Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 5,413,596 people in Palestine in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 5,563,879 in Palestine.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 1.15 times bigger than Palestine's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Palestine is the 121st.
  • The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.07% for Palestine.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +2.39% in Palestine.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Palestine has grown from 3.41M to 5.56M (63.3% growth).

Bulgaria vs Palestine: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Palestine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Palestine
2100 3,384,288 11,215,819
2099 3,408,821 11,205,757
2098 3,433,149 11,192,283
2097 3,457,549 11,175,117
2096 3,482,057 11,158,746
2095 3,506,060 11,138,752
2094 3,530,278 11,119,812
2093 3,554,432 11,097,071
2092 3,578,667 11,073,029
2091 3,602,907 11,047,567
2090 3,627,300 11,020,998
2089 3,652,188 10,994,862
2088 3,677,416 10,963,888
2087 3,703,460 10,934,344
2086 3,730,284 10,901,130
2085 3,757,953 10,866,652
2084 3,786,496 10,828,231
2083 3,815,548 10,788,662
2082 3,845,662 10,744,562
2081 3,876,344 10,694,184
2080 3,908,874 10,643,741
2079 3,942,344 10,595,541
2078 3,976,345 10,542,808
2077 4,011,440 10,485,940
2076 4,047,182 10,425,009
2075 4,083,977 10,360,406
2074 4,122,447 10,296,803
2073 4,161,511 10,231,098
2072 4,201,158 10,162,543
2071 4,241,639 10,087,031
2070 4,283,145 10,011,609
2069 4,325,083 9,934,922
2068 4,367,606 9,859,053
2067 4,411,116 9,776,883
2066 4,455,358 9,697,923
2065 4,500,141 9,614,104
2064 4,545,243 9,528,739
2063 4,590,439 9,441,399
2062 4,635,634 9,355,323
2061 4,681,315 9,263,409
2060 4,727,089 9,170,607
2059 4,772,667 9,079,745
2058 4,817,532 8,990,271
2057 4,862,597 8,896,743
2056 4,907,646 8,802,019
2055 4,953,105 8,709,444
2054 4,998,650 8,615,281
2053 5,044,397 8,516,567
2052 5,089,817 8,414,954
2051 5,135,505 8,311,546
2050 5,181,635 8,205,177
2049 5,228,058 8,098,984
2048 5,274,692 7,992,341
2047 5,322,212 7,883,102
2046 5,369,645 7,771,995
2045 5,417,381 7,656,634
2044 5,465,818 7,540,346
2043 5,514,902 7,423,169
2042 5,564,573 7,304,164
2041 5,615,489 7,184,590
2040 5,667,076 7,065,128
2039 5,719,506 6,944,514
2038 5,771,452 6,828,736
2037 5,824,628 6,712,604
2036 5,877,980 6,597,804
2035 5,930,517 6,481,168
2034 5,983,205 6,367,252
2033 6,036,049 6,253,701
2032 6,088,107 6,144,167
2031 6,140,619 6,035,613
2030 6,193,318 5,928,640
2029 6,244,785 5,823,343
2028 6,294,981 5,719,323
2027 6,343,732 5,615,205
2026 6,390,149 5,509,670
2025 6,433,302 5,413,596
2024 6,441,421 5,289,152
2023 6,446,596 5,165,775
2022 6,465,097 5,043,612
2021 6,507,301 4,922,749
2020 6,550,696 4,803,269
2019 6,616,726 4,685,306
2018 6,710,798 4,569,087
2017 6,803,468 4,454,805
2016 6,894,139 4,367,088
2015 6,984,225 4,270,092
2014 7,073,572 4,173,398
2013 7,160,005 4,076,708
2012 7,305,888 3,979,998
2011 7,348,328 3,882,986
2010 7,395,599 3,786,161
2009 7,444,443 3,689,099
2008 7,492,561 3,591,977
2007 7,545,338 3,494,496
2006 7,601,022 3,406,334
2005 7,658,972 3,320,396
2004 7,716,860 3,236,626
2003 7,775,327 3,154,969
2002 7,837,161 3,075,373
2001 8,009,142 2,997,784
2000 8,170,172 2,922,153
1999 8,210,624 2,848,431
1998 8,256,786 2,776,568
1997 8,312,068 2,706,518
1996 8,362,826 2,587,997
1995 8,406,067 2,474,666
1994 8,443,591 2,366,298
1993 8,472,313 2,262,676
1992 8,540,164 2,163,591
1991 8,632,367 2,068,845
1990 8,718,289 1,978,248
1989 8,876,972 -
1988 8,981,446 -
1987 8,971,359 -
1986 8,958,171 -
1985 8,960,547 -
1984 8,960,679 -
1983 8,939,738 -
1982 8,917,457 -
1981 8,891,117 -
1980 8,861,535 -
1979 8,825,940 -
1978 8,814,032 -
1977 8,804,183 -
1976 8,758,599 -
1975 8,720,742 -
1974 8,678,745 -
1973 8,620,967 -
1972 8,576,200 -
1971 8,536,395 -
1970 8,489,574 -
1969 8,434,172 -
1968 8,369,603 -
1967 8,310,226 -
1966 8,258,057 -
1965 8,204,168 -
1964 8,144,340 -
1963 8,078,145 -
1962 8,012,946 -
1961 7,943,118 -
1960 7,867,374 -

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/palestine | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Palestine gained 960,754 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Palestine's population increased by 1,196,791 people (a 27.4% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Palestine was ranked 127th in 2006 and ranked 121st 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 Palestine will increase by 47.5% to 8,205,177 people and rank change from 121st to 112th.

Palestine is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 11.2M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.38M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Palestine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Palestine
2100 -0.72% 0.09%
2099 -0.71% 0.12%
2098 -0.71% 0.15%
2097 -0.7% 0.15%
2096 -0.68% 0.18%
2095 -0.69% 0.17%
2094 -0.68% 0.2%
2093 -0.68% 0.22%
2092 -0.67% 0.23%
2091 -0.67% 0.24%
2090 -0.68% 0.24%
2089 -0.69% 0.28%
2088 -0.7% 0.27%
2087 -0.72% 0.3%
2086 -0.74% 0.32%
2085 -0.75% 0.35%
2084 -0.76% 0.37%
2083 -0.78% 0.41%
2082 -0.79% 0.47%
2081 -0.83% 0.47%
2080 -0.85% 0.45%
2079 -0.86% 0.5%
2078 -0.87% 0.54%
2077 -0.88% 0.58%
2076 -0.9% 0.62%
2075 -0.93% 0.62%
2074 -0.94% 0.64%
2073 -0.94% 0.67%
2072 -0.95% 0.75%
2071 -0.97% 0.75%
2070 -0.97% 0.77%
2069 -0.97% 0.77%
2068 -0.99% 0.84%
2067 -0.99% 0.81%
2066 -1% 0.87%
2065 -0.99% 0.9%
2064 -0.98% 0.93%
2063 -0.97% 0.92%
2062 -0.98% 0.99%
2061 -0.97% 1.01%
2060 -0.95% 1%
2059 -0.93% 1%
2058 -0.93% 1.05%
2057 -0.92% 1.08%
2056 -0.92% 1.06%
2055 -0.91% 1.09%
2054 -0.91% 1.16%
2053 -0.89% 1.21%
2052 -0.89% 1.24%
2051 -0.89% 1.3%
2050 -0.89% 1.31%
2049 -0.88% 1.33%
2048 -0.89% 1.39%
2047 -0.88% 1.43%
2046 -0.88% 1.51%
2045 -0.89% 1.54%
2044 -0.89% 1.58%
2043 -0.89% 1.63%
2042 -0.91% 1.66%
2041 -0.91% 1.69%
2040 -0.92% 1.74%
2039 -0.9% 1.7%
2038 -0.91% 1.73%
2037 -0.91% 1.74%
2036 -0.89% 1.8%
2035 -0.88% 1.79%
2034 -0.88% 1.82%
2033 -0.86% 1.78%
2032 -0.86% 1.8%
2031 -0.85% 1.8%
2030 -0.82% 1.81%
2029 -0.8% 1.82%
2028 -0.77% 1.85%
2027 -0.73% 1.92%
2026 -0.67% 1.77%
2025 -0.13% 2.35%
2024 -0.08% 2.39%
2023 -0.29% 2.42%
2022 -0.65% 2.46%
2021 -0.66% 2.49%
2020 -1% 2.52%
2019 -1.4% 2.54%
2018 -1.36% 2.57%
2017 -1.32% 2.01%
2016 -1.29% 2.27%
2015 -1.26% 2.32%
2014 -1.21% 2.37%
2013 -2% 2.43%
2012 -0.58% 2.5%
2011 -0.64% 2.56%
2010 -0.66% 2.63%
2009 -0.64% 2.7%
2008 -0.7% 2.79%
2007 -0.73% 2.59%
2006 -0.76% 2.59%
2005 -0.75% 2.59%
2004 -0.75% 2.59%
2003 -0.79% 2.59%
2002 -2.15% 2.59%
2001 -1.97% 2.59%
2000 -0.49% 2.59%
1999 -0.56% 2.59%
1998 -0.67% 2.59%
1997 -0.61% 4.58%
1996 -0.51% 4.58%
1995 -0.44% 4.58%
1994 -0.34% 4.58%
1993 -0.79% 4.58%
1992 -1.07% 4.58%
1991 -0.99% 4.58%
1990 -1.79% -
1989 -1.16% -
1988 0.11% -
1987 0.15% -
1986 -0.03% -
1985 -0.001% -
1984 0.23% -
1983 0.25% -
1982 0.3% -
1981 0.33% -
1980 0.4% -
1979 0.14% -
1978 0.11% -
1977 0.52% -
1976 0.43% -
1975 0.48% -
1974 0.67% -
1973 0.52% -
1972 0.47% -
1971 0.55% -
1970 0.66% -
1969 0.77% -
1968 0.71% -
1967 0.63% -
1966 0.66% -
1965 0.73% -
1964 0.82% -
1963 0.81% -
1962 0.88% -
1961 0.96% -

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/palestine | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Palestine's population grew by 2.35%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Palestine
Current population
6390149
5563879
Population rank 112/197 121/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.07%
One net population change
1.08 hours
4.24 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
3.75 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
16.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +341
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +124,444
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.35%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 33/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
22.8 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -23,156
Net migration rank 106/196 154/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 272,481
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 103/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 5%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 92/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Palestine
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Palestine
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -23,156
2024 -47,023 524 108,930 -23,145
2023 -43,837 5,173 102,613 -24,996
2022 -62,065 26,498 123,987 -5,006
2021 -90,452 11,756 120,396 -12,369
2020 -65,507 30,167 122,416 -12,369
2019 -46,317 -2,156 124,508 -24,733
2018 -46,304 -3,873 124,791 -25,141
2017 -45,583 -6,109 125,688 -25,452
2016 -42,744 -9,482 126,698 -22,774
2015 -44,699 -4,227 126,189 -22,903
2014 -41,027 -2,180 120,724 -27,077
2013 -37,948 -1,324 120,503 -26,979
2012 -40,183 -26,334 119,185 -26,916
2011 -37,477 -23,360 119,021 -26,662
2010 -34,759 -21,668 117,674 -26,351
2009 -26,800 -19,060 111,724 -25,906
2008 -32,967 -17,595 108,395 -23,985
2007 -37,727 -16,366 112,453 -20,337
2006 -39,526 -15,184 111,728 -23,445
2005 -42,124 -14,435 110,569 -28,161
2004 -40,128 -13,604 110,045 -32,853
2003 -44,319 -13,183 109,162 -35,968
2002 -46,240 -12,735 108,560 -35,038
2001 -44,050 -30,726 107,320 -25,652
2000 -41,668 -26,211 106,367 -11,496
1999 -39,411 -23,846 104,823 -13,860
1998 -52,844 -23,262 103,566 -13,146
1997 -58,185 -22,963 102,307 10,417
1996 -45,159 -21,520 98,085 9,810
1995 -42,030 -22,020 94,037 8,763
1994 -32,086 -20,984 90,156 7,434
1993 -24,569 -19,973 86,434 5,975
1992 -18,789 -120,552 82,865 4,411
1991 -14,675 -119,356 79,444 2,116
1990 -3,487 -116,817 76,163 -476
1989 5,326 -114,705 - -3,026
1988 9,879 215 - -3,008
1987 8,971 357 - 50,702
1986 16,125 1,104 - -21,071
1985 11,649 -19,230 - -31,640
1984 20,610 -1,032 - 9,108
1983 21,455 -1,872 - 684
1982 24,077 -1,860 - -9,799
1981 29,341 -1,830 - -13,892
1980 30,129 -2,045 - -15,067
1979 40,599 -872 - -16,058
1978 44,070 -62,769 - -16,654
1977 47,543 -11,955 - -16,444
1976 56,055 -2,522 - -14,515
1975 54,941 -38,071 - -11,596
1974 64,223 -1,402 - -8,670
1973 57,760 -5,409 - -6,736
1972 47,169 -11,296 - -7,848
1971 52,925 -7,654 - -17,235
1970 61,125 -11,315 - -31,405
1969 63,256 -3,204 - -45,586
1968 69,468 -132 - -54,963
1967 49,861 -420 - -55,265
1966 54,504 -144 - -47,780
1965 58,249 -1,406 - -36,419
1964 66,783 505 - -31,125
1963 66,241 500 - -21,220
1962 64,104 499 - -18,971
1961 75,460 378 - -18,224
1960 76,314 -1,112 - -17,662

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/palestine | 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 Palestine 85.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,206,216 people) and 14.2% is from migration (a loss of 198,888 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 272,481 people or 5% in Palestine.

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
Palestine
City Population
Gaza 590K
Ashdod 220K
Hebron 215K
Nablus 178K
Ramallah 43.9K
Qalqilya 41.7K
Bethlehem 36K
Dura 6K

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/palestine | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.