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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 143,533,851 people in Russia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 141,906,741 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 1.71% for Russia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs -0.02% in Russia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Russia has declined from 143M to 142M (0.8% decline).

Bulgaria vs Russia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Russia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Russia
2100 3,368,029 124,983,377
2099 3,392,444 125,086,144
2098 3,416,655 125,186,329
2097 3,440,938 125,264,415
2096 3,465,328 125,354,177
2095 3,489,216 125,422,006
2094 3,513,318 125,474,373
2093 3,537,356 125,529,632
2092 3,561,475 125,604,261
2091 3,585,597 125,652,742
2090 3,609,873 125,707,894
2089 3,634,642 125,760,026
2088 3,659,749 125,810,124
2087 3,685,668 125,858,116
2086 3,712,363 125,926,035
2085 3,739,898 126,001,913
2084 3,768,305 126,076,414
2083 3,797,217 126,151,046
2082 3,827,186 126,234,371
2081 3,857,721 126,317,768
2080 3,890,095 126,414,511
2079 3,923,403 126,534,688
2078 3,957,241 126,674,591
2077 3,992,168 126,830,956
2076 4,027,738 126,982,766
2075 4,064,356 127,165,304
2074 4,102,642 127,362,143
2073 4,141,518 127,576,856
2072 4,180,975 127,802,632
2071 4,221,261 128,080,998
2070 4,262,568 128,353,977
2069 4,304,304 128,642,208
2068 4,346,623 128,920,237
2067 4,389,924 129,203,483
2066 4,433,953 129,511,983
2065 4,478,521 129,842,007
2064 4,523,406 130,177,089
2063 4,568,385 130,522,107
2062 4,613,363 130,851,664
2061 4,658,825 131,200,160
2060 4,704,379 131,526,812
2059 4,749,738 131,884,461
2058 4,794,388 132,247,211
2057 4,839,236 132,584,941
2056 4,884,068 132,925,501
2055 4,929,309 133,271,436
2054 4,974,635 133,595,068
2053 5,020,162 133,914,243
2052 5,065,364 134,180,223
2051 5,110,833 134,443,510
2050 5,156,741 134,687,487
2049 5,202,941 134,909,323
2048 5,249,351 135,117,641
2047 5,296,642 135,311,492
2046 5,343,848 135,482,008
2045 5,391,354 135,664,379
2044 5,439,559 135,863,165
2043 5,488,407 136,085,277
2042 5,537,839 136,307,658
2041 5,588,510 136,557,818
2040 5,639,850 136,821,807
2039 5,692,028 137,122,219
2038 5,743,725 137,433,644
2037 5,796,645 137,770,811
2036 5,849,741 138,118,955
2035 5,902,025 138,478,809
2034 5,954,460 138,852,689
2033 6,007,050 139,237,595
2032 6,058,858 139,635,142
2031 6,111,118 140,058,187
2030 6,163,564 140,453,528
2029 6,214,784 140,840,370
2028 6,264,738 141,214,141
2027 6,313,255 141,580,416
2026 6,359,449 141,906,741
2025 6,402,394 142,772,403
2024 6,441,421 143,533,851
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Russia's population decreased by 3,108,719 people (a 2.14% 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Russia will decrease by 5.09% to 134,687,487 people and rank change from 9th to 14th.

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 -0.61% -0.53%
2024 -0.08% -0.2%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Russia's population declined by 0.2%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Russia
Current population
6359449
141906741
Population rank 112/197 9/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 1.71%
One net population change
1.69 hours
1.8 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
25.5 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
18.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 -801
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -292,279
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.2%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 177/197
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 - 524 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/russia | 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 Russia 48.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 3,416,377 people) and 51.4% is from migration (a gain of 3,611,826 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 (1960–2024, 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/russia | 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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