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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 17,663 people in Palau in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 17,620 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 363 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 -0.86% per year vs -0.03% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10.1% decline).

Bulgaria vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Palau
2100 3,384,288 11,146
2099 3,408,821 11,210
2098 3,433,149 11,275
2097 3,457,549 11,346
2096 3,482,057 11,411
2095 3,506,060 11,479
2094 3,530,278 11,543
2093 3,554,432 11,610
2092 3,578,667 11,676
2091 3,602,907 11,747
2090 3,627,300 11,823
2089 3,652,188 11,901
2088 3,677,416 11,962
2087 3,703,460 12,034
2086 3,730,284 12,103
2085 3,757,953 12,165
2084 3,786,496 12,245
2083 3,815,548 12,310
2082 3,845,662 12,376
2081 3,876,344 12,451
2080 3,908,874 12,531
2079 3,942,344 12,602
2078 3,976,345 12,674
2077 4,011,440 12,751
2076 4,047,182 12,831
2075 4,083,977 12,907
2074 4,122,447 13,000
2073 4,161,511 13,084
2072 4,201,158 13,154
2071 4,241,639 13,245
2070 4,283,145 13,332
2069 4,325,083 13,424
2068 4,367,606 13,518
2067 4,411,116 13,614
2066 4,455,358 13,716
2065 4,500,141 13,811
2064 4,545,243 13,913
2063 4,590,439 14,018
2062 4,635,634 14,129
2061 4,681,315 14,244
2060 4,727,089 14,350
2059 4,772,667 14,471
2058 4,817,532 14,581
2057 4,862,597 14,710
2056 4,907,646 14,830
2055 4,953,105 14,954
2054 4,998,650 15,077
2053 5,044,397 15,198
2052 5,089,817 15,324
2051 5,135,505 15,445
2050 5,181,635 15,554
2049 5,228,058 15,674
2048 5,274,692 15,789
2047 5,322,212 15,904
2046 5,369,645 16,015
2045 5,417,381 16,123
2044 5,465,818 16,237
2043 5,514,902 16,331
2042 5,564,573 16,437
2041 5,615,489 16,541
2040 5,667,076 16,623
2039 5,719,506 16,719
2038 5,771,452 16,797
2037 5,824,628 16,886
2036 5,877,980 16,955
2035 5,930,517 17,033
2034 5,983,205 17,109
2033 6,036,049 17,181
2032 6,088,107 17,241
2031 6,140,619 17,321
2030 6,193,318 17,389
2029 6,244,785 17,448
2028 6,294,981 17,518
2027 6,343,732 17,567
2026 6,390,149 17,620
2025 6,433,302 17,663
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Palau's population decreased by 177 people (a 0.99% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,554 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 -0.13% -0.18%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Palau
Current population
6390149
17620
Population rank 112/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.0002%
One net population change
1.08 hours
1.63 weeks
One birth every
9.83 minutes
1.93 days
One death every
5.23 minutes
1.76 days
Daily growth/decline -22 +0
Annual growth/decline -8,119 -32
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 175/197
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 -47,023 524 -18 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/palau | 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 Palau 42.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 173 people) and 57.5% is from migration (a loss of 234 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, 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/palau | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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