Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 19,020,271 people in Romania in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 18,912,567 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Romania's population is 2.96 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.3% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs -0.41% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.9M (10.8% decline).

Bulgaria vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Romania
2100 3,384,288 10,843,503
2099 3,408,821 10,927,951
2098 3,433,149 11,011,822
2097 3,457,549 11,095,182
2096 3,482,057 11,178,195
2095 3,506,060 11,261,202
2094 3,530,278 11,343,358
2093 3,554,432 11,426,736
2092 3,578,667 11,509,522
2091 3,602,907 11,591,897
2090 3,627,300 11,675,686
2089 3,652,188 11,759,143
2088 3,677,416 11,842,733
2087 3,703,460 11,926,699
2086 3,730,284 12,013,212
2085 3,757,953 12,099,742
2084 3,786,496 12,187,794
2083 3,815,548 12,277,402
2082 3,845,662 12,367,518
2081 3,876,344 12,460,785
2080 3,908,874 12,556,104
2079 3,942,344 12,652,446
2078 3,976,345 12,750,395
2077 4,011,440 12,849,896
2076 4,047,182 12,950,914
2075 4,083,977 13,053,551
2074 4,122,447 13,158,624
2073 4,161,511 13,264,931
2072 4,201,158 13,375,162
2071 4,241,639 13,488,051
2070 4,283,145 13,603,287
2069 4,325,083 13,721,187
2068 4,367,606 13,840,530
2067 4,411,116 13,963,377
2066 4,455,358 14,088,938
2065 4,500,141 14,218,608
2064 4,545,243 14,349,029
2063 4,590,439 14,480,312
2062 4,635,634 14,613,788
2061 4,681,315 14,747,178
2060 4,727,089 14,879,235
2059 4,772,667 15,011,161
2058 4,817,532 15,141,670
2057 4,862,597 15,271,230
2056 4,907,646 15,400,030
2055 4,953,105 15,527,331
2054 4,998,650 15,651,338
2053 5,044,397 15,773,422
2052 5,089,817 15,896,118
2051 5,135,505 16,016,719
2050 5,181,635 16,135,745
2049 5,228,058 16,255,638
2048 5,274,692 16,375,139
2047 5,322,212 16,494,633
2046 5,369,645 16,612,186
2045 5,417,381 16,730,009
2044 5,465,818 16,848,827
2043 5,514,902 16,966,857
2042 5,564,573 17,084,359
2041 5,615,489 17,203,640
2040 5,667,076 17,320,952
2039 5,719,506 17,438,042
2038 5,771,452 17,556,386
2037 5,824,628 17,673,500
2036 5,877,980 17,790,613
2035 5,930,517 17,906,949
2034 5,983,205 18,020,973
2033 6,036,049 18,134,889
2032 6,088,107 18,247,275
2031 6,140,619 18,359,750
2030 6,193,318 18,471,446
2029 6,244,785 18,583,513
2028 6,294,981 18,693,807
2027 6,343,732 18,803,518
2026 6,390,149 18,912,567
2025 6,433,302 19,020,271
2024 6,441,421 19,051,804
2023 6,446,596 19,061,062
2022 6,465,097 19,048,502
2021 6,507,301 19,122,059
2020 6,550,696 19,265,250
2019 6,616,726 19,371,648
2018 6,710,798 19,473,970
2017 6,803,468 19,588,715
2016 6,894,139 19,702,267
2015 6,984,225 19,815,616
2014 7,073,572 19,908,979
2013 7,160,005 19,983,693
2012 7,305,888 20,058,035
2011 7,348,328 20,147,528
2010 7,395,599 20,246,871
2009 7,444,443 20,367,487
2008 7,492,561 20,537,875
2007 7,545,338 20,882,982
2006 7,601,022 21,193,760
2005 7,658,972 21,319,685
2004 7,716,860 21,451,748
2003 7,775,327 21,574,326
2002 7,837,161 21,730,496
2001 8,009,142 22,131,970
2000 8,170,172 22,442,971
1999 8,210,624 22,472,040
1998 8,256,786 22,507,344
1997 8,312,068 22,553,978
1996 8,362,826 22,619,004
1995 8,406,067 22,684,270
1994 8,443,591 22,730,211
1993 8,472,313 22,763,280
1992 8,540,164 22,794,284
1991 8,632,367 23,001,155
1990 8,718,289 23,201,835
1989 8,876,972 23,161,458
1988 8,981,446 23,057,662
1987 8,971,359 22,949,430
1986 8,958,171 22,836,841
1985 8,960,547 22,732,999
1984 8,960,679 22,640,547
1983 8,939,738 22,560,478
1982 8,917,457 22,475,741
1981 8,891,117 22,353,070
1980 8,861,535 22,207,282
1979 8,825,940 22,090,488
1978 8,814,032 21,951,464
1977 8,804,183 21,756,096
1976 8,758,599 21,551,634
1975 8,720,742 21,293,583
1974 8,678,745 21,029,429
1973 8,620,967 20,835,681
1972 8,576,200 20,657,957
1971 8,536,395 20,461,567
1970 8,489,574 20,250,398
1969 8,434,172 20,009,141
1968 8,369,603 19,799,831
1967 8,310,226 19,534,242
1966 8,258,057 19,215,450
1965 8,204,168 19,031,576
1964 8,144,340 18,919,126
1963 8,078,145 18,797,850
1962 8,012,946 18,676,550
1961 7,943,118 18,555,250
1960 7,867,374 18,406,905

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/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Romania's population decreased by 789,700 people (a 4.01% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th 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 Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,135,745 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 31.5% in Romania.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Romania
2100 -0.72% -0.77%
2099 -0.71% -0.76%
2098 -0.71% -0.75%
2097 -0.7% -0.74%
2096 -0.68% -0.74%
2095 -0.69% -0.72%
2094 -0.68% -0.73%
2093 -0.68% -0.72%
2092 -0.67% -0.71%
2091 -0.67% -0.72%
2090 -0.68% -0.71%
2089 -0.69% -0.71%
2088 -0.7% -0.7%
2087 -0.72% -0.72%
2086 -0.74% -0.72%
2085 -0.75% -0.72%
2084 -0.76% -0.73%
2083 -0.78% -0.73%
2082 -0.79% -0.75%
2081 -0.83% -0.76%
2080 -0.85% -0.76%
2079 -0.86% -0.77%
2078 -0.87% -0.77%
2077 -0.88% -0.78%
2076 -0.9% -0.79%
2075 -0.93% -0.8%
2074 -0.94% -0.8%
2073 -0.94% -0.82%
2072 -0.95% -0.84%
2071 -0.97% -0.85%
2070 -0.97% -0.86%
2069 -0.97% -0.86%
2068 -0.99% -0.88%
2067 -0.99% -0.89%
2066 -1% -0.91%
2065 -0.99% -0.91%
2064 -0.98% -0.91%
2063 -0.97% -0.91%
2062 -0.98% -0.9%
2061 -0.97% -0.89%
2060 -0.95% -0.88%
2059 -0.93% -0.86%
2058 -0.93% -0.85%
2057 -0.92% -0.84%
2056 -0.92% -0.82%
2055 -0.91% -0.79%
2054 -0.91% -0.77%
2053 -0.89% -0.77%
2052 -0.89% -0.75%
2051 -0.89% -0.74%
2050 -0.89% -0.74%
2049 -0.88% -0.73%
2048 -0.89% -0.72%
2047 -0.88% -0.71%
2046 -0.88% -0.7%
2045 -0.89% -0.71%
2044 -0.89% -0.7%
2043 -0.89% -0.69%
2042 -0.91% -0.69%
2041 -0.91% -0.68%
2040 -0.92% -0.67%
2039 -0.9% -0.67%
2038 -0.91% -0.66%
2037 -0.91% -0.66%
2036 -0.89% -0.65%
2035 -0.88% -0.63%
2034 -0.88% -0.63%
2033 -0.86% -0.62%
2032 -0.86% -0.61%
2031 -0.85% -0.6%
2030 -0.82% -0.6%
2029 -0.8% -0.59%
2028 -0.77% -0.58%
2027 -0.73% -0.58%
2026 -0.67% -0.57%
2025 -0.13% -0.17%
2024 -0.08% -0.05%
2023 -0.29% 0.07%
2022 -0.65% -0.38%
2021 -0.66% -0.74%
2020 -1% -0.55%
2019 -1.4% -0.53%
2018 -1.36% -0.59%
2017 -1.32% -0.58%
2016 -1.29% -0.57%
2015 -1.26% -0.47%
2014 -1.21% -0.37%
2013 -2% -0.37%
2012 -0.58% -0.44%
2011 -0.64% -0.49%
2010 -0.66% -0.59%
2009 -0.64% -0.83%
2008 -0.7% -1.65%
2007 -0.73% -1.47%
2006 -0.76% -0.59%
2005 -0.75% -0.62%
2004 -0.75% -0.57%
2003 -0.79% -0.72%
2002 -2.15% -1.81%
2001 -1.97% -1.39%
2000 -0.49% -0.13%
1999 -0.56% -0.16%
1998 -0.67% -0.21%
1997 -0.61% -0.29%
1996 -0.51% -0.29%
1995 -0.44% -0.2%
1994 -0.34% -0.15%
1993 -0.79% -0.14%
1992 -1.07% -0.9%
1991 -0.99% -0.86%
1990 -1.79% 0.17%
1989 -1.16% 0.45%
1988 0.11% 0.47%
1987 0.15% 0.49%
1986 -0.03% 0.46%
1985 -0.001% 0.41%
1984 0.23% 0.35%
1983 0.25% 0.38%
1982 0.3% 0.55%
1981 0.33% 0.66%
1980 0.4% 0.53%
1979 0.14% 0.63%
1978 0.11% 0.9%
1977 0.52% 0.95%
1976 0.43% 1.21%
1975 0.48% 1.26%
1974 0.67% 0.93%
1973 0.52% 0.86%
1972 0.47% 0.96%
1971 0.55% 1.04%
1970 0.66% 1.21%
1969 0.77% 1.06%
1968 0.71% 1.36%
1967 0.63% 1.66%
1966 0.66% 0.97%
1965 0.73% 0.59%
1964 0.82% 0.65%
1963 0.81% 0.65%
1962 0.88% 0.65%
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/romania | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Romania's population declined by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Romania
Current population
6390149
18912567
Population rank 112/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.23%
One net population change
1.08 hours
16.7 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
3.68 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
2.16 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 -86
Annual growth/decline -8,119 -31,533
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.17%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 172/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -29,041
Net migration rank 106/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -29,041
2024 -47,023 524 -100,975 -28,466
2023 -43,837 5,173 -83,869 -27,780
2022 -62,065 26,498 -93,338 89,076
2021 -90,452 11,756 -141,504 -17,731
2020 -65,507 30,167 -100,179 -13,202
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -60,053 -27,909
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -62,316 -33,018
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -50,930 -33,081
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -53,196 -33,073
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -59,447 -35,751
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -55,745 -35,448
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -59,951 -34,910
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -54,157 -37,589
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -56,413 -102,769
2010 -34,759 -21,668 -46,567 -122,364
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -34,625 -137,953
2008 -32,967 -17,595 -30,806 -144,368
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -37,590 -133,089
2006 -39,526 -15,184 -38,148 -132,777
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -40,508 -131,176
2004 -40,128 -13,604 -42,904 -117,432
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -56,093 -107,139
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -58,673 -106,585
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -37,625 -91,154
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -22,443 -92,451
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -31,461 -82,590
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -33,761 -81,366
1997 -58,185 -22,963 -42,853 -88,734
1996 -45,159 -21,520 -56,548 -70,799
1995 -42,030 -22,020 -36,295 -73,779
1994 -32,086 -20,984 -18,184 -76,246
1993 -24,569 -19,973 -13,658 -73,475
1992 -18,789 -120,552 -4,559 -63,200
1991 -14,675 -119,356 25,301 -36,824
1990 -3,487 -116,817 69,605 -38,157
1989 5,326 -114,705 122,756 -33,866
1988 9,879 215 126,817 -48,911
1987 8,971 357 128,517 -42,868
1986 16,125 1,104 134,737 -50,450
1985 11,649 -19,230 111,392 -28,108
1984 20,610 -1,032 117,731 -24,629
1983 21,455 -1,872 87,986 3,093
1982 24,077 -1,860 119,121 -4,725
1981 29,341 -1,830 156,472 -20,870
1980 30,129 -2,045 168,776 -16,668
1979 40,599 -872 194,397 -29,600
1978 44,070 -62,769 204,148 -31,427
1977 47,543 -11,955 215,385 -28,135
1976 56,055 -2,522 213,361 18,748
1975 54,941 -38,071 219,324 9,125
1974 64,223 -1,402 235,530 6,725
1973 57,760 -5,409 175,020 58,651
1972 47,169 -11,296 198,316 61,920
1971 52,925 -7,654 206,662 74,473
1970 61,125 -11,315 234,905 71,919
1969 63,256 -3,204 264,120 74,851
1968 69,468 -132 338,577 33,601
1967 49,861 -420 347,709 37,282
1966 54,504 -144 115,293 -25,458
1965 58,249 -1,406 114,190 -60,430
1964 66,783 505 134,326 -59,500
1963 66,241 500 139,104 -58,076
1962 64,104 499 130,736 -56,152
1961 75,460 378 163,286 -54,642
1960 76,314 -1,112 191,431 -55,397

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/romania | 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 Romania 83.4% is from natural causes (a loss of 805,807 people) and 16.6% is from migration (a loss of 160,935 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

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
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

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/romania | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.