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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 10,804,871 people in Portugal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 10,788,071 in Portugal.

Population statistics:

  • Portugal's population is 1.69 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.13% for Portugal.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +0.35% in Portugal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.8M (2.53% growth).

Bulgaria vs Portugal: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Portugal
2100 3,384,288 9,079,610
2099 3,408,821 9,084,930
2098 3,433,149 9,089,064
2097 3,457,549 9,094,546
2096 3,482,057 9,100,755
2095 3,506,060 9,108,548
2094 3,530,278 9,113,366
2093 3,554,432 9,118,286
2092 3,578,667 9,123,579
2091 3,602,907 9,127,714
2090 3,627,300 9,132,140
2089 3,652,188 9,136,870
2088 3,677,416 9,141,647
2087 3,703,460 9,147,996
2086 3,730,284 9,152,804
2085 3,757,953 9,158,263
2084 3,786,496 9,165,158
2083 3,815,548 9,171,574
2082 3,845,662 9,179,958
2081 3,876,344 9,190,466
2080 3,908,874 9,201,621
2079 3,942,344 9,214,398
2078 3,976,345 9,228,555
2077 4,011,440 9,243,708
2076 4,047,182 9,262,542
2075 4,083,977 9,282,392
2074 4,122,447 9,305,608
2073 4,161,511 9,330,117
2072 4,201,158 9,353,771
2071 4,241,639 9,380,991
2070 4,283,145 9,409,668
2069 4,325,083 9,440,299
2068 4,367,606 9,473,457
2067 4,411,116 9,506,001
2066 4,455,358 9,539,597
2065 4,500,141 9,574,237
2064 4,545,243 9,611,738
2063 4,590,439 9,649,045
2062 4,635,634 9,686,737
2061 4,681,315 9,723,601
2060 4,727,089 9,762,379
2059 4,772,667 9,801,072
2058 4,817,532 9,841,936
2057 4,862,597 9,880,092
2056 4,907,646 9,918,643
2055 4,953,105 9,958,971
2054 4,998,650 9,997,570
2053 5,044,397 10,037,385
2052 5,089,817 10,076,095
2051 5,135,505 10,112,788
2050 5,181,635 10,149,626
2049 5,228,058 10,187,172
2048 5,274,692 10,221,034
2047 5,322,212 10,255,340
2046 5,369,645 10,289,266
2045 5,417,381 10,321,807
2044 5,465,818 10,353,338
2043 5,514,902 10,384,554
2042 5,564,573 10,412,950
2041 5,615,489 10,440,054
2040 5,667,076 10,469,380
2039 5,719,506 10,497,556
2038 5,771,452 10,523,869
2037 5,824,628 10,548,445
2036 5,877,980 10,573,361
2035 5,930,517 10,597,352
2034 5,983,205 10,621,955
2033 6,036,049 10,645,024
2032 6,088,107 10,668,384
2031 6,140,619 10,689,372
2030 6,193,318 10,708,819
2029 6,244,785 10,729,893
2028 6,294,981 10,752,023
2027 6,343,732 10,770,712
2026 6,390,149 10,788,071
2025 6,433,302 10,804,871
2024 6,441,421 10,694,681
2023 6,446,596 10,578,174
2022 6,465,097 10,434,332
2021 6,507,301 10,361,831
2020 6,550,696 10,297,081
2019 6,616,726 10,286,263
2018 6,710,798 10,283,822
2017 6,803,468 10,300,300
2016 6,894,139 10,325,452
2015 6,984,225 10,358,076
2014 7,073,572 10,401,062
2013 7,160,005 10,457,295
2012 7,305,888 10,514,844
2011 7,348,328 10,557,560
2010 7,395,599 10,573,100
2009 7,444,443 10,568,247
2008 7,492,561 10,558,177
2007 7,545,338 10,542,964
2006 7,601,022 10,522,288
2005 7,658,972 10,503,330
2004 7,716,860 10,483,861
2003 7,775,327 10,458,821
2002 7,837,161 10,419,631
2001 8,009,142 10,362,722
2000 8,170,172 10,289,898
1999 8,210,624 10,217,828
1998 8,256,786 10,160,196
1997 8,312,068 10,108,977
1996 8,362,826 10,063,945
1995 8,406,067 10,026,176
1994 8,443,591 9,991,525
1993 8,472,313 9,964,675
1992 8,540,164 9,952,494
1991 8,632,367 9,960,235
1990 8,718,289 9,983,218
1989 8,876,972 10,005,000
1988 8,981,446 10,019,610
1987 8,971,359 10,030,031
1986 8,958,171 10,032,734
1985 8,960,547 10,023,613
1984 8,960,679 9,996,232
1983 8,939,738 9,957,865
1982 8,917,457 9,911,771
1981 8,891,117 9,851,362
1980 8,861,535 9,766,312
1979 8,825,940 9,661,265
1978 8,814,032 9,558,250
1977 8,804,183 9,455,675
1976 8,758,599 9,355,810
1975 8,720,742 9,093,470
1974 8,678,745 8,754,365
1973 8,620,967 8,633,100
1972 8,576,200 8,630,430
1971 8,536,395 8,643,756
1970 8,489,574 8,680,431
1969 8,434,172 8,757,705
1968 8,369,603 8,836,650
1967 8,310,226 8,874,520
1966 8,258,057 8,930,990
1965 8,204,168 8,998,595
1964 8,144,340 9,035,365
1963 8,078,145 9,030,355
1962 8,012,946 8,993,985
1961 7,943,118 8,929,316
1960 7,867,374 8,857,716

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/portugal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Portugal's population increased by 462,619 people (a 4.48% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,149,626 people and rank change from 91st to 97th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 14.1% in Portugal.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Portugal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Portugal
2100 -0.72% -0.06%
2099 -0.71% -0.05%
2098 -0.71% -0.06%
2097 -0.7% -0.07%
2096 -0.68% -0.09%
2095 -0.69% -0.05%
2094 -0.68% -0.05%
2093 -0.68% -0.06%
2092 -0.67% -0.05%
2091 -0.67% -0.05%
2090 -0.68% -0.05%
2089 -0.69% -0.05%
2088 -0.7% -0.07%
2087 -0.72% -0.05%
2086 -0.74% -0.06%
2085 -0.75% -0.08%
2084 -0.76% -0.07%
2083 -0.78% -0.09%
2082 -0.79% -0.11%
2081 -0.83% -0.12%
2080 -0.85% -0.14%
2079 -0.86% -0.15%
2078 -0.87% -0.16%
2077 -0.88% -0.2%
2076 -0.9% -0.21%
2075 -0.93% -0.25%
2074 -0.94% -0.26%
2073 -0.94% -0.25%
2072 -0.95% -0.29%
2071 -0.97% -0.3%
2070 -0.97% -0.32%
2069 -0.97% -0.35%
2068 -0.99% -0.34%
2067 -0.99% -0.35%
2066 -1% -0.36%
2065 -0.99% -0.39%
2064 -0.98% -0.39%
2063 -0.97% -0.39%
2062 -0.98% -0.38%
2061 -0.97% -0.4%
2060 -0.95% -0.39%
2059 -0.93% -0.42%
2058 -0.93% -0.39%
2057 -0.92% -0.39%
2056 -0.92% -0.4%
2055 -0.91% -0.39%
2054 -0.91% -0.4%
2053 -0.89% -0.38%
2052 -0.89% -0.36%
2051 -0.89% -0.36%
2050 -0.89% -0.37%
2049 -0.88% -0.33%
2048 -0.89% -0.33%
2047 -0.88% -0.33%
2046 -0.88% -0.32%
2045 -0.89% -0.3%
2044 -0.89% -0.3%
2043 -0.89% -0.27%
2042 -0.91% -0.26%
2041 -0.91% -0.28%
2040 -0.92% -0.27%
2039 -0.9% -0.25%
2038 -0.91% -0.23%
2037 -0.91% -0.24%
2036 -0.89% -0.23%
2035 -0.88% -0.23%
2034 -0.88% -0.22%
2033 -0.86% -0.22%
2032 -0.86% -0.2%
2031 -0.85% -0.18%
2030 -0.82% -0.2%
2029 -0.8% -0.21%
2028 -0.77% -0.17%
2027 -0.73% -0.16%
2026 -0.67% -0.16%
2025 -0.13% 1.03%
2024 -0.08% 1.1%
2023 -0.29% 1.38%
2022 -0.65% 0.7%
2021 -0.66% 0.63%
2020 -1% 0.11%
2019 -1.4% 0.02%
2018 -1.36% -0.16%
2017 -1.32% -0.24%
2016 -1.29% -0.31%
2015 -1.26% -0.41%
2014 -1.21% -0.54%
2013 -2% -0.55%
2012 -0.58% -0.4%
2011 -0.64% -0.15%
2010 -0.66% 0.05%
2009 -0.64% 0.1%
2008 -0.7% 0.14%
2007 -0.73% 0.2%
2006 -0.76% 0.18%
2005 -0.75% 0.19%
2004 -0.75% 0.24%
2003 -0.79% 0.38%
2002 -2.15% 0.55%
2001 -1.97% 0.71%
2000 -0.49% 0.71%
1999 -0.56% 0.57%
1998 -0.67% 0.51%
1997 -0.61% 0.45%
1996 -0.51% 0.38%
1995 -0.44% 0.35%
1994 -0.34% 0.27%
1993 -0.79% 0.12%
1992 -1.07% -0.08%
1991 -0.99% -0.23%
1990 -1.79% -0.22%
1989 -1.16% -0.15%
1988 0.11% -0.1%
1987 0.15% -0.03%
1986 -0.03% 0.09%
1985 -0.001% 0.27%
1984 0.23% 0.39%
1983 0.25% 0.47%
1982 0.3% 0.61%
1981 0.33% 0.87%
1980 0.4% 1.09%
1979 0.14% 1.08%
1978 0.11% 1.08%
1977 0.52% 1.07%
1976 0.43% 2.88%
1975 0.48% 3.87%
1974 0.67% 1.4%
1973 0.52% 0.03%
1972 0.47% -0.15%
1971 0.55% -0.42%
1970 0.66% -0.88%
1969 0.77% -0.89%
1968 0.71% -0.43%
1967 0.63% -0.63%
1966 0.66% -0.75%
1965 0.73% -0.41%
1964 0.82% 0.06%
1963 0.81% 0.4%
1962 0.88% 0.72%
1961 0.96% 0.81%

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/portugal | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Portugal
Current population
6390149
10788071
Population rank 112/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.13%
One net population change
1.08 hours
4.78 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
6.22 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
4.43 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +302
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +110,190
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 99/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
32 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +16,472
Net migration rank 106/196 38/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,127,184
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 56/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 10.8%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 61/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Portugal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Portugal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 16,472
2024 -47,023 524 -34,223 20,648
2023 -43,837 5,173 -32,792 29,102
2022 -62,065 26,498 -40,694 68,696
2021 -90,452 11,756 -45,592 69,606
2020 -65,507 30,167 -39,129 54,076
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -24,687 63,031
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -25,709 22,495
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -23,691 13,979
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -23,749 -775
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -23,823 -3,209
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -22,882 -26,447
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -24,052 -36,342
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -17,875 -37,083
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -5,279 -31,513
2010 -34,759 -21,668 -4,230 -5,627
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -5,284 14,532
2008 -32,967 -17,595 0 9,478
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -1,055 21,064
2006 -39,526 -15,184 3,156 16,754
2005 -42,124 -14,435 2,101 15,537
2004 -40,128 -13,604 7,339 13,928
2003 -44,319 -13,183 4,184 24,740
2002 -46,240 -12,735 8,335 42,169
2001 -44,050 -30,726 8,290 55,565
2000 -41,668 -26,211 15,435 60,586
1999 -39,411 -23,846 8,175 49,572
1998 -52,844 -23,262 7,112 40,931
1997 -58,185 -22,963 8,087 36,922
1996 -45,159 -21,520 4,026 32,640
1995 -42,030 -22,020 4,011 26,971
1994 -32,086 -20,984 9,991 20,761
1993 -24,569 -19,973 7,972 8,561
1992 -18,789 -120,552 13,933 -11,847
1991 -14,675 -119,356 12,948 -37,914
1990 -3,487 -116,817 13,976 -34,855
1989 5,326 -114,705 22,011 -30,615
1988 9,879 215 24,047 -26,595
1987 8,971 357 28,084 -23,142
1986 16,125 1,104 31,102 -20,000
1985 11,649 -19,230 33,077 -19,183
1984 20,610 -1,032 45,983 -16,658
1983 21,455 -1,872 47,798 -16,568
1982 24,077 -1,860 58,479 -15,006
1981 29,341 -1,830 56,152 -7,938
1980 30,129 -2,045 63,481 29,881
1979 40,599 -872 67,628 32,434
1978 44,070 -62,769 70,731 34,345
1977 47,543 -11,955 84,156 37,779
1976 56,055 -2,522 85,138 40,490
1975 54,941 -38,071 81,841 42,262
1974 64,223 -1,402 74,412 41,254
1973 57,760 -5,409 76,835 39,748
1972 47,169 -11,296 83,715 39,058
1971 52,925 -7,654 82,980 48,944
1970 61,125 -11,315 87,672 -191,862
1969 63,256 -3,204 89,329 -161,114
1968 69,468 -132 100,737 -145,200
1967 49,861 -420 106,495 -136,232
1966 54,504 -144 107,171 -129,233
1965 58,249 -1,406 115,182 -123,855
1964 66,783 505 120,170 -118,763
1963 66,241 500 113,783 -116,874
1962 64,104 499 123,217 -113,947
1961 75,460 378 117,867 -112,768
1960 76,314 -1,112 118,693 -95,886

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/portugal | 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 Portugal 48.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 314,089 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 337,649 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.

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
Portugal
City Population
Lisbon 546K
Sintra 386K
Vila Nova de Gaia 304K
Porto 232K
Cascais 214K
Loures 202K
Braga 193K
Almada 177K
Matosinhos 173K
Oeiras 172K

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/portugal | 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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