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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 36,435,861 people in Poland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 36,007,074 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 -0.86% per year vs -0.38% in Poland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Poland has declined from 38.1M to 36M (5.6% decline).

Bulgaria vs Poland: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Poland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Poland
2100 3,384,288 18,452,579
2099 3,408,821 18,644,857
2098 3,433,149 18,838,707
2097 3,457,549 19,033,962
2096 3,482,057 19,231,896
2095 3,506,060 19,431,204
2094 3,530,278 19,634,214
2093 3,554,432 19,840,304
2092 3,578,667 20,049,969
2091 3,602,907 20,263,764
2090 3,627,300 20,482,150
2089 3,652,188 20,705,051
2088 3,677,416 20,933,750
2087 3,703,460 21,167,790
2086 3,730,284 21,407,163
2085 3,757,953 21,652,018
2084 3,786,496 21,902,736
2083 3,815,548 22,159,983
2082 3,845,662 22,423,109
2081 3,876,344 22,691,495
2080 3,908,874 22,964,515
2079 3,942,344 23,242,960
2078 3,976,345 23,524,184
2077 4,011,440 23,811,918
2076 4,047,182 24,102,012
2075 4,083,977 24,395,355
2074 4,122,447 24,691,719
2073 4,161,511 24,990,908
2072 4,201,158 25,290,453
2071 4,241,639 25,590,102
2070 4,283,145 25,889,034
2069 4,325,083 26,187,633
2068 4,367,606 26,485,171
2067 4,411,116 26,780,961
2066 4,455,358 27,074,124
2065 4,500,141 27,364,039
2064 4,545,243 27,650,950
2063 4,590,439 27,934,132
2062 4,635,634 28,212,240
2061 4,681,315 28,487,283
2060 4,727,089 28,757,525
2059 4,772,667 29,025,705
2058 4,817,532 29,288,751
2057 4,862,597 29,548,996
2056 4,907,646 29,806,770
2055 4,953,105 30,060,951
2054 4,998,650 30,311,416
2053 5,044,397 30,559,065
2052 5,089,817 30,801,964
2051 5,135,505 31,043,690
2050 5,181,635 31,281,762
2049 5,228,058 31,516,893
2048 5,274,692 31,748,736
2047 5,322,212 31,978,608
2046 5,369,645 32,205,877
2045 5,417,381 32,431,013
2044 5,465,818 32,653,012
2043 5,514,902 32,873,136
2042 5,564,573 33,090,733
2041 5,615,489 33,303,578
2040 5,667,076 33,514,705
2039 5,719,506 33,722,530
2038 5,771,452 33,926,660
2037 5,824,628 34,126,585
2036 5,877,980 34,323,967
2035 5,930,517 34,515,669
2034 5,983,205 34,704,048
2033 6,036,049 34,887,791
2032 6,088,107 35,067,502
2031 6,140,619 35,242,658
2030 6,193,318 35,410,392
2029 6,244,785 35,572,635
2028 6,294,981 35,725,650
2027 6,343,732 35,870,384
2026 6,390,149 36,007,074
2025 6,433,302 36,435,861
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Poland's population decreased by 1,963,013 people (a 5.17% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Poland will decrease by 13.1% to 31,281,762 people and rank change from 47th to 61st.

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 -0.13% -0.34%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Poland's population declined by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Poland
Current population
6390149
36007074
Population rank 112/197 47/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.43%
One net population change
1.08 hours
4.27 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
2.08 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
1.28 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 -338
Annual growth/decline -8,119 -123,372
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.34%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 179/197
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 -47,023 524 -157,205 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/poland | 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 Poland 53.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 832,648 people) and 46.1% is from migration (a gain of 712,179 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/poland | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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