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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 36,559,233 people in Poland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 35,806,942 in Poland.

Population statistics:

  • Poland's population is 5.63 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Poland is the 47th.
  • The countries together account for 0.51% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.43% for Poland.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs -0.36% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 35.8M (6.12% decline).

Bulgaria vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Poland
2100 3,368,029 18,350,017
2099 3,392,444 18,541,227
2098 3,416,655 18,733,999
2097 3,440,938 18,928,169
2096 3,465,328 19,125,003
2095 3,489,216 19,323,203
2094 3,513,318 19,525,085
2093 3,537,356 19,730,030
2092 3,561,475 19,938,529
2091 3,585,597 20,151,135
2090 3,609,873 20,368,308
2089 3,634,642 20,589,970
2088 3,659,749 20,817,398
2087 3,685,668 21,050,137
2086 3,712,363 21,288,179
2085 3,739,898 21,531,674
2084 3,768,305 21,780,998
2083 3,797,217 22,036,816
2082 3,827,186 22,298,479
2081 3,857,721 22,565,373
2080 3,890,095 22,836,875
2079 3,923,403 23,113,773
2078 3,957,241 23,393,434
2077 3,992,168 23,679,569
2076 4,027,738 23,968,050
2075 4,064,356 24,259,763
2074 4,102,642 24,554,480
2073 4,141,518 24,852,006
2072 4,180,975 25,149,886
2071 4,221,261 25,447,869
2070 4,262,568 25,745,140
2069 4,304,304 26,042,079
2068 4,346,623 26,337,963
2067 4,389,924 26,632,110
2066 4,433,953 26,923,643
2065 4,478,521 27,211,946
2064 4,523,406 27,497,263
2063 4,568,385 27,778,871
2062 4,613,363 28,055,433
2061 4,658,825 28,328,948
2060 4,704,379 28,597,687
2059 4,749,738 28,864,377
2058 4,794,388 29,125,961
2057 4,839,236 29,384,759
2056 4,884,068 29,641,101
2055 4,929,309 29,893,868
2054 4,974,635 30,142,942
2053 5,020,162 30,389,214
2052 5,065,364 30,630,763
2051 5,110,833 30,871,146
2050 5,156,741 31,107,894
2049 5,202,941 31,341,718
2048 5,249,351 31,572,273
2047 5,296,642 31,800,868
2046 5,343,848 32,026,873
2045 5,391,354 32,250,757
2044 5,439,559 32,471,522
2043 5,488,407 32,690,423
2042 5,537,839 32,906,811
2041 5,588,510 33,118,473
2040 5,639,850 33,328,426
2039 5,692,028 33,535,096
2038 5,743,725 33,738,091
2037 5,796,645 33,936,906
2036 5,849,741 34,133,190
2035 5,902,025 34,323,827
2034 5,954,460 34,511,159
2033 6,007,050 34,693,880
2032 6,058,858 34,872,593
2031 6,111,118 35,046,775
2030 6,163,564 35,213,577
2029 6,214,784 35,374,919
2028 6,264,738 35,527,083
2027 6,313,255 35,671,012
2026 6,359,449 35,806,942
2025 6,402,394 36,233,346
2024 6,441,421 36,559,233
2023 6,446,596 36,687,353
2022 6,465,097 36,821,749
2021 6,507,301 36,981,559
2020 6,550,696 37,515,748
2019 6,616,726 37,965,475
2018 6,710,798 37,974,750
2017 6,803,468 37,974,826
2016 6,894,139 37,970,087
2015 6,984,225 37,986,412
2014 7,073,572 38,011,735
2013 7,160,005 38,040,196
2012 7,305,888 38,063,164
2011 7,348,328 38,063,255
2010 7,395,599 38,042,794
2009 7,444,443 38,151,603
2008 7,492,561 38,125,759
2007 7,545,338 38,120,560
2006 7,601,022 38,141,267
2005 7,658,972 38,165,445
2004 7,716,860 38,182,222
2003 7,775,327 38,204,570
2002 7,837,161 38,230,364
2001 8,009,142 38,248,076
2000 8,170,172 38,258,629
1999 8,210,624 38,660,271
1998 8,256,786 38,663,481
1997 8,312,068 38,649,660
1996 8,362,826 38,624,370
1995 8,406,067 38,594,998
1994 8,443,591 38,542,652
1993 8,472,313 38,461,408
1992 8,540,164 38,363,667
1991 8,632,367 38,246,193
1990 8,718,289 38,110,782
1989 8,876,972 37,961,529
1988 8,981,446 37,824,487
1987 8,971,359 37,668,045
1986 8,958,171 37,456,119
1985 8,960,547 37,201,885
1984 8,960,679 36,904,134
1983 8,939,738 36,571,808
1982 8,917,457 36,230,481
1981 8,891,117 35,898,587
1980 8,861,535 35,574,150
1979 8,825,940 35,247,217
1978 8,814,032 34,965,600
1977 8,804,183 34,689,050
1976 8,758,599 34,356,300
1975 8,720,742 34,015,199
1974 8,678,745 33,678,899
1973 8,620,967 33,357,200
1972 8,576,200 33,055,650
1971 8,536,395 32,783,500
1970 8,489,574 32,664,300
1969 8,434,172 32,548,300
1968 8,369,603 32,294,655
1967 8,310,226 31,987,155
1966 8,258,057 31,681,000
1965 8,204,168 31,444,950
1964 8,144,340 31,139,450
1963 8,078,145 30,712,000
1962 8,012,946 30,308,500
1961 7,943,118 29,964,000
1960 7,867,374 29,637,450

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/poland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Poland lost 171,180 people (a 0.45% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Poland's population decreased by 2,163,145 people (a 5.7% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Poland was ranked 32nd in 2006 and ranked 47th 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 Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,107,894 people and rank change from 47th to 62nd.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 33.1% in Poland.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Poland
2100 -0.72% -1.03%
2099 -0.71% -1.03%
2098 -0.71% -1.03%
2097 -0.7% -1.03%
2096 -0.68% -1.03%
2095 -0.69% -1.03%
2094 -0.68% -1.04%
2093 -0.68% -1.05%
2092 -0.67% -1.06%
2091 -0.67% -1.07%
2090 -0.68% -1.08%
2089 -0.69% -1.09%
2088 -0.7% -1.11%
2087 -0.72% -1.12%
2086 -0.74% -1.13%
2085 -0.75% -1.14%
2084 -0.76% -1.16%
2083 -0.78% -1.17%
2082 -0.79% -1.18%
2081 -0.83% -1.19%
2080 -0.85% -1.2%
2079 -0.86% -1.2%
2078 -0.87% -1.21%
2077 -0.88% -1.2%
2076 -0.9% -1.2%
2075 -0.93% -1.2%
2074 -0.94% -1.2%
2073 -0.94% -1.18%
2072 -0.95% -1.17%
2071 -0.97% -1.15%
2070 -0.97% -1.14%
2069 -0.97% -1.12%
2068 -0.99% -1.1%
2067 -0.99% -1.08%
2066 -1% -1.06%
2065 -0.99% -1.04%
2064 -0.98% -1.01%
2063 -0.97% -0.99%
2062 -0.98% -0.97%
2061 -0.97% -0.94%
2060 -0.95% -0.92%
2059 -0.93% -0.9%
2058 -0.93% -0.88%
2057 -0.92% -0.86%
2056 -0.92% -0.85%
2055 -0.91% -0.83%
2054 -0.91% -0.81%
2053 -0.89% -0.79%
2052 -0.89% -0.78%
2051 -0.89% -0.76%
2050 -0.89% -0.75%
2049 -0.88% -0.73%
2048 -0.89% -0.72%
2047 -0.88% -0.71%
2046 -0.88% -0.69%
2045 -0.89% -0.68%
2044 -0.89% -0.67%
2043 -0.89% -0.66%
2042 -0.91% -0.64%
2041 -0.91% -0.63%
2040 -0.92% -0.62%
2039 -0.9% -0.6%
2038 -0.91% -0.59%
2037 -0.91% -0.58%
2036 -0.89% -0.56%
2035 -0.88% -0.54%
2034 -0.88% -0.53%
2033 -0.86% -0.51%
2032 -0.86% -0.5%
2031 -0.85% -0.47%
2030 -0.82% -0.46%
2029 -0.8% -0.43%
2028 -0.77% -0.4%
2027 -0.73% -0.38%
2026 -0.67% -1.18%
2025 -0.61% -0.89%
2024 -0.08% -0.35%
2023 -0.29% -0.36%
2022 -0.65% -0.43%
2021 -0.66% -1.42%
2020 -1% -1.18%
2019 -1.4% -0.02%
2018 -1.36% -0%
2017 -1.32% 0.01%
2016 -1.29% -0.04%
2015 -1.26% -0.07%
2014 -1.21% -0.07%
2013 -2% -0.06%
2012 -0.58% -0%
2011 -0.64% 0.05%
2010 -0.66% -0.29%
2009 -0.64% 0.07%
2008 -0.7% 0.01%
2007 -0.73% -0.05%
2006 -0.76% -0.06%
2005 -0.75% -0.04%
2004 -0.75% -0.06%
2003 -0.79% -0.07%
2002 -2.15% -0.05%
2001 -1.97% -0.03%
2000 -0.49% -1.04%
1999 -0.56% -0.008%
1998 -0.67% 0.04%
1997 -0.61% 0.07%
1996 -0.51% 0.08%
1995 -0.44% 0.14%
1994 -0.34% 0.21%
1993 -0.79% 0.25%
1992 -1.07% 0.31%
1991 -0.99% 0.36%
1990 -1.79% 0.39%
1989 -1.16% 0.36%
1988 0.11% 0.42%
1987 0.15% 0.57%
1986 -0.03% 0.68%
1985 -0.001% 0.81%
1984 0.23% 0.91%
1983 0.25% 0.94%
1982 0.3% 0.92%
1981 0.33% 0.91%
1980 0.4% 0.93%
1979 0.14% 0.81%
1978 0.11% 0.8%
1977 0.52% 0.97%
1976 0.43% 1%
1975 0.48% 1%
1974 0.67% 0.96%
1973 0.52% 0.91%
1972 0.47% 0.83%
1971 0.55% 0.36%
1970 0.66% 0.36%
1969 0.77% 0.79%
1968 0.71% 0.96%
1967 0.63% 0.97%
1966 0.66% 0.75%
1965 0.73% 0.98%
1964 0.82% 1.39%
1963 0.81% 1.33%
1962 0.88% 1.15%
1961 0.96% 1.1%

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/poland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Poland's population declined by 0.35%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Poland
Current population
6359449
35806942
Population rank 112/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.43%
One net population change
1.69 hours
4.1 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.94 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
1.29 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 -351
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -128,120
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.35%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 181/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.59 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -330,820
Net migration rank 106/196 191/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,739,901
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 41/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 4.5%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 97/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Poland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Poland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -330,820
2024 - 524 - -238,062
2023 -43,837 5,173 -135,743 -7,824
2022 -62,065 26,498 -143,605 967,744
2021 -90,452 11,756 -184,907 2,251
2020 -65,507 30,167 -120,050 3,920
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -34,169 7,696
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -26,582 -223
2017 -45,583 -6,109 0 -21,535
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -3,797 -5,675
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -26,590 3,887
2014 -41,027 -2,180 0 5,525
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -19,020 12,402
2012 -40,183 -26,334 0 4,635
2011 -37,477 -23,360 11,419 45,951
2010 -34,759 -21,668 38,043 119,623
2009 -26,800 -19,060 30,521 -8,283
2008 -32,967 -17,595 34,313 -42,288
2007 -37,727 -16,366 11,436 -51,235
2006 -39,526 -15,184 3,814 -68,882
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -3,817 -41,942
2004 -40,128 -13,604 -7,637 -38,216
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -15,281 -19,039
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -3,823 -16,462
2001 -44,050 -30,726 3,825 -16,648
2000 -41,668 -26,211 11,478 -15,921
1999 -39,411 -23,846 0 -53,035
1998 -52,844 -23,262 19,332 -39,509
1997 -58,185 -22,963 34,785 -44,230
1996 -45,159 -21,520 42,487 -45,349
1995 -42,030 -22,020 46,314 -52,989
1994 -32,086 -20,984 96,357 -41,845
1993 -24,569 -19,973 103,846 -48,805
1992 -18,789 -120,552 118,928 -46,893
1991 -14,675 -119,356 141,511 -55,342
1990 -3,487 -116,817 160,066 -50,339
1989 5,326 -114,705 182,215 -49,192
1988 9,879 215 215,599 -101,671
1987 8,971 357 226,008 -32,310
1986 16,125 1,104 258,448 -22,520
1985 11,649 -19,230 297,615 -27,277
1984 20,610 -1,032 332,137 -18,402
1983 21,455 -1,872 373,032 -26,724
1982 24,077 -1,860 369,551 -34,980
1981 29,341 -1,830 351,806 -16,155
1980 30,129 -2,045 348,627 -42,420
1979 40,599 -872 366,571 -22,162
1978 44,070 -62,769 339,166 -62,936
1977 47,543 -11,955 353,828 -33,496
1976 56,055 -2,522 367,612 -25,716
1975 54,941 -38,071 350,356 -31,346
1974 64,223 -1,402 346,893 -18,273
1973 57,760 -5,409 320,229 -29,335
1972 47,169 -11,296 314,028 -15,004
1971 52,925 -7,654 278,660 -31,767
1970 61,125 -11,315 280,913 -66,859
1969 63,256 -3,204 270,151 -26,744
1968 69,468 -132 280,963 -11,905
1967 49,861 -420 275,089 -25,479
1966 54,504 -144 297,801 -17,158
1965 58,249 -1,406 314,450 -21,658
1964 66,783 505 326,965 -23,273
1963 66,241 500 359,330 -13,770
1962 64,104 499 360,671 -31,021
1961 75,460 378 398,521 -20,044
1960 76,314 -1,112 444,562 -6,306

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/poland | 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 Poland 41.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 675,443 people) and 58.6% is from migration (a gain of 955,766 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,739,901 people or 4.5% in Poland.

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
Poland
City Population
Warsaw 1.86M
Krakow 804K
Wroclaw 674K
Lodz 649K
Poznan 547K
Gdansk 488K
Szczecin 388K
Lublin 335K
Bydgoszcz 325K
Bialystok 290K

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/poland | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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