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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 245,016,045 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 3.03% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Bulgaria vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Nigeria
2100 3,384,288 481,640,156
2099 3,408,821 481,456,918
2098 3,433,149 481,181,892
2097 3,457,549 480,838,161
2096 3,482,057 480,422,467
2095 3,506,060 479,938,579
2094 3,530,278 479,395,022
2093 3,554,432 478,769,369
2092 3,578,667 478,059,864
2091 3,602,907 477,236,907
2090 3,627,300 476,329,495
2089 3,652,188 475,326,347
2088 3,677,416 474,231,442
2087 3,703,460 473,035,563
2086 3,730,284 471,732,001
2085 3,757,953 470,328,175
2084 3,786,496 468,806,172
2083 3,815,548 467,187,453
2082 3,845,662 465,472,417
2081 3,876,344 463,643,190
2080 3,908,874 461,705,493
2079 3,942,344 459,644,523
2078 3,976,345 457,477,264
2077 4,011,440 455,218,871
2076 4,047,182 452,849,991
2075 4,083,977 450,367,356
2074 4,122,447 447,789,885
2073 4,161,511 445,117,028
2072 4,201,158 442,340,440
2071 4,241,639 439,464,323
2070 4,283,145 436,505,329
2069 4,325,083 433,437,998
2068 4,367,606 430,286,232
2067 4,411,116 427,032,499
2066 4,455,358 423,702,640
2065 4,500,141 420,285,359
2064 4,545,243 416,778,394
2063 4,590,439 413,198,800
2062 4,635,634 409,551,159
2061 4,681,315 405,827,482
2060 4,727,089 402,041,765
2059 4,772,667 398,197,311
2058 4,817,532 394,284,767
2057 4,862,597 390,311,065
2056 4,907,646 386,267,580
2055 4,953,105 382,162,992
2054 4,998,650 378,000,511
2053 5,044,397 373,769,779
2052 5,089,817 369,472,476
2051 5,135,505 365,120,741
2050 5,181,635 360,706,317
2049 5,228,058 356,243,287
2048 5,274,692 351,724,743
2047 5,322,212 347,142,279
2046 5,369,645 342,505,549
2045 5,417,381 337,807,869
2044 5,465,818 333,050,132
2043 5,514,902 328,230,652
2042 5,564,573 323,363,366
2041 5,615,489 318,443,989
2040 5,667,076 313,468,061
2039 5,719,506 308,450,008
2038 5,771,452 303,399,842
2037 5,824,628 298,327,800
2036 5,877,980 293,227,654
2035 5,930,517 288,115,630
2034 5,983,205 282,995,818
2033 6,036,049 277,875,880
2032 6,088,107 272,747,599
2031 6,140,619 267,645,657
2030 6,193,318 262,562,767
2029 6,244,785 257,484,616
2028 6,294,981 252,445,821
2027 6,343,732 247,437,680
2026 6,390,149 242,458,365
2025 6,433,302 237,527,782
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 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 3.38M 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 -0.13% 2.08%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Nigeria
Current population
6390149
245016045
Population rank 112/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 2.95%
One net population change
1.08 hours
6.52 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
4.17 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline -22 +13,283
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 45/197
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 -47,023 524 4,851,833 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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