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Population in Bulgaria compared to Saudi Arabia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 35,300,280 people in Saudi Arabia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 36,734,925 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 5.78 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 44th.
  • The countries together account for 0.52% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.44% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +2.3% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 36.7M (71.2% growth).

Bulgaria vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Saudi Arabia
2100 3,368,029 74,230,118
2099 3,392,444 73,760,045
2098 3,416,655 73,287,526
2097 3,440,938 72,813,125
2096 3,465,328 72,336,039
2095 3,489,216 71,858,206
2094 3,513,318 71,379,928
2093 3,537,356 70,900,460
2092 3,561,475 70,420,464
2091 3,585,597 69,940,749
2090 3,609,873 69,462,214
2089 3,634,642 68,985,976
2088 3,659,749 68,510,277
2087 3,685,668 68,035,545
2086 3,712,363 67,562,521
2085 3,739,898 67,091,615
2084 3,768,305 66,621,667
2083 3,797,217 66,152,653
2082 3,827,186 65,684,321
2081 3,857,721 65,216,102
2080 3,890,095 64,749,128
2079 3,923,403 64,282,393
2078 3,957,241 63,815,918
2077 3,992,168 63,348,712
2076 4,027,738 62,880,120
2075 4,064,356 62,409,793
2074 4,102,642 61,937,628
2073 4,141,518 61,462,662
2072 4,180,975 60,984,202
2071 4,221,261 60,502,791
2070 4,262,568 60,018,216
2069 4,304,304 59,529,456
2068 4,346,623 59,036,086
2067 4,389,924 58,539,487
2066 4,433,953 58,039,687
2065 4,478,521 57,537,106
2064 4,523,406 57,032,172
2063 4,568,385 56,524,331
2062 4,613,363 56,014,549
2061 4,658,825 55,501,467
2060 4,704,379 54,986,901
2059 4,749,738 54,469,809
2058 4,794,388 53,950,469
2057 4,839,236 53,430,639
2056 4,884,068 52,909,061
2055 4,929,309 52,386,571
2054 4,974,635 51,862,312
2053 5,020,162 51,336,335
2052 5,065,364 50,809,100
2051 5,110,833 50,280,719
2050 5,156,741 49,751,739
2049 5,202,941 49,221,828
2048 5,249,351 48,690,143
2047 5,296,642 48,157,605
2046 5,343,848 47,623,246
2045 5,391,354 47,087,215
2044 5,439,559 46,550,306
2043 5,488,407 46,013,232
2042 5,537,839 45,475,200
2041 5,588,510 44,936,131
2040 5,639,850 44,396,093
2039 5,692,028 43,856,006
2038 5,743,725 43,314,707
2037 5,796,645 42,773,375
2036 5,849,741 42,231,639
2035 5,902,025 41,690,245
2034 5,954,460 41,150,029
2033 6,007,050 40,611,021
2032 6,058,858 40,073,144
2031 6,111,118 39,535,357
2030 6,163,564 38,998,581
2029 6,214,784 38,417,447
2028 6,264,738 37,810,902
2027 6,313,255 37,189,969
2026 6,359,449 36,566,201
2025 6,402,394 35,932,673
2024 6,441,421 35,300,280
2023 6,446,596 33,702,731
2022 6,465,097 32,175,224
2021 6,507,301 30,784,383
2020 6,550,696 31,552,510
2019 6,616,726 30,063,799
2018 6,710,798 30,196,281
2017 6,803,468 30,977,355
2016 6,894,139 30,954,198
2015 6,984,225 29,816,382
2014 7,073,572 28,309,273
2013 7,160,005 27,624,004
2012 7,305,888 26,168,861
2011 7,348,328 25,091,867
2010 7,395,599 23,978,487
2009 7,444,443 24,217,654
2008 7,492,561 23,287,877
2007 7,545,338 22,368,313
2006 7,601,022 21,459,144
2005 7,658,972 20,559,890
2004 7,716,860 19,669,480
2003 7,775,327 18,786,767
2002 7,837,161 17,910,910
2001 8,009,142 17,041,397
2000 8,170,172 16,177,722
1999 8,210,624 15,472,075
1998 8,256,786 14,922,185
1997 8,312,068 14,374,943
1996 8,362,826 13,831,009
1995 8,406,067 13,289,245
1994 8,443,591 12,750,040
1993 8,472,313 12,215,862
1992 8,540,164 11,686,676
1991 8,632,367 11,160,744
1990 8,718,289 10,640,691
1989 8,876,972 10,128,394
1988 8,981,446 9,629,165
1987 8,971,359 9,130,194
1986 8,958,171 8,628,639
1985 8,960,547 8,151,779
1984 8,960,679 7,697,307
1983 8,939,738 7,252,941
1982 8,917,457 6,824,486
1981 8,891,117 6,420,551
1980 8,861,535 6,047,997
1979 8,825,940 5,703,698
1978 8,814,032 5,381,902
1977 8,804,183 5,083,048
1976 8,758,599 4,807,933
1975 8,720,742 4,556,287
1974 8,678,745 4,323,632
1973 8,620,967 4,106,344
1972 8,576,200 3,905,722
1971 8,536,395 3,724,031
1970 8,489,574 3,562,470
1969 8,434,172 3,417,114
1968 8,369,603 3,282,711
1967 8,310,226 3,157,242
1966 8,258,057 3,039,887
1965 8,204,168 2,928,771
1964 8,144,340 2,821,968
1963 8,078,145 2,719,341
1962 8,012,946 2,620,910
1961 7,943,118 2,526,347
1960 7,867,374 2,435,403

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Saudi Arabia gained 9,495,054 people (a 44.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 5,780,727 people (a 18.7% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 44th 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 35.4% to 49,751,739 people and rank change from 44th to 43rd.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 74.2M 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
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Saudi Arabia
2100 -0.72% 0.64%
2099 -0.71% 0.64%
2098 -0.71% 0.65%
2097 -0.7% 0.66%
2096 -0.68% 0.66%
2095 -0.69% 0.67%
2094 -0.68% 0.68%
2093 -0.68% 0.68%
2092 -0.67% 0.69%
2091 -0.67% 0.69%
2090 -0.68% 0.69%
2089 -0.69% 0.69%
2088 -0.7% 0.7%
2087 -0.72% 0.7%
2086 -0.74% 0.7%
2085 -0.75% 0.71%
2084 -0.76% 0.71%
2083 -0.78% 0.71%
2082 -0.79% 0.72%
2081 -0.83% 0.72%
2080 -0.85% 0.73%
2079 -0.86% 0.73%
2078 -0.87% 0.74%
2077 -0.88% 0.75%
2076 -0.9% 0.75%
2075 -0.93% 0.76%
2074 -0.94% 0.77%
2073 -0.94% 0.78%
2072 -0.95% 0.8%
2071 -0.97% 0.81%
2070 -0.97% 0.82%
2069 -0.97% 0.84%
2068 -0.99% 0.85%
2067 -0.99% 0.86%
2066 -1% 0.87%
2065 -0.99% 0.89%
2064 -0.98% 0.9%
2063 -0.97% 0.91%
2062 -0.98% 0.92%
2061 -0.97% 0.94%
2060 -0.95% 0.95%
2059 -0.93% 0.96%
2058 -0.93% 0.97%
2057 -0.92% 0.99%
2056 -0.92% 1%
2055 -0.91% 1.01%
2054 -0.91% 1.02%
2053 -0.89% 1.04%
2052 -0.89% 1.05%
2051 -0.89% 1.06%
2050 -0.89% 1.08%
2049 -0.88% 1.09%
2048 -0.89% 1.11%
2047 -0.88% 1.12%
2046 -0.88% 1.14%
2045 -0.89% 1.15%
2044 -0.89% 1.17%
2043 -0.89% 1.18%
2042 -0.91% 1.2%
2041 -0.91% 1.22%
2040 -0.92% 1.23%
2039 -0.9% 1.25%
2038 -0.91% 1.27%
2037 -0.91% 1.28%
2036 -0.89% 1.3%
2035 -0.88% 1.31%
2034 -0.88% 1.33%
2033 -0.86% 1.34%
2032 -0.86% 1.36%
2031 -0.85% 1.38%
2030 -0.82% 1.51%
2029 -0.8% 1.6%
2028 -0.77% 1.67%
2027 -0.73% 1.71%
2026 -0.67% 1.76%
2025 -0.61% 1.79%
2024 -0.08% 4.74%
2023 -0.29% 4.75%
2022 -0.65% 4.52%
2021 -0.66% -2.43%
2020 -1% 4.95%
2019 -1.4% -0.44%
2018 -1.36% -2.52%
2017 -1.32% 0.07%
2016 -1.29% 3.82%
2015 -1.26% 5.32%
2014 -1.21% 2.48%
2013 -2% 5.56%
2012 -0.58% 4.29%
2011 -0.64% 4.64%
2010 -0.66% -0.99%
2009 -0.64% 3.99%
2008 -0.7% 4.11%
2007 -0.73% 4.24%
2006 -0.76% 4.37%
2005 -0.75% 4.53%
2004 -0.75% 4.7%
2003 -0.79% 4.89%
2002 -2.15% 5.1%
2001 -1.97% 5.34%
2000 -0.49% 4.56%
1999 -0.56% 3.69%
1998 -0.67% 3.81%
1997 -0.61% 3.93%
1996 -0.51% 4.08%
1995 -0.44% 4.23%
1994 -0.34% 4.37%
1993 -0.79% 4.53%
1992 -1.07% 4.71%
1991 -0.99% 4.89%
1990 -1.79% 5.06%
1989 -1.16% 5.18%
1988 0.11% 5.47%
1987 0.15% 5.81%
1986 -0.03% 5.85%
1985 -0.001% 5.9%
1984 0.23% 6.13%
1983 0.25% 6.28%
1982 0.3% 6.29%
1981 0.33% 6.16%
1980 0.4% 6.04%
1979 0.14% 5.98%
1978 0.11% 5.88%
1977 0.52% 5.72%
1976 0.43% 5.52%
1975 0.48% 5.38%
1974 0.67% 5.29%
1973 0.52% 5.14%
1972 0.47% 4.88%
1971 0.55% 4.54%
1970 0.66% 4.25%
1969 0.77% 4.09%
1968 0.71% 3.97%
1967 0.63% 3.86%
1966 0.66% 3.79%
1965 0.73% 3.78%
1964 0.82% 3.77%
1963 0.81% 3.76%
1962 0.88% 3.74%
1961 0.96% 3.73%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Saudi Arabia
Current population
6359449
36734925
Population rank 112/197 44/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.44%
One net population change
1.69 hours
19.7 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
57 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
6.66 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +4,377
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +1,597,549
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 4/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
4.4 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +119,738
Net migration rank 106/196 13/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 13,683,841
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 3/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 40.3%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 14/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Saudi Arabia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Saudi Arabia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 119,738
2024 - 524 - 122,170
2023 -43,837 5,173 474,366 325,691
2022 -62,065 26,498 406,920 977,072
2021 -90,452 11,756 409,032 -106,287
2020 -65,507 30,167 447,036 -74,725
2019 -46,317 -2,156 474,407 191,582
2018 -46,304 -3,873 528,767 -988,751
2017 -45,583 -6,109 546,751 -920,812
2016 -42,744 -9,482 537,829 -26,997
2015 -44,699 -4,227 511,023 465,292
2014 -41,027 -2,180 493,431 469,144
2013 -37,948 -1,324 475,299 485,794
2012 -40,183 -26,334 465,649 479,206
2011 -37,477 -23,360 443,675 491,253
2010 -34,759 -21,668 418,641 504,955
2009 -26,800 -19,060 438,557 496,229
2008 -32,967 -17,595 433,457 491,337
2007 -37,727 -16,366 425,199 489,136
2006 -39,526 -15,184 399,333 504,661
2005 -42,124 -14,435 375,938 518,565
2004 -40,128 -13,604 362,843 523,472
2003 -44,319 -13,183 364,520 514,606
2002 -46,240 -12,735 372,099 500,508
2001 -44,050 -30,726 382,153 484,252
2000 -41,668 -26,211 392,407 468,515
1999 -39,411 -23,846 390,112 160,263
1998 -52,844 -23,262 389,499 159,898
1997 -58,185 -22,963 385,033 160,066
1996 -45,159 -21,520 382,248 160,532
1995 -42,030 -22,020 380,231 160,512
1994 -32,086 -20,984 377,351 160,306
1993 -24,569 -19,973 372,621 158,074
1992 -18,789 -120,552 366,763 160,908
1991 -14,675 -119,356 361,329 162,857
1990 -3,487 -116,817 355,495 160,416
1989 5,326 -114,705 349,399 159,273
1988 9,879 215 342,865 146,918
1987 8,971 357 333,088 175,075
1986 16,125 1,104 322,340 172,606
1985 11,649 -19,230 310,558 148,208
1984 20,610 -1,032 296,615 153,562
1983 21,455 -1,872 280,616 157,930
1982 24,077 -1,860 264,831 153,528
1981 29,341 -1,830 249,156 140,355
1980 30,129 -2,045 234,372 121,220
1979 40,599 -872 220,186 112,826
1978 44,070 -62,769 205,331 105,263
1977 47,543 -11,955 191,103 96,015
1976 56,055 -2,522 178,024 85,083
1975 54,941 -38,071 166,223 73,960
1974 64,223 -1,402 155,478 69,653
1973 57,760 -5,409 145,450 63,995
1972 47,169 -11,296 136,360 55,439
1971 52,925 -7,654 127,600 43,989
1970 61,125 -11,315 120,440 31,097
1969 63,256 -3,204 113,859 25,312
1968 69,468 -132 108,281 21,366
1967 49,861 -420 103,343 17,947
1966 54,504 -144 98,361 15,054
1965 58,249 -1,406 93,820 15,000
1964 66,783 505 89,776 15,000
1963 66,241 500 85,480 15,000
1962 64,104 499 81,393 15,000
1961 75,460 378 77,743 15,000
1960 76,314 -1,112 74,143 15,000

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,829,562 people) and 6.05% is from migration (a gain of 311,209 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 13,683,841 people or 40.3% in Saudi Arabia.

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
Saudi Arabia
City Population
Riyadh 7.01M
Jeddah 4.7M
Mecca 2.43M
Medina 1.41M
Dammam 903K
Tabuk 886K
Qatif 625K
Jubail 379K
Ha'il 311K
Yanbu 299K

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/saudi-arabia | 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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