2.68%
1990 -1.79% 2.74%
1989 -1.16% 2.73%
1988 0.11% 2.71%
1987 0.15% 2.7%
1986 -0.03% 2.75%
1985 -0.001% 2.87%
1984 0.23% 2.6%
1983 0.25% 2.63%
1982 0.3% 3.04%
1981 0.33% 3.12%
1980 0.4% 3.17%
1979 0.14% 3.13%
1978 0.11% 3.11%
1977 0.52% 3.03%
1976 0.43% 2.91%
1975 0.48% 2.81%
1974 0.67% 2.66%
1973 0.52% 2.53%
1972 0.47% 2.42%
1971 0.55% 2.36%
1970 0.66% 2.31%
1969 0.77% 2.24%
1968 0.71% 2.18%
1967 0.63% 2.16%
1966 0.66% 2.2%
1965 0.73% 2.19%
1964 0.82% 2.16%
1963 0.81% 2.15%
1962 0.88% 2.12%
1961 0.96% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.1%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Nigeria
Current population
6359449
243824469
Population rank 112/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 2.94%
One net population change
1.69 hours
6.58 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
4.2 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
11.8 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 +13,141
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +4,796,533
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.1%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 48/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -15,258
Net migration rank 106/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -15,258
2024 - 524 - -35,202
2023 -43,837 5,173 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 -62,065 26,498 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 -90,452 11,756 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 -65,507 30,167 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 -46,317 -2,156 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 -46,304 -3,873 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 -45,583 -6,109 4,706,183 78,685
2016 -42,744 -9,482 4,761,594 75,265
2015 -44,699 -4,227 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 -41,027 -2,180 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 -37,948 -1,324 4,811,751 40,201
2012 -40,183 -26,334 4,774,508 71,138
2011 -37,477 -23,360 4,728,363 67,808
2010 -34,759 -21,668 4,629,173 47,966
2009 -26,800 -19,060 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 -32,967 -17,595 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 -37,727 -16,366 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 -39,526 -15,184 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 -42,124 -14,435 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 -40,128 -13,604 3,877,376 46,370
2003 -44,319 -13,183 3,751,120 33,857
2002 -46,240 -12,735 3,606,814 69,594
2001 -44,050 -30,726 3,478,370 64,163
2000 -41,668 -26,211 3,343,196 74,535
1999 -39,411 -23,846 3,155,425 97,195
1998 -52,844 -23,262 3,003,946 145,575
1997 -58,185 -22,963 2,936,500 96,885
1996 -45,159 -21,520 2,882,205 84,448
1995 -42,030 -22,020 2,830,771 73,243
1994 -32,086 -20,984 2,735,198 128,134
1993 -24,569 -19,973 2,673,675 90,200
1992 -18,789 -120,552 2,596,173 138,412
1991 -14,675 -119,356 2,527,807 42,760
1990 -3,487 -116,817 2,491,928 135,959
1989 5,326 -114,705 2,452,324 99,588
1988 9,879 215 2,376,419 93,510
1987 8,971 357 2,322,397 64,418
1986 16,125 1,104 2,295,003 29,682
1985 11,649 -19,230 2,289,784 61,514
1984 20,610 -1,032 2,278,060 113,758
1983 21,455 -1,872 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 24,077 -1,860 2,233,401 101,116
1981 29,341 -1,830 2,179,884 106,723
1980 30,129 -2,045 2,121,618 198,672
1979 40,599 -872 2,074,807 137,721
1978 44,070 -62,769 2,019,621 111,258
1977 47,543 -11,955 1,923,917 129,075
1976 56,055 -2,522 1,827,289 72,889
1975 54,941 -38,071 1,718,623 75,603
1974 64,223 -1,402 1,624,813 44,281
1973 57,760 -5,409 1,525,485 -618
1972 47,169 -11,296 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 52,925 -7,654 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 61,125 -11,315 1,295,507 7,953
1969 63,256 -3,204 1,213,484 6,912
1968 69,468 -132 1,168,254 9,615
1967 49,861 -420 1,082,884 18,683
1966 54,504 -144 1,095,582 12,513
1965 58,249 -1,406 1,061,840 32,988
1964 66,783 505 1,028,272 26,411
1963 66,241 500 995,116 27,115
1962 64,104 499 966,452 27,906
1961 75,460 378 932,111 25,515
1960 76,314 -1,112 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,163,517 people) and 0.77% is from migration (a loss of 368,103 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.55M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Maiduguri 1.2M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M

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/nigeria | 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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