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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 1,820,909 people in North Macedonia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 1,811,466 in North Macedonia.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 3.53 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 -0.86% per year vs -0.47% in North Macedonia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while North Macedonia has declined from 1.99M to 1.81M (9.17% decline).

Bulgaria vs North Macedonia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
North Macedonia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria North Macedonia
2100 3,384,288 869,530
2099 3,408,821 880,467
2098 3,433,149 891,427
2097 3,457,549 902,461
2096 3,482,057 913,488
2095 3,506,060 924,371
2094 3,530,278 935,479
2093 3,554,432 946,865
2092 3,578,667 958,251
2091 3,602,907 969,723
2090 3,627,300 981,115
2089 3,652,188 992,687
2088 3,677,416 1,004,280
2087 3,703,460 1,015,922
2086 3,730,284 1,027,915
2085 3,757,953 1,039,832
2084 3,786,496 1,052,077
2083 3,815,548 1,064,269
2082 3,845,662 1,076,684
2081 3,876,344 1,089,137
2080 3,908,874 1,101,478
2079 3,942,344 1,114,004
2078 3,976,345 1,126,827
2077 4,011,440 1,139,917
2076 4,047,182 1,153,296
2075 4,083,977 1,166,630
2074 4,122,447 1,180,262
2073 4,161,511 1,193,984
2072 4,201,158 1,207,689
2071 4,241,639 1,221,407
2070 4,283,145 1,235,738
2069 4,325,083 1,250,212
2068 4,367,606 1,264,718
2067 4,411,116 1,279,182
2066 4,455,358 1,293,374
2065 4,500,141 1,307,896
2064 4,545,243 1,322,184
2063 4,590,439 1,336,875
2062 4,635,634 1,351,652
2061 4,681,315 1,366,457
2060 4,727,089 1,381,009
2059 4,772,667 1,395,166
2058 4,817,532 1,409,270
2057 4,862,597 1,423,516
2056 4,907,646 1,437,970
2055 4,953,105 1,452,276
2054 4,998,650 1,466,673
2053 5,044,397 1,480,857
2052 5,089,817 1,494,452
2051 5,135,505 1,508,115
2050 5,181,635 1,521,258
2049 5,228,058 1,534,276
2048 5,274,692 1,547,097
2047 5,322,212 1,559,831
2046 5,369,645 1,572,937
2045 5,417,381 1,585,940
2044 5,465,818 1,598,742
2043 5,514,902 1,611,835
2042 5,564,573 1,624,885
2041 5,615,489 1,637,687
2040 5,667,076 1,650,468
2039 5,719,506 1,663,094
2038 5,771,452 1,675,445
2037 5,824,628 1,687,986
2036 5,877,980 1,700,377
2035 5,930,517 1,712,512
2034 5,983,205 1,724,440
2033 6,036,049 1,736,005
2032 6,088,107 1,747,606
2031 6,140,619 1,759,081
2030 6,193,318 1,770,549
2029 6,244,785 1,781,235
2028 6,294,981 1,791,502
2027 6,343,732 1,801,426
2026 6,390,149 1,811,466
2025 6,433,302 1,820,909
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while North Macedonia's population decreased by 94,847 people (a 4.98% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of North Macedonia will decrease by 16% to 1,521,258 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 -0.13% -0.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/north-macedonia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while North Macedonia's population declined by 0.19%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria North Macedonia
Current population
6390149
1811466
Population rank 112/197 150/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.02%
One net population change
1.08 hours
2.55 hours
One birth every
9.83 minutes
32.7 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
26 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 -9
Annual growth/decline -8,119 -3,450
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.19%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 176/197
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 -47,023 524 -4,196 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/north-macedonia | 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 North Macedonia 11% is from natural causes (a loss of 20,425 people) and 89% is from migration (a loss of 166,025 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/north-macedonia | 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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