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Population in Bulgaria compared to Sao Tome and Principe: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 235,536 people in Sao Tome and Principe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 246,362 in Sao Tome and Principe.

Population statistics:

  • Bulgaria's population is 25.8 times bigger than Sao Tome and Principe's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Sao Tome and Principe is the 176th.
  • The countries together account for 0.08% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.003% for Sao Tome and Principe.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.82% in Sao Tome and Principe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe has grown from 166K to 246K (48.7% growth).

Bulgaria vs Sao Tome and Principe: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Sao Tome
2100 3,368,029 538,729
2099 3,392,444 537,330
2098 3,416,655 535,787
2097 3,440,938 534,124
2096 3,465,328 532,353
2095 3,489,216 530,576
2094 3,513,318 528,656
2093 3,537,356 526,643
2092 3,561,475 524,507
2091 3,585,597 522,325
2090 3,609,873 519,999
2089 3,634,642 517,612
2088 3,659,749 515,098
2087 3,685,668 512,568
2086 3,712,363 510,018
2085 3,739,898 507,340
2084 3,768,305 504,584
2083 3,797,217 501,679
2082 3,827,186 498,722
2081 3,857,721 495,689
2080 3,890,095 492,482
2079 3,923,403 489,244
2078 3,957,241 485,930
2077 3,992,168 482,450
2076 4,027,738 478,942
2075 4,064,356 475,380
2074 4,102,642 471,763
2073 4,141,518 468,114
2072 4,180,975 464,348
2071 4,221,261 460,509
2070 4,262,568 456,552
2069 4,304,304 452,449
2068 4,346,623 448,367
2067 4,389,924 444,152
2066 4,433,953 439,833
2065 4,478,521 435,561
2064 4,523,406 431,126
2063 4,568,385 426,703
2062 4,613,363 422,184
2061 4,658,825 417,686
2060 4,704,379 413,117
2059 4,749,738 408,577
2058 4,794,388 404,024
2057 4,839,236 399,413
2056 4,884,068 394,844
2055 4,929,309 390,153
2054 4,974,635 385,468
2053 5,020,162 380,737
2052 5,065,364 376,015
2051 5,110,833 371,194
2050 5,156,741 366,397
2049 5,202,941 361,591
2048 5,249,351 356,742
2047 5,296,642 351,861
2046 5,343,848 346,888
2045 5,391,354 341,838
2044 5,439,559 336,792
2043 5,488,407 331,713
2042 5,537,839 326,652
2041 5,588,510 321,594
2040 5,639,850 316,457
2039 5,692,028 311,279
2038 5,743,725 306,071
2037 5,796,645 300,875
2036 5,849,741 295,624
2035 5,902,025 290,400
2034 5,954,460 285,183
2033 6,007,050 279,990
2032 6,058,858 274,835
2031 6,111,118 269,740
2030 6,163,564 264,723
2029 6,214,784 259,705
2028 6,264,738 254,751
2027 6,313,255 249,860
2026 6,359,449 245,066
2025 6,402,394 240,286
2024 6,441,421 235,536
2023 6,446,596 230,871
2022 6,465,097 226,305
2021 6,507,301 221,961
2020 6,550,696 217,435
2019 6,616,726 213,392
2018 6,710,798 210,187
2017 6,803,468 206,970
2016 6,894,139 203,689
2015 6,984,225 200,291
2014 7,073,572 196,767
2013 7,160,005 193,148
2012 7,305,888 189,439
2011 7,348,328 185,649
2010 7,395,599 181,802
2009 7,444,443 177,853
2008 7,492,561 173,793
2007 7,545,338 169,700
2006 7,601,022 165,638
2005 7,658,972 161,639
2004 7,716,860 157,705
2003 7,775,327 153,814
2002 7,837,161 149,922
2001 8,009,142 146,375
2000 8,170,172 144,018
1999 8,210,624 142,442
1998 8,256,786 140,751
1997 8,312,068 138,922
1996 8,362,826 136,962
1995 8,406,067 134,895
1994 8,443,591 132,732
1993 8,472,313 130,467
1992 8,540,164 128,110
1991 8,632,367 125,697
1990 8,718,289 122,980
1989 8,876,972 119,979
1988 8,981,446 116,939
1987 8,971,359 113,919
1986 8,958,171 111,150
1985 8,960,547 108,658
1984 8,960,679 106,394
1983 8,939,738 104,380
1982 8,917,457 102,508
1981 8,891,117 100,615
1980 8,861,535 98,544
1979 8,825,940 96,252
1978 8,814,032 93,794
1977 8,804,183 91,301
1976 8,758,599 88,922
1975 8,720,742 86,708
1974 8,678,745 84,672
1973 8,620,967 82,798
1972 8,576,200 81,041
1971 8,536,395 79,330
1970 8,489,574 77,626
1969 8,434,172 76,083
1968 8,369,603 74,765
1967 8,310,226 73,596
1966 8,258,057 72,576
1965 8,204,168 71,680
1964 8,144,340 70,865
1963 8,078,145 70,112
1962 8,012,946 69,403
1961 7,943,118 68,707
1960 7,867,374 68,012

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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe gained 38,051 people (a 23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Sao Tome and Principe's population increased by 42,673 people (a 21% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Sao Tome and Principe was ranked 178th in 2006 and ranked 176th 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 Sao Tome and Principe will increase by 48.7% to 366,397 people and rank change from 176th to 175th.

Sao Tome and Principe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 539K 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
Sao Tome and Principe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Sao Tome
2100 -0.72% 0.26%
2099 -0.71% 0.29%
2098 -0.71% 0.31%
2097 -0.7% 0.33%
2096 -0.68% 0.33%
2095 -0.69% 0.36%
2094 -0.68% 0.38%
2093 -0.68% 0.41%
2092 -0.67% 0.42%
2091 -0.67% 0.45%
2090 -0.68% 0.46%
2089 -0.69% 0.49%
2088 -0.7% 0.49%
2087 -0.72% 0.5%
2086 -0.74% 0.53%
2085 -0.75% 0.55%
2084 -0.76% 0.58%
2083 -0.78% 0.59%
2082 -0.79% 0.61%
2081 -0.83% 0.65%
2080 -0.85% 0.66%
2079 -0.86% 0.68%
2078 -0.87% 0.72%
2077 -0.88% 0.73%
2076 -0.9% 0.75%
2075 -0.93% 0.77%
2074 -0.94% 0.78%
2073 -0.94% 0.81%
2072 -0.95% 0.83%
2071 -0.97% 0.87%
2070 -0.97% 0.91%
2069 -0.97% 0.91%
2068 -0.99% 0.95%
2067 -0.99% 0.98%
2066 -1% 0.98%
2065 -0.99% 1.03%
2064 -0.98% 1.04%
2063 -0.97% 1.07%
2062 -0.98% 1.08%
2061 -0.97% 1.11%
2060 -0.95% 1.11%
2059 -0.93% 1.13%
2058 -0.93% 1.15%
2057 -0.92% 1.16%
2056 -0.92% 1.2%
2055 -0.91% 1.22%
2054 -0.91% 1.24%
2053 -0.89% 1.26%
2052 -0.89% 1.3%
2051 -0.89% 1.31%
2050 -0.89% 1.33%
2049 -0.88% 1.36%
2048 -0.89% 1.39%
2047 -0.88% 1.43%
2046 -0.88% 1.48%
2045 -0.89% 1.5%
2044 -0.89% 1.53%
2043 -0.89% 1.55%
2042 -0.91% 1.57%
2041 -0.91% 1.62%
2040 -0.92% 1.66%
2039 -0.9% 1.7%
2038 -0.91% 1.73%
2037 -0.91% 1.78%
2036 -0.89% 1.8%
2035 -0.88% 1.83%
2034 -0.88% 1.85%
2033 -0.86% 1.88%
2032 -0.86% 1.89%
2031 -0.85% 1.9%
2030 -0.82% 1.93%
2029 -0.8% 1.94%
2028 -0.77% 1.96%
2027 -0.73% 1.96%
2026 -0.67% 1.99%
2025 -0.61% 2.02%
2024 -0.08% 2.02%
2023 -0.29% 2.02%
2022 -0.65% 1.96%
2021 -0.66% 2.08%
2020 -1% 1.89%
2019 -1.4% 1.52%
2018 -1.36% 1.55%
2017 -1.32% 1.61%
2016 -1.29% 1.7%
2015 -1.26% 1.79%
2014 -1.21% 1.87%
2013 -2% 1.96%
2012 -0.58% 2.04%
2011 -0.64% 2.12%
2010 -0.66% 2.22%
2009 -0.64% 2.34%
2008 -0.7% 2.41%
2007 -0.73% 2.45%
2006 -0.76% 2.47%
2005 -0.75% 2.49%
2004 -0.75% 2.53%
2003 -0.79% 2.6%
2002 -2.15% 2.42%
2001 -1.97% 1.64%
2000 -0.49% 1.11%
1999 -0.56% 1.2%
1998 -0.67% 1.32%
1997 -0.61% 1.43%
1996 -0.51% 1.53%
1995 -0.44% 1.63%
1994 -0.34% 1.74%
1993 -0.79% 1.84%
1992 -1.07% 1.92%
1991 -0.99% 2.21%
1990 -1.79% 2.5%
1989 -1.16% 2.6%
1988 0.11% 2.65%
1987 0.15% 2.49%
1986 -0.03% 2.29%
1985 -0.001% 2.13%
1984 0.23% 1.93%
1983 0.25% 1.83%
1982 0.3% 1.88%
1981 0.33% 2.1%
1980 0.4% 2.38%
1979 0.14% 2.62%
1978 0.11% 2.73%
1977 0.52% 2.68%
1976 0.43% 2.55%
1975 0.48% 2.4%
1974 0.67% 2.26%
1973 0.52% 2.17%
1972 0.47% 2.16%
1971 0.55% 2.2%
1970 0.66% 2.03%
1969 0.77% 1.76%
1968 0.71% 1.59%
1967 0.63% 1.41%
1966 0.66% 1.25%
1965 0.73% 1.15%
1964 0.82% 1.07%
1963 0.81% 1.02%
1962 0.88% 1.01%
1961 0.96% 1.02%

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/sao-tome-and-principe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Sao Tome and Principe's population grew by 2.02%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Sao Tome
Current population
6359449
246362
Population rank 112/197 176/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.003%
One net population change
1.69 hours
1.88 hours
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.35 hours
One death every
5.19 minutes
6.81 hours
Daily growth/decline -14 +13
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +4,665
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.02%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 49/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
13.5 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 -650
Net migration rank 106/196 90/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,955
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 194/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 162/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Sao Tome and Principe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Sao Tome
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -650
2024 - 524 - -604
2023 -43,837 5,173 5,221 -592
2022 -62,065 26,498 5,102 -592
2021 -90,452 11,756 4,954 -782
2020 -65,507 30,167 4,874 0
2019 -46,317 -2,156 4,932 -1,716
2018 -46,304 -3,873 4,957 -1,757
2017 -45,583 -6,109 5,007 -1,779
2016 -42,744 -9,482 5,125 -1,793
2015 -44,699 -4,227 5,269 -1,809
2014 -41,027 -2,180 5,381 -1,801
2013 -37,948 -1,324 5,449 -1,787
2012 -40,183 -26,334 5,501 -1,739
2011 -37,477 -23,360 5,445 -1,616
2010 -34,759 -21,668 5,391 -1,529
2009 -26,800 -19,060 5,349 -1,328
2008 -32,967 -17,595 5,297 -1,203
2007 -37,727 -16,366 5,226 -1,127
2006 -39,526 -15,184 5,057 -1,031
2005 -42,124 -14,435 4,897 -941
2004 -40,128 -13,604 4,810 -894
2003 -44,319 -13,183 4,702 -816
2002 -46,240 -12,735 4,591 -690
2001 -44,050 -30,726 4,471 -1,289
2000 -41,668 -26,211 4,334 -2,798
1999 -39,411 -23,846 4,221 -2,594
1998 -52,844 -23,262 4,120 -2,364
1997 -58,185 -22,963 4,041 -2,153
1996 -45,159 -21,520 3,993 -1,974
1995 -42,030 -22,020 3,948 -1,829
1994 -32,086 -20,984 3,860 -1,644
1993 -24,569 -19,973 3,841 -1,527
1992 -18,789 -120,552 3,822 -1,432
1991 -14,675 -119,356 3,801 -1,362
1990 -3,487 -116,817 3,719 -727
1989 5,326 -114,705 3,576 -571
1988 9,879 215 3,544 -465
1987 8,971 357 3,440 -470
1986 16,125 1,104 3,180 -614
1985 11,649 -19,230 3,242 -828
1984 20,610 -1,032 3,163 -1,041
1983 21,455 -1,872 3,100 -1,203
1982 24,077 -1,860 3,047 -1,203
1981 29,341 -1,830 3,015 -1,067
1980 30,129 -2,045 2,965 -770
1979 40,599 -872 2,893 -491
1978 44,070 -62,769 2,800 -279
1977 47,543 -11,955 2,705 -255
1976 56,055 -2,522 2,608 -302
1975 54,941 -38,071 2,515 -392
1974 64,223 -1,402 2,422 -474
1973 57,760 -5,409 2,329 -525
1972 47,169 -11,296 2,232 -517
1971 52,925 -7,654 2,127 -430
1970 61,125 -11,315 1,980 -279
1969 63,256 -3,204 1,862 -469
1968 69,468 -132 1,767 -520
1967 49,861 -420 1,693 -606
1966 54,504 -144 1,642 -688
1965 58,249 -1,406 1,611 -765
1964 66,783 505 1,600 -819
1963 66,241 500 1,609 -886
1962 64,104 499 1,625 -927
1961 75,460 378 1,657 -960
1960 76,314 -1,112 1,547 -860

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sao-tome-and-principe | 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 Sao Tome and Principe 80.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 50,822 people) and 19.9% is from migration (a loss of 12,621 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,955 people or 0.8% in Sao Tome and Principe.

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
Sao Tome
City Population
Sao Tome 65.5K
Trindade 6.64K

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/sao-tome-and-principe | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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