Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.35 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.26% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Bulgaria vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Rwanda
2100 3,368,029 33,092,520
2099 3,392,444 32,987,847
2098 3,416,655 32,907,335
2097 3,440,938 32,832,706
2096 3,465,328 32,747,490
2095 3,489,216 32,615,044
2094 3,513,318 32,529,590
2093 3,537,356 32,396,544
2092 3,561,475 32,274,083
2091 3,585,597 32,171,077
2090 3,609,873 32,068,626
2089 3,634,642 31,872,593
2088 3,659,749 31,726,882
2087 3,685,668 31,533,364
2086 3,712,363 31,379,315
2085 3,739,898 31,235,000
2084 3,768,305 31,092,940
2083 3,797,217 30,917,707
2082 3,827,186 30,733,578
2081 3,857,721 30,557,819
2080 3,890,095 30,367,298
2079 3,923,403 30,176,627
2078 3,957,241 29,997,866
2077 3,992,168 29,800,561
2076 4,027,738 29,627,021
2075 4,064,356 29,423,503
2074 4,102,642 29,225,643
2073 4,141,518 29,007,777
2072 4,180,975 28,780,763
2071 4,221,261 28,560,382
2070 4,262,568 28,316,533
2069 4,304,304 28,103,541
2068 4,346,623 27,854,906
2067 4,389,924 27,591,747
2066 4,433,953 27,355,659
2065 4,478,521 27,084,704
2064 4,523,406 26,821,315
2063 4,568,385 26,543,184
2062 4,613,363 26,296,132
2061 4,658,825 25,985,356
2060 4,704,379 25,712,904
2059 4,749,738 25,437,446
2058 4,794,388 25,106,242
2057 4,839,236 24,837,928
2056 4,884,068 24,566,784
2055 4,929,309 24,266,669
2054 4,974,635 23,976,914
2053 5,020,162 23,690,426
2052 5,065,364 23,406,346
2051 5,110,833 23,099,207
2050 5,156,741 22,800,250
2049 5,202,941 22,484,698
2048 5,249,351 22,157,938
2047 5,296,642 21,834,786
2046 5,343,848 21,540,566
2045 5,391,354 21,215,262
2044 5,439,559 20,902,695
2043 5,488,407 20,535,605
2042 5,537,839 20,201,608
2041 5,588,510 19,832,577
2040 5,639,850 19,463,015
2039 5,692,028 19,096,860
2038 5,743,725 18,761,626
2037 5,796,645 18,421,864
2036 5,849,741 18,116,691
2035 5,902,025 17,753,910
2034 5,954,460 17,421,234
2033 6,007,050 17,089,349
2032 6,058,858 16,811,505
2031 6,111,118 16,485,559
2030 6,163,564 16,167,916
2029 6,214,784 15,858,862
2028 6,264,738 15,544,959
2027 6,313,255 15,207,733
2026 6,359,449 14,888,776
2025 6,402,394 14,560,205
2024 6,441,421 14,256,567
2023 6,446,596 13,954,471
2022 6,465,097 13,651,030
2021 6,507,301 13,355,260
2020 6,550,696 13,065,837
2019 6,616,726 12,776,103
2018 6,710,798 12,487,996
2017 6,803,468 12,202,060
2016 6,894,139 11,919,183
2015 6,984,225 11,640,022
2014 7,073,572 11,364,757
2013 7,160,005 11,093,340
2012 7,305,888 10,829,901
2011 7,348,328 10,573,733
2010 7,395,599 10,317,553
2009 7,444,443 10,060,432
2008 7,492,561 9,804,269
2007 7,545,338 9,549,933
2006 7,601,022 9,299,246
2005 7,658,972 9,054,528
2004 7,716,860 8,816,844
2003 7,775,327 8,586,875
2002 7,837,161 8,400,180
2001 8,009,142 8,287,094
2000 8,170,172 8,213,931
1999 8,210,624 8,147,912
1998 8,256,786 8,081,681
1997 8,312,068 7,755,238
1996 8,362,826 6,708,764
1995 8,406,067 5,674,118
1994 8,443,591 6,792,352
1993 8,472,313 7,981,132
1992 8,540,164 7,683,266
1991 8,632,367 7,526,966
1990 8,718,289 7,375,307
1989 8,876,972 7,184,706
1988 8,981,446 6,968,071
1987 8,971,359 6,749,493
1986 8,958,171 6,531,881
1985 8,960,547 6,317,228
1984 8,960,679 6,107,627
1983 8,939,738 5,905,311
1982 8,917,457 5,711,549
1981 8,891,117 5,527,230
1980 8,861,535 5,353,259
1979 8,825,940 5,189,541
1978 8,814,032 5,035,171
1977 8,804,183 4,888,240
1976 8,758,599 4,745,954
1975 8,720,742 4,607,728
1974 8,678,745 4,474,228
1973 8,620,967 4,345,047
1972 8,576,200 4,220,335
1971 8,536,395 4,100,044
1970 8,489,574 3,980,669
1969 8,434,172 3,861,271
1968 8,369,603 3,744,010
1967 8,310,226 3,629,577
1966 8,258,057 3,521,626
1965 8,204,168 3,423,210
1964 8,144,340 3,334,834
1963 8,078,145 3,258,890
1962 8,012,946 3,186,025
1961 7,943,118 3,106,779
1960 7,867,374 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Rwanda is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 33.1M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.37M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Rwanda
2100 -0.72% 0.32%
2099 -0.71% 0.24%
2098 -0.71% 0.23%
2097 -0.7% 0.26%
2096 -0.68% 0.41%
2095 -0.69% 0.26%
2094 -0.68% 0.41%
2093 -0.68% 0.38%
2092 -0.67% 0.32%
2091 -0.67% 0.32%
2090 -0.68% 0.62%
2089 -0.69% 0.46%
2088 -0.7% 0.61%
2087 -0.72% 0.49%
2086 -0.74% 0.46%
2085 -0.75% 0.46%
2084 -0.76% 0.57%
2083 -0.78% 0.6%
2082 -0.79% 0.58%
2081 -0.83% 0.63%
2080 -0.85% 0.63%
2079 -0.86% 0.6%
2078 -0.87% 0.66%
2077 -0.88% 0.59%
2076 -0.9% 0.69%
2075 -0.93% 0.68%
2074 -0.94% 0.75%
2073 -0.94% 0.79%
2072 -0.95% 0.77%
2071 -0.97% 0.86%
2070 -0.97% 0.76%
2069 -0.97% 0.89%
2068 -0.99% 0.95%
2067 -0.99% 0.86%
2066 -1% 1%
2065 -0.99% 0.98%
2064 -0.98% 1.05%
2063 -0.97% 0.94%
2062 -0.98% 1.2%
2061 -0.97% 1.06%
2060 -0.95% 1.08%
2059 -0.93% 1.32%
2058 -0.93% 1.08%
2057 -0.92% 1.1%
2056 -0.92% 1.24%
2055 -0.91% 1.21%
2054 -0.91% 1.21%
2053 -0.89% 1.21%
2052 -0.89% 1.33%
2051 -0.89% 1.31%
2050 -0.89% 1.4%
2049 -0.88% 1.47%
2048 -0.89% 1.48%
2047 -0.88% 1.37%
2046 -0.88% 1.53%
2045 -0.89% 1.5%
2044 -0.89% 1.79%
2043 -0.89% 1.65%
2042 -0.91% 1.86%
2041 -0.91% 1.9%
2040 -0.92% 1.92%
2039 -0.9% 1.79%
2038 -0.91% 1.84%
2037 -0.91% 1.68%
2036 -0.89% 2.04%
2035 -0.88% 1.91%
2034 -0.88% 1.94%
2033 -0.86% 1.65%
2032 -0.86% 1.98%
2031 -0.85% 1.96%
2030 -0.82% 1.95%
2029 -0.8% 2.02%
2028 -0.77% 2.22%
2027 -0.73% 2.14%
2026 -0.67% 2.26%
2025 -0.61% 2.13%
2024 -0.08% 2.16%
2023 -0.29% 2.22%
2022 -0.65% 2.21%
2021 -0.66% 2.22%
2020 -1% 2.27%
2019 -1.4% 2.31%
2018 -1.36% 2.34%
2017 -1.32% 2.37%
2016 -1.29% 2.4%
2015 -1.26% 2.42%
2014 -1.21% 2.45%
2013 -2% 2.43%
2012 -0.58% 2.42%
2011 -0.64% 2.48%
2010 -0.66% 2.56%
2009 -0.64% 2.61%
2008 -0.7% 2.66%
2007 -0.73% 2.7%
2006 -0.76% 2.7%
2005 -0.75% 2.7%
2004 -0.75% 2.68%
2003 -0.79% 2.22%
2002 -2.15% 1.36%
2001 -1.97% 0.89%
2000 -0.49% 0.81%
1999 -0.56% 0.82%
1998 -0.67% 4.21%
1997 -0.61% 15.6%
1996 -0.51% 18.2%
1995 -0.44% -16.5%
1994 -0.34% -14.9%
1993 -0.79% 3.88%
1992 -1.07% 2.08%
1991 -0.99% 2.06%
1990 -1.79% 2.65%
1989 -1.16% 3.11%
1988 0.11% 3.24%
1987 0.15% 3.33%
1986 -0.03% 3.4%
1985 -0.001% 3.43%
1984 0.23% 3.43%
1983 0.25% 3.39%
1982 0.3% 3.33%
1981 0.33% 3.25%
1980 0.4% 3.15%
1979 0.14% 3.07%
1978 0.11% 3.01%
1977 0.52% 3%
1976 0.43% 3%
1975 0.48% 2.98%
1974 0.67% 2.97%
1973 0.52% 2.96%
1972 0.47% 2.93%
1971 0.55% 3%
1970 0.66% 3.09%
1969 0.77% 3.13%
1968 0.71% 3.15%
1967 0.63% 3.07%
1966 0.66% 2.87%
1965 0.73% 2.65%
1964 0.82% 2.33%
1963 0.81% 2.29%
1962 0.88% 2.55%
1961 0.96% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Rwanda
Current population
6359449
14975051
Population rank 112/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.18%
One net population change
1.69 hours
1.74 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.33 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +828
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 45/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 +6,282
Net migration rank 106/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 6,282
2024 - 524 - -15,582
2023 -43,837 5,173 312,762 -9,001
2022 -62,065 26,498 312,145 -9,001
2021 -90,452 11,756 309,895 -21,492
2020 -65,507 30,167 312,692 -22,251
2019 -46,317 -2,156 313,525 -24,492
2018 -46,304 -3,873 312,512 -25,323
2017 -45,583 -6,109 310,323 -25,634
2016 -42,744 -9,482 305,549 -24,474
2015 -44,699 -4,227 299,114 -21,862
2014 -41,027 -2,180 292,779 -19,505
2013 -37,948 -1,324 286,331 -16,779
2012 -40,183 -26,334 282,584 -25,260
2011 -37,477 -23,360 282,922 -27,915
2010 -34,759 -21,668 286,848 -29,501
2009 -26,800 -19,060 287,034 -30,128
2008 -32,967 -17,595 287,334 -31,913
2007 -37,727 -16,366 285,791 -32,537
2006 -39,526 -15,184 282,149 -34,008
2005 -42,124 -14,435 275,121 -33,830
2004 -40,128 -13,604 265,273 -31,214
2003 -44,319 -13,183 251,243 -25,355
2002 -46,240 -12,735 239,036 -91,518
2001 -44,050 -30,726 230,845 -152,197
2000 -41,668 -26,211 221,276 -153,588
1999 -39,411 -23,846 210,518 -146,162
1998 -52,844 -23,262 197,185 -129,089
1997 -58,185 -22,963 174,687 410,106
1996 -45,159 -21,520 140,455 1,367,700
1995 -42,030 -22,020 121,137 439,995
1994 -32,086 -20,984 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 -24,569 -19,973 183,926 236,110
1992 -18,789 -120,552 188,025 -12,334
1991 -14,675 -119,356 196,431 -59,519
1990 -3,487 -116,817 207,895 -41,483
1989 5,326 -114,705 217,632 -2,826
1988 9,879 215 223,759 -5,285
1987 8,971 357 225,744 -7,062
1986 16,125 1,104 225,526 -8,982
1985 11,649 -19,230 223,794 -11,031
1984 20,610 -1,032 219,337 -12,899
1983 21,455 -1,872 212,750 -14,560
1982 24,077 -1,860 205,147 -15,818
1981 29,341 -1,830 195,769 -16,453
1980 30,129 -2,045 184,988 -16,359
1979 40,599 -872 174,477 -15,669
1978 44,070 -62,769 163,779 -13,838
1977 47,543 -11,955 155,011 -11,084
1976 56,055 -2,522 147,665 -7,027
1975 54,941 -38,071 140,596 -4,791
1974 64,223 -1,402 135,743 -4,535
1973 57,760 -5,409 131,021 -3,862
1972 47,169 -11,296 126,403 -4,156
1971 52,925 -7,654 122,567 -4,230
1970 61,125 -11,315 119,273 1,149
1969 63,256 -3,204 115,394 2,983
1968 69,468 -132 111,422 4,728
1967 49,861 -420 108,053 4,655
1966 54,504 -144 105,128 -1,930
1965 58,249 -1,406 103,422 -9,774
1964 66,783 505 102,562 -19,458
1963 66,241 500 94,296 -25,524
1962 64,104 499 102,548 -25,594
1961 75,460 378 102,051 -20,508
1960 76,314 -1,112 100,627 -13,198

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.