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Population in Bulgaria compared to Papua New Guinea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 10,576,502 people in Papua New Guinea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 11,002,753 in Papua New Guinea.

Population statistics:

  • Papua New Guinea's population is 1.73 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Papua New Guinea is the 89th.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.13% for Papua New Guinea.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +2.23% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.1% growth).

Bulgaria vs Papua New Guinea: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Papua New Guinea
2100 3,368,029 18,802,138
2099 3,392,444 18,790,040
2098 3,416,655 18,776,265
2097 3,440,938 18,758,897
2096 3,465,328 18,737,707
2095 3,489,216 18,714,219
2094 3,513,318 18,687,257
2093 3,537,356 18,658,233
2092 3,561,475 18,625,772
2091 3,585,597 18,590,001
2090 3,609,873 18,549,501
2089 3,634,642 18,510,463
2088 3,659,749 18,468,827
2087 3,685,668 18,424,378
2086 3,712,363 18,376,043
2085 3,739,898 18,325,641
2084 3,768,305 18,274,394
2083 3,797,217 18,218,709
2082 3,827,186 18,163,177
2081 3,857,721 18,104,285
2080 3,890,095 18,039,008
2079 3,923,403 17,975,778
2078 3,957,241 17,908,670
2077 3,992,168 17,840,781
2076 4,027,738 17,771,791
2075 4,064,356 17,699,428
2074 4,102,642 17,625,044
2073 4,141,518 17,548,128
2072 4,180,975 17,466,649
2071 4,221,261 17,381,598
2070 4,262,568 17,295,105
2069 4,304,304 17,205,503
2068 4,346,623 17,112,154
2067 4,389,924 17,015,090
2066 4,433,953 16,915,436
2065 4,478,521 16,812,946
2064 4,523,406 16,708,669
2063 4,568,385 16,604,296
2062 4,613,363 16,497,292
2061 4,658,825 16,386,905
2060 4,704,379 16,270,535
2059 4,749,738 16,152,614
2058 4,794,388 16,032,684
2057 4,839,236 15,909,649
2056 4,884,068 15,784,519
2055 4,929,309 15,656,542
2054 4,974,635 15,523,143
2053 5,020,162 15,389,244
2052 5,065,364 15,250,715
2051 5,110,833 15,110,389
2050 5,156,741 14,968,530
2049 5,202,941 14,821,865
2048 5,249,351 14,673,459
2047 5,296,642 14,522,926
2046 5,343,848 14,370,120
2045 5,391,354 14,213,585
2044 5,439,559 14,056,036
2043 5,488,407 13,897,765
2042 5,537,839 13,738,690
2041 5,588,510 13,577,382
2040 5,639,850 13,413,396
2039 5,692,028 13,247,486
2038 5,743,725 13,079,352
2037 5,796,645 12,909,735
2036 5,849,741 12,738,223
2035 5,902,025 12,566,543
2034 5,954,460 12,392,476
2033 6,007,050 12,218,246
2032 6,058,858 12,042,345
2031 6,111,118 11,865,316
2030 6,163,564 11,685,599
2029 6,214,784 11,504,890
2028 6,264,738 11,322,573
2027 6,313,255 11,138,409
2026 6,359,449 10,952,454
2025 6,402,394 10,765,048
2024 6,441,421 10,576,502
2023 6,446,596 10,389,635
2022 6,465,097 10,203,169
2021 6,507,301 10,012,896
2020 6,550,696 9,815,746
2019 6,616,726 9,609,010
2018 6,710,798 9,394,513
2017 6,803,468 9,178,714
2016 6,894,139 8,961,718
2015 6,984,225 8,743,246
2014 7,073,572 8,523,441
2013 7,160,005 8,302,698
2012 7,305,888 8,081,390
2011 7,348,328 7,859,346
2010 7,395,599 7,633,523
2009 7,444,443 7,406,438
2008 7,492,561 7,183,002
2007 7,545,338 6,963,345
2006 7,601,022 6,747,720
2005 7,658,972 6,535,905
2004 7,716,860 6,328,041
2003 7,775,327 6,123,997
2002 7,837,161 5,924,003
2001 8,009,142 5,728,435
2000 8,170,172 5,537,064
1999 8,210,624 5,349,333
1998 8,256,786 5,166,390
1997 8,312,068 4,987,883
1996 8,362,826 4,813,361
1995 8,406,067 4,644,278
1994 8,443,591 4,480,208
1993 8,472,313 4,320,872
1992 8,540,164 4,166,699
1991 8,632,367 4,021,837
1990 8,718,289 3,896,481
1989 8,876,972 3,796,078
1988 8,981,446 3,711,880
1987 8,971,359 3,632,543
1986 8,958,171 3,554,793
1985 8,960,547 3,478,936
1984 8,960,679 3,405,198
1983 8,939,738 3,333,633
1982 8,917,457 3,264,291
1981 8,891,117 3,197,019
1980 8,861,535 3,131,512
1979 8,825,940 3,067,341
1978 8,814,032 3,003,714
1977 8,804,183 2,940,327
1976 8,758,599 2,877,327
1975 8,720,742 2,814,820
1974 8,678,745 2,752,671
1973 8,620,967 2,690,629
1972 8,576,200 2,628,432
1971 8,536,395 2,566,421
1970 8,489,574 2,505,628
1969 8,434,172 2,446,927
1968 8,369,603 2,390,803
1967 8,310,226 2,337,532
1966 8,258,057 2,285,774
1965 8,204,168 2,235,820
1964 8,144,340 2,188,325
1963 8,078,145 2,141,376
1962 8,012,946 2,093,919
1961 7,943,118 2,046,127
1960 7,867,374 1,995,110

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Papua New Guinea gained 2,213,998 people (a 32.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,041,035 people (a 22.8% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Papua New Guinea was ranked 100th in 2006 and ranked 89th 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 Papua New Guinea will increase by 36% to 14,968,530 people and rank change from 89th to 85th.

Papua New Guinea is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 18.8M 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
Papua New Guinea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Papua New Guinea
2100 -0.72% 0.06%
2099 -0.71% 0.07%
2098 -0.71% 0.09%
2097 -0.7% 0.11%
2096 -0.68% 0.13%
2095 -0.69% 0.14%
2094 -0.68% 0.16%
2093 -0.68% 0.17%
2092 -0.67% 0.19%
2091 -0.67% 0.22%
2090 -0.68% 0.21%
2089 -0.69% 0.23%
2088 -0.7% 0.24%
2087 -0.72% 0.26%
2086 -0.74% 0.28%
2085 -0.75% 0.28%
2084 -0.76% 0.31%
2083 -0.78% 0.31%
2082 -0.79% 0.33%
2081 -0.83% 0.36%
2080 -0.85% 0.35%
2079 -0.86% 0.37%
2078 -0.87% 0.38%
2077 -0.88% 0.39%
2076 -0.9% 0.41%
2075 -0.93% 0.42%
2074 -0.94% 0.44%
2073 -0.94% 0.47%
2072 -0.95% 0.49%
2071 -0.97% 0.5%
2070 -0.97% 0.52%
2069 -0.97% 0.55%
2068 -0.99% 0.57%
2067 -0.99% 0.59%
2066 -1% 0.61%
2065 -0.99% 0.62%
2064 -0.98% 0.63%
2063 -0.97% 0.65%
2062 -0.98% 0.67%
2061 -0.97% 0.72%
2060 -0.95% 0.73%
2059 -0.93% 0.75%
2058 -0.93% 0.77%
2057 -0.92% 0.79%
2056 -0.92% 0.82%
2055 -0.91% 0.86%
2054 -0.91% 0.87%
2053 -0.89% 0.91%
2052 -0.89% 0.93%
2051 -0.89% 0.95%
2050 -0.89% 0.99%
2049 -0.88% 1.01%
2048 -0.89% 1.04%
2047 -0.88% 1.06%
2046 -0.88% 1.1%
2045 -0.89% 1.12%
2044 -0.89% 1.14%
2043 -0.89% 1.16%
2042 -0.91% 1.19%
2041 -0.91% 1.22%
2040 -0.92% 1.25%
2039 -0.9% 1.29%
2038 -0.91% 1.31%
2037 -0.91% 1.35%
2036 -0.89% 1.37%
2035 -0.88% 1.4%
2034 -0.88% 1.43%
2033 -0.86% 1.46%
2032 -0.86% 1.49%
2031 -0.85% 1.54%
2030 -0.82% 1.57%
2029 -0.8% 1.61%
2028 -0.77% 1.65%
2027 -0.73% 1.7%
2026 -0.67% 1.74%
2025 -0.61% 1.78%
2024 -0.08% 1.8%
2023 -0.29% 1.83%
2022 -0.65% 1.9%
2021 -0.66% 2.01%
2020 -1% 2.15%
2019 -1.4% 2.28%
2018 -1.36% 2.35%
2017 -1.32% 2.42%
2016 -1.29% 2.5%
2015 -1.26% 2.58%
2014 -1.21% 2.66%
2013 -2% 2.74%
2012 -0.58% 2.83%
2011 -0.64% 2.96%
2010 -0.66% 3.07%
2009 -0.64% 3.11%
2008 -0.7% 3.15%
2007 -0.73% 3.2%
2006 -0.76% 3.24%
2005 -0.75% 3.28%
2004 -0.75% 3.33%
2003 -0.79% 3.38%
2002 -2.15% 3.41%
2001 -1.97% 3.46%
2000 -0.49% 3.51%
1999 -0.56% 3.54%
1998 -0.67% 3.58%
1997 -0.61% 3.63%
1996 -0.51% 3.64%
1995 -0.44% 3.66%
1994 -0.34% 3.69%
1993 -0.79% 3.7%
1992 -1.07% 3.6%
1991 -0.99% 3.22%
1990 -1.79% 2.64%
1989 -1.16% 2.27%
1988 0.11% 2.18%
1987 0.15% 2.19%
1986 -0.03% 2.18%
1985 -0.001% 2.17%
1984 0.23% 2.15%
1983 0.25% 2.12%
1982 0.3% 2.1%
1981 0.33% 2.09%
1980 0.4% 2.09%
1979 0.14% 2.12%
1978 0.11% 2.16%
1977 0.52% 2.19%
1976 0.43% 2.22%
1975 0.48% 2.26%
1974 0.67% 2.31%
1973 0.52% 2.37%
1972 0.47% 2.42%
1971 0.55% 2.43%
1970 0.66% 2.4%
1969 0.77% 2.35%
1968 0.71% 2.28%
1967 0.63% 2.26%
1966 0.66% 2.23%
1965 0.73% 2.17%
1964 0.82% 2.19%
1963 0.81% 2.27%
1962 0.88% 2.34%
1961 0.96% 2.56%

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/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Papua New Guinea
Current population
6359449
11002753
Population rank 112/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.13%
One net population change
1.69 hours
2.81 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
2.06 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
7.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +512
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +186,867
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 59/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.29 days
Annual migration change -2,961 -284
Net migration rank 106/196 87/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 31,171
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 163/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.3%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 183/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Papua New Guinea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Papua New Guinea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -284
2024 - 524 - -707
2023 -43,837 5,173 187,637 -787
2022 -62,065 26,498 186,861 -787
2021 -90,452 11,756 183,766 10,703
2020 -65,507 30,167 189,130 10,703
2019 -46,317 -2,156 190,662 22,978
2018 -46,304 -3,873 190,662 24,684
2017 -45,583 -6,109 189,715 26,513
2016 -42,744 -9,482 189,281 28,473
2015 -44,699 -4,227 188,600 30,580
2014 -41,027 -2,180 187,592 32,840
2013 -37,948 -1,324 185,790 35,280
2012 -40,183 -26,334 183,658 37,893
2011 -37,477 -23,360 181,842 40,690
2010 -34,759 -21,668 178,998 50,106
2009 -26,800 -19,060 175,421 49,647
2008 -32,967 -17,595 172,823 48,985
2007 -37,727 -16,366 169,306 48,203
2006 -39,526 -15,184 166,540 47,191
2005 -42,124 -14,435 163,888 46,014
2004 -40,128 -13,604 161,023 44,811
2003 -44,319 -13,183 158,611 43,639
2002 -46,240 -12,735 155,091 42,657
2001 -44,050 -30,726 151,431 41,962
2000 -41,668 -26,211 147,496 41,855
1999 -39,411 -23,846 143,592 42,519
1998 -52,844 -23,262 136,677 43,091
1997 -58,185 -22,963 134,458 42,787
1996 -45,159 -21,520 129,802 41,994
1995 -42,030 -22,020 125,410 40,962
1994 -32,086 -20,984 122,113 39,669
1993 -24,569 -19,973 118,668 38,220
1992 -18,789 -120,552 114,818 36,622
1991 -14,675 -119,356 111,453 26,830
1990 -3,487 -116,817 110,033 2,398
1989 5,326 -114,705 108,199 -19,824
1988 9,879 215 106,256 -26,232
1987 8,971 357 104,367 -25,720
1986 16,125 1,104 102,346 -25,495
1985 11,649 -19,230 100,333 -25,470
1984 20,610 -1,032 98,103 -25,487
1983 21,455 -1,872 95,982 -25,465
1982 24,077 -1,860 93,522 -25,355
1981 29,341 -1,830 91,767 -25,383
1980 30,129 -2,045 90,266 -25,638
1979 40,599 -872 89,330 -25,618
1978 44,070 -62,769 88,747 -25,208
1977 47,543 -11,955 87,954 -24,722
1976 56,055 -2,522 86,965 -24,198
1975 54,941 -38,071 85,809 -23,562
1974 64,223 -1,402 84,829 -22,771
1973 57,760 -5,409 83,821 -21,803
1972 47,169 -11,296 82,672 -20,303
1971 52,925 -7,654 80,599 -18,945
1970 61,125 -11,315 78,712 -18,773
1969 63,256 -3,204 76,454 -18,994
1968 69,468 -132 73,983 -19,188
1967 49,861 -420 71,519 -19,767
1966 54,504 -144 69,206 -17,454
1965 58,249 -1,406 66,693 -18,532
1964 66,783 505 64,558 -17,730
1963 66,241 500 62,260 -15,189
1962 64,104 499 59,974 -12,141
1961 75,460 378 58,151 -10,409
1960 76,314 -1,112 56,326 -2,034

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 91% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,906 people) and 8.98% is from migration (a gain of 185,900 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 31,171 people or 0.3% in Papua New Guinea.

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
Papua New Guinea
City Population
Port Moresby 317K
Lae 101K

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/papua-new-guinea | 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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