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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 18,839,108 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 -0.96% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

Bulgaria vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Romania
2100 3,368,029 10,801,385
2099 3,392,444 10,885,505
2098 3,416,655 10,969,050
2097 3,440,938 11,052,086
2096 3,465,328 11,134,776
2095 3,489,216 11,217,462
2094 3,513,318 11,299,298
2093 3,537,356 11,382,352
2092 3,561,475 11,464,817
2091 3,585,597 11,546,872
2090 3,609,873 11,630,335
2089 3,634,642 11,713,468
2088 3,659,749 11,796,733
2087 3,685,668 11,880,373
2086 3,712,363 11,966,550
2085 3,739,898 12,052,744
2084 3,768,305 12,140,454
2083 3,797,217 12,229,714
2082 3,827,186 12,319,480
2081 3,857,721 12,412,385
2080 3,890,095 12,507,333
2079 3,923,403 12,603,302
2078 3,957,241 12,700,870
2077 3,992,168 12,799,985
2076 4,027,738 12,900,610
2075 4,064,356 13,002,848
2074 4,102,642 13,107,513
2073 4,141,518 13,213,407
2072 4,180,975 13,323,211
2071 4,221,261 13,435,661
2070 4,262,568 13,550,449
2069 4,304,304 13,667,892
2068 4,346,623 13,786,771
2067 4,389,924 13,909,141
2066 4,433,953 14,034,214
2065 4,478,521 14,163,381
2064 4,523,406 14,293,294
2063 4,568,385 14,424,068
2062 4,613,363 14,557,025
2061 4,658,825 14,689,897
2060 4,704,379 14,821,441
2059 4,749,738 14,952,855
2058 4,794,388 15,082,857
2057 4,839,236 15,211,914
2056 4,884,068 15,340,213
2055 4,929,309 15,467,019
2054 4,974,635 15,590,545
2053 5,020,162 15,712,155
2052 5,065,364 15,834,374
2051 5,110,833 15,954,507
2050 5,156,741 16,073,070
2049 5,202,941 16,192,498
2048 5,249,351 16,311,535
2047 5,296,642 16,430,565
2046 5,343,848 16,547,661
2045 5,391,354 16,665,026
2044 5,439,559 16,783,383
2043 5,488,407 16,900,955
2042 5,537,839 17,018,000
2041 5,588,510 17,136,818
2040 5,639,850 17,253,674
2039 5,692,028 17,370,310
2038 5,743,725 17,488,193
2037 5,796,645 17,604,853
2036 5,849,741 17,721,511
2035 5,902,025 17,837,396
2034 5,954,460 17,950,976
2033 6,007,050 18,064,449
2032 6,058,858 18,176,399
2031 6,111,118 18,288,437
2030 6,163,564 18,399,699
2029 6,214,784 18,511,331
2028 6,264,738 18,621,197
2027 6,313,255 18,730,482
2026 6,359,449 18,839,108
2025 6,402,394 18,946,392
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 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 -0.61% -0.55%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Romania
Current population
6359449
18839108
Population rank 112/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.23%
One net population change
1.69 hours
56.8 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
3.45 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 -25
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 169/197
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 - 524 - -28,466
2023 -43,837 5,173 -89,587 -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/romania | 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 Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 (1960–2024, 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/romania | 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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