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Population in Bulgaria compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • North Korea's population is 4.19 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).

Bulgaria vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria North Korea
2100 3,368,029 19,604,631
2099 3,392,444 19,733,548
2098 3,416,655 19,862,949
2097 3,440,938 19,993,288
2096 3,465,328 20,124,518
2095 3,489,216 20,256,401
2094 3,513,318 20,388,156
2093 3,537,356 20,520,253
2092 3,561,475 20,652,961
2091 3,585,597 20,785,785
2090 3,609,873 20,918,305
2089 3,634,642 21,050,580
2088 3,659,749 21,182,325
2087 3,685,668 21,314,047
2086 3,712,363 21,445,329
2085 3,739,898 21,575,835
2084 3,768,305 21,705,777
2083 3,797,217 21,835,029
2082 3,827,186 21,964,199
2081 3,857,721 22,092,862
2080 3,890,095 22,220,948
2079 3,923,403 22,348,577
2078 3,957,241 22,475,755
2077 3,992,168 22,602,817
2076 4,027,738 22,729,499
2075 4,064,356 22,856,369
2074 4,102,642 22,983,784
2073 4,141,518 23,111,441
2072 4,180,975 23,239,261
2071 4,221,261 23,367,583
2070 4,262,568 23,496,136
2069 4,304,304 23,625,538
2068 4,346,623 23,755,136
2067 4,389,924 23,884,879
2066 4,433,953 24,015,027
2065 4,478,521 24,144,985
2064 4,523,406 24,274,257
2063 4,568,385 24,402,439
2062 4,613,363 24,529,941
2061 4,658,825 24,656,350
2060 4,704,379 24,780,911
2059 4,749,738 24,903,037
2058 4,794,388 25,023,260
2057 4,839,236 25,140,523
2056 4,884,068 25,255,342
2055 4,929,309 25,366,397
2054 4,974,635 25,474,292
2053 5,020,162 25,578,870
2052 5,065,364 25,679,963
2051 5,110,833 25,777,639
2050 5,156,741 25,871,673
2049 5,202,941 25,962,167
2048 5,249,351 26,048,593
2047 5,296,642 26,131,429
2046 5,343,848 26,210,487
2045 5,391,354 26,286,208
2044 5,439,559 26,358,331
2043 5,488,407 26,427,062
2042 5,537,839 26,491,482
2041 5,588,510 26,552,564
2040 5,639,850 26,609,557
2039 5,692,028 26,661,815
2038 5,743,725 26,708,400
2037 5,796,645 26,749,134
2036 5,849,741 26,783,304
2035 5,902,025 26,810,026
2034 5,954,460 26,828,912
2033 6,007,050 26,839,229
2032 6,058,858 26,840,944
2031 6,111,118 26,832,957
2030 6,163,564 26,814,812
2029 6,214,784 26,787,117
2028 6,264,738 26,749,227
2027 6,313,255 26,701,444
2026 6,359,449 26,643,460
2025 6,402,394 26,575,953
2024 6,441,421 26,498,823
2023 6,446,596 26,418,204
2022 6,465,097 26,328,845
2021 6,507,301 26,232,534
2020 6,550,696 26,136,312
2019 6,616,726 26,037,632
2018 6,710,798 25,931,147
2017 6,803,468 25,817,709
2016 6,894,139 25,698,326
2015 6,984,225 25,575,350
2014 7,073,572 25,451,262
2013 7,160,005 25,329,451
2012 7,305,888 25,211,728
2011 7,348,328 25,097,874
2010 7,395,599 24,987,258
2009 7,444,443 24,878,332
2008 7,492,561 24,764,618
2007 7,545,338 24,646,383
2006 7,601,022 24,524,507
2005 7,658,972 24,396,433
2004 7,716,860 24,254,943
2003 7,775,327 24,090,380
2002 7,837,161 23,943,973
2001 8,009,142 23,815,358
2000 8,170,172 23,665,910
1999 8,210,624 23,497,599
1998 8,256,786 23,311,564
1997 8,312,068 23,110,830
1996 8,362,826 22,895,746
1995 8,406,067 22,669,304
1994 8,443,591 22,393,975
1993 8,472,313 22,073,352
1992 8,540,164 21,750,911
1991 8,632,367 21,428,638
1990 8,718,289 21,112,137
1989 8,876,972 20,804,367
1988 8,981,446 20,503,161
1987 8,971,359 20,205,483
1986 8,958,171 19,910,855
1985 8,960,547 19,620,388
1984 8,960,679 19,335,043
1983 8,939,738 19,054,034
1982 8,917,457 18,776,357
1981 8,891,117 18,501,295
1980 8,861,535 18,236,786
1979 8,825,940 17,983,470
1978 8,814,032 17,735,995
1977 8,804,183 17,492,798
1976 8,758,599 17,243,450
1975 8,720,742 16,971,055
1974 8,678,745 16,673,121
1973 8,620,967 16,350,367
1972 8,576,200 15,975,069
1971 8,536,395 15,572,457
1970 8,489,574 15,172,775
1969 8,434,172 14,767,615
1968 8,369,603 14,365,596
1967 8,310,226 13,958,350
1966 8,258,057 13,569,094
1965 8,204,168 13,219,369
1964 8,144,340 12,889,770
1963 8,078,145 12,567,057
1962 8,012,946 12,262,882
1961 7,943,118 11,990,713
1960 7,867,374 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

North Korea is projected to reach its peak in 2032 at 26.8M 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
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria North Korea
2100 -0.72% -0.65%
2099 -0.71% -0.65%
2098 -0.71% -0.65%
2097 -0.7% -0.65%
2096 -0.68% -0.65%
2095 -0.69% -0.65%
2094 -0.68% -0.64%
2093 -0.68% -0.64%
2092 -0.67% -0.64%
2091 -0.67% -0.63%
2090 -0.68% -0.63%
2089 -0.69% -0.62%
2088 -0.7% -0.62%
2087 -0.72% -0.61%
2086 -0.74% -0.6%
2085 -0.75% -0.6%
2084 -0.76% -0.59%
2083 -0.78% -0.59%
2082 -0.79% -0.58%
2081 -0.83% -0.58%
2080 -0.85% -0.57%
2079 -0.86% -0.57%
2078 -0.87% -0.56%
2077 -0.88% -0.56%
2076 -0.9% -0.56%
2075 -0.93% -0.55%
2074 -0.94% -0.55%
2073 -0.94% -0.55%
2072 -0.95% -0.55%
2071 -0.97% -0.55%
2070 -0.97% -0.55%
2069 -0.97% -0.55%
2068 -0.99% -0.54%
2067 -0.99% -0.54%
2066 -1% -0.54%
2065 -0.99% -0.53%
2064 -0.98% -0.53%
2063 -0.97% -0.52%
2062 -0.98% -0.51%
2061 -0.97% -0.5%
2060 -0.95% -0.49%
2059 -0.93% -0.48%
2058 -0.93% -0.47%
2057 -0.92% -0.45%
2056 -0.92% -0.44%
2055 -0.91% -0.42%
2054 -0.91% -0.41%
2053 -0.89% -0.39%
2052 -0.89% -0.38%
2051 -0.89% -0.36%
2050 -0.89% -0.35%
2049 -0.88% -0.33%
2048 -0.89% -0.32%
2047 -0.88% -0.3%
2046 -0.88% -0.29%
2045 -0.89% -0.27%
2044 -0.89% -0.26%
2043 -0.89% -0.24%
2042 -0.91% -0.23%
2041 -0.91% -0.21%
2040 -0.92% -0.2%
2039 -0.9% -0.17%
2038 -0.91% -0.15%
2037 -0.91% -0.13%
2036 -0.89% -0.1%
2035 -0.88% -0.07%
2034 -0.88% -0.04%
2033 -0.86% -0.006%
2032 -0.86% 0.03%
2031 -0.85% 0.07%
2030 -0.82% 0.1%
2029 -0.8% 0.14%
2028 -0.77% 0.18%
2027 -0.73% 0.22%
2026 -0.67% 0.25%
2025 -0.61% 0.29%
2024 -0.08% 0.31%
2023 -0.29% 0.34%
2022 -0.65% 0.37%
2021 -0.66% 0.37%
2020 -1% 0.38%
2019 -1.4% 0.41%
2018 -1.36% 0.44%
2017 -1.32% 0.46%
2016 -1.29% 0.48%
2015 -1.26% 0.49%
2014 -1.21% 0.48%
2013 -2% 0.47%
2012 -0.58% 0.45%
2011 -0.64% 0.44%
2010 -0.66% 0.44%
2009 -0.64% 0.46%
2008 -0.7% 0.48%
2007 -0.73% 0.5%
2006 -0.76% 0.52%
2005 -0.75% 0.58%
2004 -0.75% 0.68%
2003 -0.79% 0.61%
2002 -2.15% 0.54%
2001 -1.97% 0.63%
2000 -0.49% 0.72%
1999 -0.56% 0.8%
1998 -0.67% 0.87%
1997 -0.61% 0.94%
1996 -0.51% 1%
1995 -0.44% 1.23%
1994 -0.34% 1.45%
1993 -0.79% 1.48%
1992 -1.07% 1.5%
1991 -0.99% 1.5%
1990 -1.79% 1.48%
1989 -1.16% 1.47%
1988 0.11% 1.47%
1987 0.15% 1.48%
1986 -0.03% 1.48%
1985 -0.001% 1.48%
1984 0.23% 1.47%
1983 0.25% 1.48%
1982 0.3% 1.49%
1981 0.33% 1.45%
1980 0.4% 1.41%
1979 0.14% 1.4%
1978 0.11% 1.39%
1977 0.52% 1.45%
1976 0.43% 1.61%
1975 0.48% 1.79%
1974 0.67% 1.97%
1973 0.52% 2.35%
1972 0.47% 2.59%
1971 0.55% 2.63%
1970 0.66% 2.74%
1969 0.77% 2.8%
1968 0.71% 2.92%
1967 0.63% 2.87%
1966 0.66% 2.65%
1965 0.73% 2.56%
1964 0.82% 2.57%
1963 0.81% 2.48%
1962 0.88% 2.27%
1961 0.96% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria North Korea
Current population
6359449
26659144
Population rank 112/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.32%
One net population change
1.69 hours
6.52 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.54 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
2.05 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +221
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +80,619
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 150/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -2,787
Net migration rank 106/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -2,787
2024 - 524 - -2,473
2023 -43,837 5,173 86,203 -1,997
2022 -62,065 26,498 96,495 -1,997
2021 -90,452 11,756 99,710 -1,585
2020 -65,507 30,167 95,920 -1,585
2019 -46,317 -2,156 106,208 -3,142
2018 -46,304 -3,873 113,164 -3,225
2017 -45,583 -6,109 120,181 -3,224
2016 -42,744 -9,482 125,048 -3,222
2015 -44,699 -4,227 127,365 -3,208
2014 -41,027 -2,180 127,078 -3,042
2013 -37,948 -1,324 122,519 -2,933
2012 -40,183 -26,334 118,773 -2,919
2011 -37,477 -23,360 114,798 -2,957
2010 -34,759 -21,668 112,443 -3,053
2009 -26,800 -19,060 111,530 -3,058
2008 -32,967 -17,595 122,015 -3,051
2007 -37,727 -16,366 120,521 -3,021
2006 -39,526 -15,184 129,171 -2,948
2005 -42,124 -14,435 132,765 -2,861
2004 -40,128 -13,604 155,838 -2,758
2003 -44,319 -13,183 178,775 -2,717
2002 -46,240 -12,735 119,504 -2,763
2001 -44,050 -30,726 143,321 -2,884
2000 -41,668 -26,211 161,591 -3,142
1999 -39,411 -23,846 181,613 -3,443
1998 -52,844 -23,262 197,589 -3,706
1997 -58,185 -22,963 211,325 -3,745
1996 -45,159 -21,520 226,095 -3,512
1995 -42,030 -22,020 233,381 -3,094
1994 -32,086 -20,984 320,861 -517
1993 -24,569 -19,973 320,880 0
1992 -18,789 -120,552 324,002 0
1991 -14,675 -119,356 320,551 0
1990 -3,487 -116,817 312,460 0
1989 5,326 -114,705 303,078 0
1988 9,879 215 299,305 0
1987 8,971 357 296,030 0
1986 16,125 1,104 293,227 0
1985 11,649 -19,230 287,714 0
1984 20,610 -1,032 282,987 0
1983 21,455 -1,872 279,046 0
1982 24,077 -1,860 276,332 0
1981 29,341 -1,830 273,800 0
1980 30,129 -2,045 255,206 0
1979 40,599 -872 251,409 0
1978 44,070 -62,769 243,533 0
1977 47,543 -11,955 242,870 0
1976 56,055 -2,522 255,841 0
1975 54,941 -38,071 288,966 0
1974 64,223 -1,402 306,902 0
1973 57,760 -5,409 338,600 0
1972 47,169 -11,296 411,997 0
1971 52,925 -7,654 393,220 0
1970 61,125 -11,315 406,129 0
1969 63,256 -3,204 404,189 0
1968 69,468 -132 399,837 0
1967 49,861 -420 414,632 0
1966 54,504 -144 363,882 0
1965 58,249 -1,406 335,587 0
1964 66,783 505 323,623 0
1963 66,241 500 321,805 0
1962 64,104 499 286,534 0
1961 75,460 378 257,788 0
1960 76,314 -1,112 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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