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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 1,824,359 people in North Macedonia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 1,805,954 in North Macedonia.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 3.52 times bigger than North Macedonia's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while North Macedonia is the 150th.
  • The countries together account for 0.1% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.02% for North Macedonia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs -0.48% in North Macedonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while North Macedonia has declined from 1.99M to 1.81M (9.44% decline).

Bulgaria vs North Macedonia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria North Macedonia
2100 3,368,029 866,884
2099 3,392,444 877,788
2098 3,416,655 888,715
2097 3,440,938 899,716
2096 3,465,328 910,709
2095 3,489,216 921,559
2094 3,513,318 932,633
2093 3,537,356 943,984
2092 3,561,475 955,335
2091 3,585,597 966,773
2090 3,609,873 978,130
2089 3,634,642 989,666
2088 3,659,749 1,001,224
2087 3,685,668 1,012,831
2086 3,712,363 1,024,787
2085 3,739,898 1,036,668
2084 3,768,305 1,048,876
2083 3,797,217 1,061,031
2082 3,827,186 1,073,408
2081 3,857,721 1,085,823
2080 3,890,095 1,098,127
2079 3,923,403 1,110,614
2078 3,957,241 1,123,398
2077 3,992,168 1,136,448
2076 4,027,738 1,149,787
2075 4,064,356 1,163,080
2074 4,102,642 1,176,671
2073 4,141,518 1,190,351
2072 4,180,975 1,204,015
2071 4,221,261 1,217,691
2070 4,262,568 1,231,978
2069 4,304,304 1,246,408
2068 4,346,623 1,260,869
2067 4,389,924 1,275,289
2066 4,433,953 1,289,439
2065 4,478,521 1,303,917
2064 4,523,406 1,318,161
2063 4,568,385 1,332,807
2062 4,613,363 1,347,540
2061 4,658,825 1,362,299
2060 4,704,379 1,376,807
2059 4,749,738 1,390,921
2058 4,794,388 1,404,982
2057 4,839,236 1,419,185
2056 4,884,068 1,433,595
2055 4,929,309 1,447,857
2054 4,974,635 1,462,210
2053 5,020,162 1,476,351
2052 5,065,364 1,489,905
2051 5,110,833 1,503,526
2050 5,156,741 1,516,629
2049 5,202,941 1,529,608
2048 5,249,351 1,542,390
2047 5,296,642 1,555,085
2046 5,343,848 1,568,151
2045 5,391,354 1,581,115
2044 5,439,559 1,593,878
2043 5,488,407 1,606,930
2042 5,537,839 1,619,941
2041 5,588,510 1,632,704
2040 5,639,850 1,645,446
2039 5,692,028 1,658,034
2038 5,743,725 1,670,347
2037 5,796,645 1,682,850
2036 5,849,741 1,695,204
2035 5,902,025 1,707,302
2034 5,954,460 1,719,193
2033 6,007,050 1,730,723
2032 6,058,858 1,742,288
2031 6,111,118 1,753,729
2030 6,163,564 1,765,162
2029 6,214,784 1,775,815
2028 6,264,738 1,786,051
2027 6,313,255 1,795,945
2026 6,359,449 1,805,954
2025 6,402,394 1,815,368
2024 6,441,421 1,824,359
2023 6,446,596 1,827,816
2022 6,465,097 1,831,712
2021 6,507,301 1,837,114
2020 6,550,696 1,856,124
2019 6,616,726 1,876,262
2018 6,710,798 1,889,051
2017 6,803,468 1,898,657
2016 6,894,139 1,906,313
2015 6,984,225 1,912,430
2014 7,073,572 1,917,557
2013 7,160,005 1,922,716
2012 7,305,888 1,929,821
2011 7,348,328 1,937,398
2010 7,395,599 1,946,298
2009 7,444,443 1,958,782
2008 7,492,561 1,971,493
2007 7,545,338 1,982,933
2006 7,601,022 1,994,287
2005 7,658,972 2,005,330
2004 7,716,860 2,016,186
2003 7,775,327 2,022,725
2002 7,837,161 2,020,157
2001 8,009,142 2,034,882
2000 8,170,172 2,026,350
1999 8,210,624 2,017,142
1998 8,256,786 2,007,523
1997 8,312,068 1,996,869
1996 8,362,826 2,012,553
1995 8,406,067 1,998,534
1994 8,443,591 1,992,666
1993 8,472,313 2,006,854
1992 8,540,164 2,032,523
1991 8,632,367 2,055,994
1990 8,718,289 2,063,689
1989 8,876,972 2,055,649
1988 8,981,446 2,045,737
1987 8,971,359 2,035,157
1986 8,958,171 2,024,732
1985 8,960,547 2,014,331
1984 8,960,679 2,003,399
1983 8,939,738 1,991,901
1982 8,917,457 1,978,956
1981 8,891,117 1,959,065
1980 8,861,535 1,933,038
1979 8,825,940 1,906,523
1978 8,814,032 1,879,847
1977 8,804,183 1,853,138
1976 8,758,599 1,825,830
1975 8,720,742 1,797,972
1974 8,678,745 1,770,545
1973 8,620,967 1,743,816
1972 8,576,200 1,717,395
1971 8,536,395 1,691,216
1970 8,489,574 1,664,208
1969 8,434,172 1,636,345
1968 8,369,603 1,608,930
1967 8,310,226 1,582,492
1966 8,258,057 1,557,349
1965 8,204,168 1,533,466
1964 8,144,340 1,510,900
1963 8,078,145 1,488,737
1962 8,012,946 1,471,745
1961 7,943,118 1,455,171
1960 7,867,374 1,435,059

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-macedonia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while North Macedonia lost 87,974 people (a 4.41% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while North Macedonia's population decreased by 100,359 people (a 5.26% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. North Macedonia was ranked 142nd in 2006 and ranked 150th 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 Macedonia will decrease by 16% to 1,516,629 people and rank change from 150th to 152nd.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 36.3% in North Macedonia.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria North Macedonia
2100 -0.72% -1.24%
2099 -0.71% -1.23%
2098 -0.71% -1.22%
2097 -0.7% -1.21%
2096 -0.68% -1.18%
2095 -0.69% -1.19%
2094 -0.68% -1.2%
2093 -0.68% -1.19%
2092 -0.67% -1.18%
2091 -0.67% -1.16%
2090 -0.68% -1.17%
2089 -0.69% -1.15%
2088 -0.7% -1.15%
2087 -0.72% -1.17%
2086 -0.74% -1.15%
2085 -0.75% -1.16%
2084 -0.76% -1.15%
2083 -0.78% -1.15%
2082 -0.79% -1.14%
2081 -0.83% -1.12%
2080 -0.85% -1.12%
2079 -0.86% -1.14%
2078 -0.87% -1.15%
2077 -0.88% -1.16%
2076 -0.9% -1.14%
2075 -0.93% -1.15%
2074 -0.94% -1.15%
2073 -0.94% -1.13%
2072 -0.95% -1.12%
2071 -0.97% -1.16%
2070 -0.97% -1.16%
2069 -0.97% -1.15%
2068 -0.99% -1.13%
2067 -0.99% -1.1%
2066 -1% -1.11%
2065 -0.99% -1.08%
2064 -0.98% -1.1%
2063 -0.97% -1.09%
2062 -0.98% -1.08%
2061 -0.97% -1.05%
2060 -0.95% -1.01%
2059 -0.93% -1%
2058 -0.93% -1%
2057 -0.92% -1.01%
2056 -0.92% -0.99%
2055 -0.91% -0.98%
2054 -0.91% -0.96%
2053 -0.89% -0.91%
2052 -0.89% -0.91%
2051 -0.89% -0.86%
2050 -0.89% -0.85%
2049 -0.88% -0.83%
2048 -0.89% -0.82%
2047 -0.88% -0.83%
2046 -0.88% -0.82%
2045 -0.89% -0.8%
2044 -0.89% -0.81%
2043 -0.89% -0.8%
2042 -0.91% -0.78%
2041 -0.91% -0.77%
2040 -0.92% -0.76%
2039 -0.9% -0.74%
2038 -0.91% -0.74%
2037 -0.91% -0.73%
2036 -0.89% -0.71%
2035 -0.88% -0.69%
2034 -0.88% -0.67%
2033 -0.86% -0.66%
2032 -0.86% -0.65%
2031 -0.85% -0.65%
2030 -0.82% -0.6%
2029 -0.8% -0.57%
2028 -0.77% -0.55%
2027 -0.73% -0.55%
2026 -0.67% -0.52%
2025 -0.61% -0.49%
2024 -0.08% -0.19%
2023 -0.29% -0.21%
2022 -0.65% -0.29%
2021 -0.66% -1.02%
2020 -1% -1.07%
2019 -1.4% -0.68%
2018 -1.36% -0.51%
2017 -1.32% -0.4%
2016 -1.29% -0.32%
2015 -1.26% -0.27%
2014 -1.21% -0.27%
2013 -2% -0.37%
2012 -0.58% -0.39%
2011 -0.64% -0.46%
2010 -0.66% -0.64%
2009 -0.64% -0.64%
2008 -0.7% -0.58%
2007 -0.73% -0.57%
2006 -0.76% -0.55%
2005 -0.75% -0.54%
2004 -0.75% -0.32%
2003 -0.79% 0.13%
2002 -2.15% -0.72%
2001 -1.97% 0.42%
2000 -0.49% 0.46%
1999 -0.56% 0.48%
1998 -0.67% 0.53%
1997 -0.61% -0.78%
1996 -0.51% 0.7%
1995 -0.44% 0.29%
1994 -0.34% -0.71%
1993 -0.79% -1.26%
1992 -1.07% -1.14%
1991 -0.99% -0.37%
1990 -1.79% 0.39%
1989 -1.16% 0.48%
1988 0.11% 0.52%
1987 0.15% 0.51%
1986 -0.03% 0.52%
1985 -0.001% 0.55%
1984 0.23% 0.58%
1983 0.25% 0.65%
1982 0.3% 1.02%
1981 0.33% 1.35%
1980 0.4% 1.39%
1979 0.14% 1.42%
1978 0.11% 1.44%
1977 0.52% 1.5%
1976 0.43% 1.55%
1975 0.48% 1.55%
1974 0.67% 1.53%
1973 0.52% 1.54%
1972 0.47% 1.55%
1971 0.55% 1.62%
1970 0.66% 1.7%
1969 0.77% 1.7%
1968 0.71% 1.67%
1967 0.63% 1.61%
1966 0.66% 1.56%
1965 0.73% 1.49%
1964 0.82% 1.49%
1963 0.81% 1.15%
1962 0.88% 1.14%
1961 0.96% 1.4%

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-macedonia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while North Macedonia's population declined by 0.19%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria North Macedonia
Current population
6359449
1805954
Population rank 112/197 150/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.02%
One net population change
1.69 hours
2.53 hours
One birth every
9.16 minutes
31.3 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
26.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 -9
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -3,457
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.19%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 176/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.56 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -5,645
Net migration rank 106/196 119/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 150,902
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 122/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 8.3%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 73/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
North Macedonia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria North Macedonia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -5,645
2024 - 524 - -5,728
2023 -43,837 5,173 -3,290 -5,597
2022 -62,065 26,498 -4,397 -5,296
2021 -90,452 11,756 -9,737 -5,483
2020 -65,507 30,167 -5,939 -23,458
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -375 -24,204
2018 -46,304 -3,873 1,512 -24,878
2017 -45,583 -6,109 1,329 -24,227
2016 -42,744 -9,482 2,374 -24,144
2015 -44,699 -4,227 2,294 -23,010
2014 -41,027 -2,180 3,644 -22,132
2013 -37,948 -1,324 3,653 -20,297
2012 -40,183 -26,334 3,087 -19,083
2011 -37,477 -23,360 3,100 -17,871
2010 -34,759 -21,668 4,866 -16,668
2009 -26,800 -19,060 4,309 -15,455
2008 -32,967 -17,595 3,746 -17,645
2007 -37,727 -16,366 2,974 -15,705
2006 -39,526 -15,184 3,988 -9,632
2005 -42,124 -14,435 4,011 -2,244
2004 -40,128 -13,604 5,444 -2,640
2003 -44,319 -13,183 8,900 -2,880
2002 -46,240 -12,735 9,697 -2,858
2001 -44,050 -30,726 10,174 -922
2000 -41,668 -26,211 12,159 -2,824
1999 -39,411 -23,846 10,489 -1,261
1998 -52,844 -23,262 12,446 -589
1997 -58,185 -22,963 12,979 -477
1996 -45,159 -21,520 14,806 -397
1995 -42,030 -22,020 17,239 -3,603
1994 -32,086 -20,984 19,103 -21,006
1993 -24,569 -19,973 20,797 -47,273
1992 -18,789 -120,552 21,659 -46,509
1991 -14,675 -119,356 23,387 -45,484
1990 -3,487 -116,817 22,868 -16,174
1989 5,326 -114,705 22,912 -13,528
1988 9,879 215 24,064 -13,621
1987 8,971 357 24,359 -13,635
1986 16,125 1,104 23,720 -13,589
1985 11,649 -19,230 24,167 -13,492
1984 20,610 -1,032 24,436 -13,251
1983 21,455 -1,872 24,690 -12,884
1982 24,077 -1,860 25,810 -11,716
1981 29,341 -1,830 25,689 0
1980 30,129 -2,045 26,547 -189
1979 40,599 -872 27,096 -426
1978 44,070 -62,769 27,150 -462
1977 47,543 -11,955 27,410 -683
1976 56,055 -2,522 28,799 -911
1975 54,941 -38,071 28,983 -1,147
1974 64,223 -1,402 28,400 -1,376
1973 57,760 -5,409 28,032 -1,600
1972 47,169 -11,296 28,236 -1,834
1971 52,925 -7,654 28,010 -2,064
1970 61,125 -11,315 28,022 60
1969 63,256 -3,204 27,464 181
1968 69,468 -132 28,378 -1,201
1967 49,861 -420 28,401 -2,696
1966 54,504 -144 28,766 -4,176
1965 58,249 -1,406 28,564 -5,385
1964 66,783 505 27,889 -5,938
1963 66,241 500 28,124 -5,759
1962 64,104 499 25,317 -13,702
1961 75,460 378 27,846 -6,309
1960 76,314 -1,112 28,816 -10,126

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/north-macedonia | 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 Macedonia 6.45% is from natural causes (a loss of 12,585 people) and 93.5% is from migration (a loss of 182,429 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 150,902 people or 8.3% in North Macedonia.

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 Macedonia
City Population
Skopje 423K
Kumanovo 70.8K
Bitola 69.3K
Prilep 63.3K
Tetovo 63.2K
Stip 42K
Veles 40.7K
Ohrid 38.8K
Strumica 33.8K
Kavadarci 32K

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-macedonia | 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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