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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 5,289,152 people in Palestine in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 5,500,288 in Palestine.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 1.16 times bigger than Palestine's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Palestine is the 123rd.
  • 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 -0.96% per year vs +2.4% in Palestine.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Palestine has grown from 3.41M to 5.5M (61.5% growth).

Bulgaria vs Palestine: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Palestine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Palestine
2100 3,368,029 11,139,010
2099 3,392,444 11,129,016
2098 3,416,655 11,115,634
2097 3,440,938 11,098,586
2096 3,465,328 11,082,327
2095 3,489,216 11,062,471
2094 3,513,318 11,043,660
2093 3,537,356 11,021,075
2092 3,561,475 10,997,198
2091 3,585,597 10,971,910
2090 3,609,873 10,945,522
2089 3,634,642 10,919,566
2088 3,659,749 10,888,804
2087 3,685,668 10,859,463
2086 3,712,363 10,826,475
2085 3,739,898 10,792,233
2084 3,768,305 10,754,076
2083 3,797,217 10,714,778
2082 3,827,186 10,670,980
2081 3,857,721 10,620,947
2080 3,890,095 10,570,849
2079 3,923,403 10,522,979
2078 3,957,241 10,470,607
2077 3,992,168 10,414,129
2076 4,027,738 10,353,616
2075 4,064,356 10,289,455
2074 4,102,642 10,226,287
2073 4,141,518 10,161,032
2072 4,180,975 10,092,947
2071 4,221,261 10,017,951
2070 4,262,568 9,943,046
2069 4,304,304 9,866,885
2068 4,346,623 9,791,535
2067 4,389,924 9,709,928
2066 4,433,953 9,631,509
2065 4,478,521 9,548,264
2064 4,523,406 9,463,483
2063 4,568,385 9,376,741
2062 4,613,363 9,291,255
2061 4,658,825 9,199,970
2060 4,704,379 9,107,804
2059 4,749,738 9,017,564
2058 4,794,388 8,928,703
2057 4,839,236 8,835,816
2056 4,884,068 8,741,740
2055 4,929,309 8,649,798
2054 4,974,635 8,556,281
2053 5,020,162 8,458,243
2052 5,065,364 8,357,325
2051 5,110,833 8,254,626
2050 5,156,741 8,148,985
2049 5,202,941 8,043,520
2048 5,249,351 7,937,607
2047 5,296,642 7,829,116
2046 5,343,848 7,718,770
2045 5,391,354 7,604,199
2044 5,439,559 7,488,707
2043 5,488,407 7,372,333
2042 5,537,839 7,254,143
2041 5,588,510 7,135,388
2040 5,639,850 7,016,744
2039 5,692,028 6,896,956
2038 5,743,725 6,781,970
2037 5,796,645 6,666,634
2036 5,849,741 6,552,620
2035 5,902,025 6,436,783
2034 5,954,460 6,323,647
2033 6,007,050 6,210,874
2032 6,058,858 6,102,090
2031 6,111,118 5,994,279
2030 6,163,564 5,888,039
2029 6,214,784 5,783,463
2028 6,264,738 5,680,155
2027 6,313,255 5,576,750
2026 6,359,449 5,471,938
2025 6,402,394 5,376,521
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Palestine's population increased by 1,133,200 people (a 25.9% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Palestine was ranked 127th in 2006 and ranked 123rd 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 Palestine will increase by 48.2% to 8,148,985 people and rank change from 123rd to 112th.

Palestine is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 11.1M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.37M 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 -0.61% 1.65%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Palestine's population grew by 2.39%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Palestine
Current population
6359449
5500288
Population rank 112/197 123/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.07%
One net population change
1.69 hours
4.26 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
3.76 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
14.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +338
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +123,377
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.39%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 34/197
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 - 524 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/palestine | 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 Palestine 85.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,218,010 people) and 14.3% is from migration (a loss of 202,820 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 (1960–2024, 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/palestine | 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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