Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 2.36 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 -0.86% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Bulgaria vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Rwanda
2100 3,384,288 33,113,283
2099 3,408,821 33,008,545
2098 3,433,149 32,927,982
2097 3,457,549 32,853,307
2096 3,482,057 32,768,037
2095 3,506,060 32,635,508
2094 3,530,278 32,550,001
2093 3,554,432 32,416,870
2092 3,578,667 32,294,333
2091 3,602,907 32,191,262
2090 3,627,300 32,088,747
2089 3,652,188 31,892,591
2088 3,677,416 31,746,789
2087 3,703,460 31,553,150
2086 3,730,284 31,399,004
2085 3,757,953 31,254,597
2084 3,786,496 31,112,448
2083 3,815,548 30,937,106
2082 3,845,662 30,752,861
2081 3,876,344 30,576,992
2080 3,908,874 30,386,351
2079 3,942,344 30,195,560
2078 3,976,345 30,016,688
2077 4,011,440 29,819,259
2076 4,047,182 29,645,610
2075 4,083,977 29,441,964
2074 4,122,447 29,243,980
2073 4,161,511 29,025,977
2072 4,201,158 28,798,822
2071 4,241,639 28,578,302
2070 4,283,145 28,334,300
2069 4,325,083 28,121,174
2068 4,367,606 27,872,383
2067 4,411,116 27,609,059
2066 4,455,358 27,372,823
2065 4,500,141 27,101,698
2064 4,545,243 26,838,144
2063 4,590,439 26,559,838
2062 4,635,634 26,312,631
2061 4,681,315 26,001,660
2060 4,727,089 25,729,037
2059 4,772,667 25,453,407
2058 4,817,532 25,121,995
2057 4,862,597 24,853,512
2056 4,907,646 24,582,198
2055 4,953,105 24,281,895
2054 4,998,650 23,991,958
2053 5,044,397 23,705,290
2052 5,089,817 23,421,032
2051 5,135,505 23,113,700
2050 5,181,635 22,814,556
2049 5,228,058 22,498,806
2048 5,274,692 22,171,841
2047 5,322,212 21,848,486
2046 5,369,645 21,554,082
2045 5,417,381 21,228,573
2044 5,465,818 20,915,810
2043 5,514,902 20,548,490
2042 5,564,573 20,214,283
2041 5,615,489 19,845,021
2040 5,667,076 19,475,227
2039 5,719,506 19,108,842
2038 5,771,452 18,773,398
2037 5,824,628 18,433,422
2036 5,877,980 18,128,058
2035 5,930,517 17,765,049
2034 5,983,205 17,432,165
2033 6,036,049 17,100,072
2032 6,088,107 16,822,053
2031 6,140,619 16,495,903
2030 6,193,318 16,178,061
2029 6,244,785 15,868,812
2028 6,294,981 15,554,713
2027 6,343,732 15,217,275
2026 6,390,149 14,898,118
2025 6,433,302 14,569,341
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 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 3.38M 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 -0.13% 2.19%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Rwanda
Current population
6390149
15062056
Population rank 112/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.18%
One net population change
1.08 hours
1.69 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
1.31 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +857
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 40/197
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 -47,023 524 316,025 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/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 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, 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.