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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 361 times bigger than Palau's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.0002% for Palau.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).

Bulgaria vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Palau
2100 3,368,029 11,152
2099 3,392,444 11,216
2098 3,416,655 11,281
2097 3,440,938 11,352
2096 3,465,328 11,417
2095 3,489,216 11,485
2094 3,513,318 11,549
2093 3,537,356 11,616
2092 3,561,475 11,682
2091 3,585,597 11,753
2090 3,609,873 11,829
2089 3,634,642 11,907
2088 3,659,749 11,968
2087 3,685,668 12,040
2086 3,712,363 12,109
2085 3,739,898 12,171
2084 3,768,305 12,251
2083 3,797,217 12,316
2082 3,827,186 12,382
2081 3,857,721 12,457
2080 3,890,095 12,537
2079 3,923,403 12,608
2078 3,957,241 12,681
2077 3,992,168 12,758
2076 4,027,738 12,838
2075 4,064,356 12,914
2074 4,102,642 13,007
2073 4,141,518 13,091
2072 4,180,975 13,161
2071 4,221,261 13,252
2070 4,262,568 13,338
2069 4,304,304 13,430
2068 4,346,623 13,525
2067 4,389,924 13,621
2066 4,433,953 13,723
2065 4,478,521 13,818
2064 4,523,406 13,920
2063 4,568,385 14,025
2062 4,613,363 14,136
2061 4,658,825 14,251
2060 4,704,379 14,358
2059 4,749,738 14,479
2058 4,794,388 14,589
2057 4,839,236 14,718
2056 4,884,068 14,837
2055 4,929,309 14,961
2054 4,974,635 15,084
2053 5,020,162 15,206
2052 5,065,364 15,332
2051 5,110,833 15,453
2050 5,156,741 15,562
2049 5,202,941 15,682
2048 5,249,351 15,797
2047 5,296,642 15,912
2046 5,343,848 16,024
2045 5,391,354 16,132
2044 5,439,559 16,245
2043 5,488,407 16,339
2042 5,537,839 16,445
2041 5,588,510 16,549
2040 5,639,850 16,631
2039 5,692,028 16,727
2038 5,743,725 16,805
2037 5,796,645 16,895
2036 5,849,741 16,964
2035 5,902,025 17,042
2034 5,954,460 17,118
2033 6,007,050 17,190
2032 6,058,858 17,250
2031 6,111,118 17,330
2030 6,163,564 17,398
2029 6,214,784 17,457
2028 6,264,738 17,527
2027 6,313,255 17,576
2026 6,359,449 17,629
2025 6,402,394 17,672
2024 6,441,421 17,695
2023 6,446,596 17,727
2022 6,465,097 17,759
2021 6,507,301 17,783
2020 6,550,696 17,792
2019 6,616,726 17,798
2018 6,710,798 17,814
2017 6,803,468 17,812
2016 6,894,139 17,797
2015 6,984,225 17,770
2014 7,073,572 17,715
2013 7,160,005 17,648
2012 7,305,888 17,765
2011 7,348,328 18,078
2010 7,395,599 18,396
2009 7,444,443 18,709
2008 7,492,561 19,009
2007 7,545,338 19,302
2006 7,601,022 19,593
2005 7,658,972 19,819
2004 7,716,860 19,820
2003 7,775,327 19,659
2002 7,837,161 19,503
2001 8,009,142 19,352
2000 8,170,172 19,178
1999 8,210,624 18,901
1998 8,256,786 18,524
1997 8,312,068 18,108
1996 8,362,826 17,654
1995 8,406,067 17,195
1994 8,443,591 16,770
1993 8,472,313 16,372
1992 8,540,164 15,989
1991 8,632,367 15,614
1990 8,718,289 15,259
1989 8,876,972 14,945
1988 8,981,446 14,645
1987 8,971,359 14,334
1986 8,958,171 14,024
1985 8,960,547 13,688
1984 8,960,679 13,337
1983 8,939,738 13,006
1982 8,917,457 12,694
1981 8,891,117 12,402
1980 8,861,535 12,271
1979 8,825,940 12,337
1978 8,814,032 12,440
1977 8,804,183 12,525
1976 8,758,599 12,598
1975 8,720,742 12,655
1974 8,678,745 12,687
1973 8,620,967 12,552
1972 8,576,200 12,194
1971 8,536,395 11,759
1970 8,489,574 11,368
1969 8,434,172 11,159
1968 8,369,603 11,080
1967 8,310,226 10,988
1966 8,258,057 10,805
1965 8,204,168 10,547
1964 8,144,340 10,292
1963 8,078,145 10,037
1962 8,012,946 9,793
1961 7,943,118 9,555
1960 7,867,374 9,328

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/palau | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 27.2% in Palau.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Palau
2100 -0.72% -0.57%
2099 -0.71% -0.58%
2098 -0.71% -0.62%
2097 -0.7% -0.57%
2096 -0.68% -0.59%
2095 -0.69% -0.55%
2094 -0.68% -0.58%
2093 -0.68% -0.56%
2092 -0.67% -0.6%
2091 -0.67% -0.65%
2090 -0.68% -0.65%
2089 -0.69% -0.51%
2088 -0.7% -0.6%
2087 -0.72% -0.57%
2086 -0.74% -0.51%
2085 -0.75% -0.65%
2084 -0.76% -0.53%
2083 -0.78% -0.53%
2082 -0.79% -0.6%
2081 -0.83% -0.64%
2080 -0.85% -0.56%
2079 -0.86% -0.58%
2078 -0.87% -0.6%
2077 -0.88% -0.62%
2076 -0.9% -0.59%
2075 -0.93% -0.71%
2074 -0.94% -0.64%
2073 -0.94% -0.53%
2072 -0.95% -0.69%
2071 -0.97% -0.65%
2070 -0.97% -0.68%
2069 -0.97% -0.7%
2068 -0.99% -0.7%
2067 -0.99% -0.74%
2066 -1% -0.69%
2065 -0.99% -0.73%
2064 -0.98% -0.75%
2063 -0.97% -0.78%
2062 -0.98% -0.81%
2061 -0.97% -0.74%
2060 -0.95% -0.84%
2059 -0.93% -0.75%
2058 -0.93% -0.88%
2057 -0.92% -0.81%
2056 -0.92% -0.83%
2055 -0.91% -0.81%
2054 -0.91% -0.8%
2053 -0.89% -0.82%
2052 -0.89% -0.78%
2051 -0.89% -0.7%
2050 -0.89% -0.76%
2049 -0.88% -0.73%
2048 -0.89% -0.72%
2047 -0.88% -0.7%
2046 -0.88% -0.67%
2045 -0.89% -0.7%
2044 -0.89% -0.57%
2043 -0.89% -0.64%
2042 -0.91% -0.63%
2041 -0.91% -0.49%
2040 -0.92% -0.57%
2039 -0.9% -0.46%
2038 -0.91% -0.53%
2037 -0.91% -0.41%
2036 -0.89% -0.46%
2035 -0.88% -0.44%
2034 -0.88% -0.42%
2033 -0.86% -0.35%
2032 -0.86% -0.46%
2031 -0.85% -0.39%
2030 -0.82% -0.34%
2029 -0.8% -0.4%
2028 -0.77% -0.28%
2027 -0.73% -0.3%
2026 -0.67% -0.24%
2025 -0.61% -0.13%
2024 -0.08% -0.18%
2023 -0.29% -0.18%
2022 -0.65% -0.13%
2021 -0.66% -0.05%
2020 -1% -0.03%
2019 -1.4% -0.09%
2018 -1.36% 0.01%
2017 -1.32% 0.08%
2016 -1.29% 0.15%
2015 -1.26% 0.31%
2014 -1.21% 0.38%
2013 -2% -0.66%
2012 -0.58% -1.73%
2011 -0.64% -1.73%
2010 -0.66% -1.67%
2009 -0.64% -1.58%
2008 -0.7% -1.52%
2007 -0.73% -1.49%
2006 -0.76% -1.14%
2005 -0.75% -0.005%
2004 -0.75% 0.82%
2003 -0.79% 0.8%
2002 -2.15% 0.78%
2001 -1.97% 0.91%
2000 -0.49% 1.47%
1999 -0.56% 2.04%
1998 -0.67% 2.3%
1997 -0.61% 2.57%
1996 -0.51% 2.67%
1995 -0.44% 2.53%
1994 -0.34% 2.43%
1993 -0.79% 2.4%
1992 -1.07% 2.4%
1991 -0.99% 2.33%
1990 -1.79% 2.1%
1989 -1.16% 2.05%
1988 0.11% 2.17%
1987 0.15% 2.21%
1986 -0.03% 2.45%
1985 -0.001% 2.63%
1984 0.23% 2.54%
1983 0.25% 2.46%
1982 0.3% 2.35%
1981 0.33% 1.07%
1980 0.4% -0.53%
1979 0.14% -0.83%
1978 0.11% -0.68%
1977 0.52% -0.58%
1976 0.43% -0.45%
1975 0.48% -0.25%
1974 0.67% 1.08%
1973 0.52% 2.94%
1972 0.47% 3.7%
1971 0.55% 3.44%
1970 0.66% 1.87%
1969 0.77% 0.71%
1968 0.71% 0.84%
1967 0.63% 1.69%
1966 0.66% 2.45%
1965 0.73% 2.48%
1964 0.82% 2.54%
1963 0.81% 2.49%
1962 0.88% 2.49%
1961 0.96% 2.43%

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/palau | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Palau
Current population
6359449
17629
Population rank 112/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.0002%
One net population change
1.69 hours
1.63 weeks
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.89 days
One death every
5.19 minutes
1.8 days
Daily growth/decline -14 +0
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -32
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 175/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
3.27 weeks
Annual migration change -2,961 -16
Net migration rank 106/196 78/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 5,212
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 184/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 29.5%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 19/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -16
2024 - 524 - -14
2023 -43,837 5,173 -10 -19
2022 -62,065 26,498 -7 -20
2021 -90,452 11,756 -3 -21
2020 -65,507 30,167 8 0
2019 -46,317 -2,156 23 -46
2018 -46,304 -3,873 29 -35
2017 -45,583 -6,109 43 -33
2016 -42,744 -9,482 53 -35
2015 -44,699 -4,227 55 -11
2014 -41,027 -2,180 73 -7
2013 -37,948 -1,324 88 -28
2012 -40,183 -26,334 86 -387
2011 -37,477 -23,360 83 -405
2010 -34,759 -21,668 81 -392
2009 -26,800 -19,060 81 -382
2008 -32,967 -17,595 79 -378
2007 -37,727 -16,366 80 -372
2006 -39,526 -15,184 79 -365
2005 -42,124 -14,435 80 -250
2004 -40,128 -13,604 83 79
2003 -44,319 -13,183 86 71
2002 -46,240 -12,735 88 67
2001 -44,050 -30,726 88 65
2000 -41,668 -26,211 85 120
1999 -39,411 -23,846 100 243
1998 -52,844 -23,262 116 280
1997 -58,185 -22,963 140 297
1996 -45,159 -21,520 166 312
1995 -42,030 -22,020 186 258
1994 -32,086 -20,984 195 211
1993 -24,569 -19,973 196 193
1992 -18,789 -120,552 183 193
1991 -14,675 -119,356 175 193
1990 -3,487 -116,817 181 156
1989 5,326 -114,705 185 113
1988 9,879 215 183 126
1987 8,971 357 182 125
1986 16,125 1,104 182 135
1985 11,649 -19,230 181 179
1984 20,610 -1,032 181 157
1983 21,455 -1,872 176 144
1982 24,077 -1,860 170 132
1981 29,341 -1,830 161 120
1980 30,129 -2,045 165 -179
1979 40,599 -872 176 -291
1978 44,070 -62,769 193 -285
1977 47,543 -11,955 213 -292
1976 56,055 -2,522 236 -296
1975 54,941 -38,071 249 -296
1974 64,223 -1,402 256 -282
1973 57,760 -5,409 268 22
1972 47,169 -11,296 280 147
1971 52,925 -7,654 287 156
1970 61,125 -11,315 286 54
1969 63,256 -3,204 283 -209
1968 69,468 -132 275 -194
1967 49,861 -420 266 -150
1966 54,504 -144 268 -18
1965 58,249 -1,406 275 -16
1964 66,783 505 284 -27
1963 66,241 500 291 -41
1962 64,104 499 296 -54
1961 75,460 378 298 -65
1960 76,314 -1,112 296 -70

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.

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
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

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/palau | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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