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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 10,762,817 people in Papua New Guinea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 11,045,681 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 -0.86% per year vs +2.14% in Papua New Guinea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Papua New Guinea has grown from 6.75M to 11M (63.7% 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 3,384,288 18,798,240
2099 3,408,821 18,786,145
2098 3,433,149 18,772,372
2097 3,457,549 18,755,008
2096 3,482,057 18,733,822
2095 3,506,060 18,710,340
2094 3,530,278 18,683,383
2093 3,554,432 18,654,365
2092 3,578,667 18,621,911
2091 3,602,907 18,586,147
2090 3,627,300 18,545,656
2089 3,652,188 18,506,626
2088 3,677,416 18,464,999
2087 3,703,460 18,420,558
2086 3,730,284 18,372,233
2085 3,757,953 18,321,842
2084 3,786,496 18,270,605
2083 3,815,548 18,214,932
2082 3,845,662 18,159,412
2081 3,876,344 18,100,531
2080 3,908,874 18,035,268
2079 3,942,344 17,972,052
2078 3,976,345 17,904,957
2077 4,011,440 17,837,082
2076 4,047,182 17,768,107
2075 4,083,977 17,695,759
2074 4,122,447 17,621,390
2073 4,161,511 17,544,490
2072 4,201,158 17,463,028
2071 4,241,639 17,377,995
2070 4,283,145 17,291,519
2069 4,325,083 17,201,936
2068 4,367,606 17,108,606
2067 4,411,116 17,011,562
2066 4,455,358 16,911,929
2065 4,500,141 16,809,460
2064 4,545,243 16,705,205
2063 4,590,439 16,600,853
2062 4,635,634 16,493,872
2061 4,681,315 16,383,508
2060 4,727,089 16,267,162
2059 4,772,667 16,149,265
2058 4,817,532 16,029,360
2057 4,862,597 15,906,350
2056 4,907,646 15,781,247
2055 4,953,105 15,653,296
2054 4,998,650 15,519,925
2053 5,044,397 15,386,054
2052 5,089,817 15,247,553
2051 5,135,505 15,107,257
2050 5,181,635 14,965,427
2049 5,228,058 14,818,793
2048 5,274,692 14,670,417
2047 5,322,212 14,519,915
2046 5,369,645 14,367,141
2045 5,417,381 14,210,639
2044 5,465,818 14,053,122
2043 5,514,902 13,894,884
2042 5,564,573 13,735,841
2041 5,615,489 13,574,567
2040 5,667,076 13,410,615
2039 5,719,506 13,244,740
2038 5,771,452 13,076,640
2037 5,824,628 12,907,059
2036 5,877,980 12,735,582
2035 5,930,517 12,563,938
2034 5,983,205 12,389,907
2033 6,036,049 12,215,713
2032 6,088,107 12,039,848
2031 6,140,619 11,862,856
2030 6,193,318 11,683,177
2029 6,244,785 11,502,504
2028 6,294,981 11,320,226
2027 6,343,732 11,136,100
2026 6,390,149 10,950,183
2025 6,433,302 10,762,817
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Papua New Guinea's population increased by 2,083,963 people (a 23.3% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Papua New Guinea will increase by 35.5% to 14,965,427 people and rank change from 89th to 84th.

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 3.38M 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 -0.13% 1.76%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/papua-new-guinea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Papua New Guinea's population grew by 1.76%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Papua New Guinea
Current population
6390149
11045681
Population rank 112/197 89/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.13%
One net population change
1.08 hours
2.83 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
2.05 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
7.58 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +510
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +186,315
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +1.76%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 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 -47,023 524 187,595 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/papua-new-guinea | 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 Papua New Guinea 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,883,909 people) and 7.48% is from migration (a gain of 152,353 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/papua-new-guinea | 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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