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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 143,513,328 people in Russia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 142,643,173 in Russia.

Population statistics:

  • Russia's population is 22.3 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Russia is the 9th.
  • The countries together account for 1.79% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 1.72% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs -0.05% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Russia has declined from 143M to 143M (0.28% decline).

Bulgaria vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Russia
2100 3,384,288 125,631,984
2099 3,408,821 125,735,285
2098 3,433,149 125,835,990
2097 3,457,549 125,914,480
2096 3,482,057 126,004,709
2095 3,506,060 126,072,890
2094 3,530,278 126,125,529
2093 3,554,432 126,181,074
2092 3,578,667 126,256,091
2091 3,602,907 126,304,823
2090 3,627,300 126,360,262
2089 3,652,188 126,412,664
2088 3,677,416 126,463,022
2087 3,703,460 126,511,263
2086 3,730,284 126,579,534
2085 3,757,953 126,655,806
2084 3,786,496 126,730,694
2083 3,815,548 126,805,713
2082 3,845,662 126,889,471
2081 3,876,344 126,973,300
2080 3,908,874 127,070,546
2079 3,942,344 127,191,346
2078 3,976,345 127,331,975
2077 4,011,440 127,489,152
2076 4,047,182 127,641,749
2075 4,083,977 127,825,235
2074 4,122,447 128,023,096
2073 4,161,511 128,238,922
2072 4,201,158 128,465,870
2071 4,241,639 128,745,681
2070 4,283,145 129,020,076
2069 4,325,083 129,309,803
2068 4,367,606 129,589,275
2067 4,411,116 129,873,991
2066 4,455,358 130,184,092
2065 4,500,141 130,515,828
2064 4,545,243 130,852,649
2063 4,590,439 131,199,458
2062 4,635,634 131,530,725
2061 4,681,315 131,881,030
2060 4,727,089 132,209,377
2059 4,772,667 132,568,882
2058 4,817,532 132,933,515
2057 4,862,597 133,272,997
2056 4,907,646 133,615,325
2055 4,953,105 133,963,055
2054 4,998,650 134,288,366
2053 5,044,397 134,609,198
2052 5,089,817 134,876,558
2051 5,135,505 135,141,211
2050 5,181,635 135,386,454
2049 5,228,058 135,609,441
2048 5,274,692 135,818,840
2047 5,322,212 136,013,698
2046 5,369,645 136,185,098
2045 5,417,381 136,368,416
2044 5,465,818 136,568,234
2043 5,514,902 136,791,498
2042 5,564,573 137,015,033
2041 5,615,489 137,266,491
2040 5,667,076 137,531,851
2039 5,719,506 137,833,822
2038 5,771,452 138,146,863
2037 5,824,628 138,485,780
2036 5,877,980 138,835,731
2035 5,930,517 139,197,452
2034 5,983,205 139,573,272
2033 6,036,049 139,960,175
2032 6,088,107 140,359,785
2031 6,140,619 140,785,026
2030 6,193,318 141,182,418
2029 6,244,785 141,571,268
2028 6,294,981 141,946,979
2027 6,343,732 142,315,155
2026 6,390,149 142,643,173
2025 6,433,302 143,513,328
2024 6,441,421 143,669,648
2023 6,446,596 143,826,130
2022 6,465,097 144,236,933
2021 6,507,301 144,746,762
2020 6,550,696 145,245,148
2019 6,616,726 145,453,291
2018 6,710,798 145,398,106
2017 6,803,468 145,293,260
2016 6,894,139 145,015,460
2015 6,984,225 144,640,716
2014 7,073,572 144,237,223
2013 7,160,005 143,805,638
2012 7,305,888 143,378,447
2011 7,348,328 143,018,195
2010 7,395,599 142,849,468
2009 7,444,443 142,785,348
2008 7,492,561 142,742,366
2007 7,545,338 142,805,114
2006 7,601,022 143,049,637
2005 7,658,972 143,518,814
2004 7,716,860 144,067,316
2003 7,775,327 144,648,618
2002 7,837,161 145,306,497
2001 8,009,142 145,976,482
2000 8,170,172 146,596,869
1999 8,210,624 147,214,776
1998 8,256,786 147,670,784
1997 8,312,068 147,915,361
1996 8,362,826 148,160,129
1995 8,406,067 148,375,787
1994 8,443,591 148,407,912
1993 8,472,313 148,458,777
1992 8,540,164 148,538,197
1991 8,632,367 148,394,216
1990 8,718,289 147,969,406
1989 8,876,972 147,721,000
1988 8,981,446 146,857,000
1987 8,971,359 145,908,000
1986 8,958,171 144,894,000
1985 8,960,547 143,858,000
1984 8,960,679 142,745,000
1983 8,939,738 141,668,000
1982 8,917,457 140,823,000
1981 8,891,117 139,941,000
1980 8,861,535 139,010,000
1979 8,825,940 138,027,000
1978 8,814,032 137,060,000
1977 8,804,183 136,100,000
1976 8,758,599 135,147,000
1975 8,720,742 134,200,000
1974 8,678,745 133,432,000
1973 8,620,967 132,669,000
1972 8,576,200 131,909,000
1971 8,536,395 131,155,000
1970 8,489,574 130,404,000
1969 8,434,172 129,664,000
1968 8,369,603 128,928,000
1967 8,310,226 128,196,000
1966 8,258,057 127,468,000
1965 8,204,168 126,745,000
1964 8,144,340 125,345,000
1963 8,078,145 123,960,000
1962 8,012,946 122,591,000
1961 7,943,118 121,236,000
1960 7,867,374 119,897,000

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/russia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Russia gained 1,965,823 people (a 1.37% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Russia's population decreased by 2,372,287 people (a 1.64% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Russia was ranked 9th in 2006 and still ranked 9th 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 Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 135,386,454 people and rank change from 9th to 13th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 10.5% in Russia.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Russia
2100 -0.72% -0.08%
2099 -0.71% -0.08%
2098 -0.71% -0.06%
2097 -0.7% -0.07%
2096 -0.68% -0.05%
2095 -0.69% -0.04%
2094 -0.68% -0.04%
2093 -0.68% -0.06%
2092 -0.67% -0.04%
2091 -0.67% -0.04%
2090 -0.68% -0.04%
2089 -0.69% -0.04%
2088 -0.7% -0.04%
2087 -0.72% -0.05%
2086 -0.74% -0.06%
2085 -0.75% -0.06%
2084 -0.76% -0.06%
2083 -0.78% -0.07%
2082 -0.79% -0.07%
2081 -0.83% -0.08%
2080 -0.85% -0.09%
2079 -0.86% -0.11%
2078 -0.87% -0.12%
2077 -0.88% -0.12%
2076 -0.9% -0.14%
2075 -0.93% -0.15%
2074 -0.94% -0.17%
2073 -0.94% -0.18%
2072 -0.95% -0.22%
2071 -0.97% -0.21%
2070 -0.97% -0.22%
2069 -0.97% -0.22%
2068 -0.99% -0.22%
2067 -0.99% -0.24%
2066 -1% -0.25%
2065 -0.99% -0.26%
2064 -0.98% -0.26%
2063 -0.97% -0.25%
2062 -0.98% -0.27%
2061 -0.97% -0.25%
2060 -0.95% -0.27%
2059 -0.93% -0.27%
2058 -0.93% -0.25%
2057 -0.92% -0.26%
2056 -0.92% -0.26%
2055 -0.91% -0.24%
2054 -0.91% -0.24%
2053 -0.89% -0.2%
2052 -0.89% -0.2%
2051 -0.89% -0.18%
2050 -0.89% -0.16%
2049 -0.88% -0.15%
2048 -0.89% -0.14%
2047 -0.88% -0.13%
2046 -0.88% -0.13%
2045 -0.89% -0.15%
2044 -0.89% -0.16%
2043 -0.89% -0.16%
2042 -0.91% -0.18%
2041 -0.91% -0.19%
2040 -0.92% -0.22%
2039 -0.9% -0.23%
2038 -0.91% -0.24%
2037 -0.91% -0.25%
2036 -0.89% -0.26%
2035 -0.88% -0.27%
2034 -0.88% -0.28%
2033 -0.86% -0.28%
2032 -0.86% -0.3%
2031 -0.85% -0.28%
2030 -0.82% -0.27%
2029 -0.8% -0.26%
2028 -0.77% -0.26%
2027 -0.73% -0.23%
2026 -0.67% -0.61%
2025 -0.13% -0.11%
2024 -0.08% -0.11%
2023 -0.29% -0.28%
2022 -0.65% -0.35%
2021 -0.66% -0.34%
2020 -1% -0.14%
2019 -1.4% 0.04%
2018 -1.36% 0.07%
2017 -1.32% 0.19%
2016 -1.29% 0.26%
2015 -1.26% 0.28%
2014 -1.21% 0.3%
2013 -2% 0.3%
2012 -0.58% 0.25%
2011 -0.64% 0.12%
2010 -0.66% 0.04%
2009 -0.64% 0.03%
2008 -0.7% -0.04%
2007 -0.73% -0.17%
2006 -0.76% -0.33%
2005 -0.75% -0.38%
2004 -0.75% -0.4%
2003 -0.79% -0.45%
2002 -2.15% -0.46%
2001 -1.97% -0.42%
2000 -0.49% -0.42%
1999 -0.56% -0.31%
1998 -0.67% -0.17%
1997 -0.61% -0.17%
1996 -0.51% -0.15%
1995 -0.44% -0.02%
1994 -0.34% -0.03%
1993 -0.79% -0.05%
1992 -1.07% 0.1%
1991 -0.99% 0.29%
1990 -1.79% 0.17%
1989 -1.16% 0.59%
1988 0.11% 0.65%
1987 0.15% 0.7%
1986 -0.03% 0.72%
1985 -0.001% 0.78%
1984 0.23% 0.76%
1983 0.25% 0.6%
1982 0.3% 0.63%
1981 0.33% 0.67%
1980 0.4% 0.71%
1979 0.14% 0.71%
1978 0.11% 0.71%
1977 0.52% 0.71%
1976 0.43% 0.71%
1975 0.48% 0.58%
1974 0.67% 0.58%
1973 0.52% 0.58%
1972 0.47% 0.57%
1971 0.55% 0.58%
1970 0.66% 0.57%
1969 0.77% 0.57%
1968 0.71% 0.57%
1967 0.63% 0.57%
1966 0.66% 0.57%
1965 0.73% 1.12%
1964 0.82% 1.12%
1963 0.81% 1.12%
1962 0.88% 1.12%
1961 0.96% 1.12%

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/russia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Russia's population declined by 0.11%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Russia
Current population
6390149
142643173
Population rank 112/197 9/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.72%
One net population change
1.08 hours
3.37 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
26.1 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
17.7 seconds
Daily growth/decline -22 -428
Annual growth/decline -8,119 -156,320
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.11%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 166/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
2.09 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -251,822
Net migration rank 106/196 187/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 7,605,774
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 10/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 5.3%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 91/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Russia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Russia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -251,822
2024 -47,023 524 -574,678 -178,042
2023 -43,837 5,173 -503,392 27,807
2022 -62,065 26,498 -576,948 765,629
2021 -90,452 11,756 -1,027,702 314,112
2020 -65,507 30,167 -697,177 334,094
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -319,997 336,494
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -232,637 339,972
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -130,764 396,619
2016 -42,744 -9,482 0 447,645
2015 -44,699 -4,227 43,392 384,756
2014 -41,027 -2,180 28,848 264,698
2013 -37,948 -1,324 28,761 289,872
2012 -40,183 -26,334 0 285,977
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -128,716 309,377
2010 -34,759 -21,668 -242,844 307,555
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -257,014 350,206
2008 -32,967 -17,595 -356,856 360,840
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -471,257 365,717
2006 -39,526 -15,184 -686,638 308,370
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -846,761 263,541
2004 -40,128 -13,604 -792,370 261,519
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -896,822 256,804
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -944,492 1,358,944
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -963,445 259,614
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -967,540 550,401
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -927,453 375,468
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -694,053 528,135
1997 -58,185 -22,963 -769,159 541,387
1996 -45,159 -21,520 -785,248 587,171
1995 -42,030 -22,020 -845,742 723,875
1994 -32,086 -20,984 -920,129 1,271,417
1993 -24,569 -19,973 -757,140 507,229
1992 -18,789 -120,552 -222,808 -1,129,589
1991 -14,675 -119,356 103,876 125,505
1990 -3,487 -116,817 325,533 299,863
1989 5,326 -114,705 576,112 89,400
1988 9,879 215 778,343 269,862
1987 8,971 357 977,583 275,611
1986 16,125 1,104 985,279 283,553
1985 11,649 -19,230 762,447 280,614
1984 20,610 -1,032 756,548 247,026
1983 21,455 -1,872 906,676 200,159
1982 24,077 -1,860 830,855 107,520
1981 29,341 -1,830 713,700 36,686
1980 30,129 -2,045 681,149 10,440
1979 40,599 -872 690,135 -5,791
1978 44,070 -62,769 812,766 108,882
1977 47,543 -11,955 832,932 122,316
1976 56,055 -2,522 852,237 113,851
1975 54,941 -38,071 843,850 80,069
1974 64,223 -1,402 883,186 -51,759
1973 57,760 -5,409 846,561 -107,568
1972 47,169 -11,296 872,050 -111,168
1971 52,925 -7,654 854,999 -134,968
1970 61,125 -11,315 785,554 -264,464
1969 63,256 -3,204 753,088 -64,643
1968 69,468 -132 787,621 -83,221
1967 49,861 -420 854,554 -116,029
1966 54,504 -144 989,279 -111,360
1965 58,249 -1,406 1,059,335 -138,078
1964 66,783 505 1,233,520 -148,595
1963 66,241 500 1,436,077 -168,649
1962 64,104 499 1,573,701 -177,358
1961 75,460 378 1,810,538 -204,349
1960 76,314 -1,112 1,962,834 -234,895

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/russia | 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 Russia 55.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 4,019,903 people) and 44.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,169,086 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 7,605,774 people or 5.3% in Russia.

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
Russia
City Population
Moscow 13.3M
Saint Petersburg 5.65M
Novosibirsk 1.64M
Yekaterinburg 1.47M
Kazan 1.33M
Nizhny Novgorod 1.2M
Chelyabinsk 1.18M
Krasnodar 1.15M
Samara 1.15M
Ufa 1.14M

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/russia | 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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