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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 36,973,555 people in Saudi Arabia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 37,955,120 in Saudi Arabia.

Population statistics:

  • Saudi Arabia's population is 5.94 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Saudi Arabia is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.53% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.46% for Saudi Arabia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +2.5% in Saudi Arabia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Saudi Arabia has grown from 21.5M to 38M (76.9% growth).

Bulgaria vs Saudi Arabia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Saudi Arabia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Saudi Arabia
2100 3,384,288 76,380,382
2099 3,408,821 75,896,692
2098 3,433,149 75,410,485
2097 3,457,549 74,922,342
2096 3,482,057 74,431,436
2095 3,506,060 73,939,761
2094 3,530,278 73,447,628
2093 3,554,432 72,954,272
2092 3,578,667 72,460,372
2091 3,602,907 71,966,760
2090 3,627,300 71,474,363
2089 3,652,188 70,984,330
2088 3,677,416 70,494,851
2087 3,703,460 70,006,368
2086 3,730,284 69,519,641
2085 3,757,953 69,035,093
2084 3,786,496 68,551,533
2083 3,815,548 68,068,933
2082 3,845,662 67,587,034
2081 3,876,344 67,105,252
2080 3,908,874 66,624,751
2079 3,942,344 66,144,495
2078 3,976,345 65,664,508
2077 4,011,440 65,183,768
2076 4,047,182 64,701,603
2075 4,083,977 64,217,651
2074 4,122,447 63,731,809
2073 4,161,511 63,243,084
2072 4,201,158 62,750,764
2071 4,241,639 62,255,408
2070 4,283,145 61,756,796
2069 4,325,083 61,253,878
2068 4,367,606 60,746,216
2067 4,411,116 60,235,232
2066 4,455,358 59,720,954
2065 4,500,141 59,203,814
2064 4,545,243 58,684,254
2063 4,590,439 58,161,702
2062 4,635,634 57,637,152
2061 4,681,315 57,109,207
2060 4,727,089 56,579,736
2059 4,772,667 56,047,666
2058 4,817,532 55,513,281
2057 4,862,597 54,978,393
2056 4,907,646 54,441,706
2055 4,953,105 53,904,081
2054 4,998,650 53,364,635
2053 5,044,397 52,823,422
2052 5,089,817 52,280,914
2051 5,135,505 51,737,228
2050 5,181,635 51,192,924
2049 5,228,058 50,647,663
2048 5,274,692 50,100,576
2047 5,322,212 49,552,613
2046 5,369,645 49,002,774
2045 5,417,381 48,451,215
2044 5,465,818 47,898,754
2043 5,514,902 47,346,122
2042 5,564,573 46,792,504
2041 5,615,489 46,237,820
2040 5,667,076 45,682,139
2039 5,719,506 45,126,407
2038 5,771,452 44,569,427
2037 5,824,628 44,012,415
2036 5,877,980 43,454,985
2035 5,930,517 42,897,909
2034 5,983,205 42,342,044
2033 6,036,049 41,787,423
2032 6,088,107 41,233,964
2031 6,140,619 40,680,599
2030 6,193,318 40,128,273
2029 6,244,785 39,530,306
2028 6,294,981 38,906,191
2027 6,343,732 38,267,271
2026 6,390,149 37,625,434
2025 6,433,302 36,973,555
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Saudi Arabia's population increased by 7,000,922 people (a 22.6% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Saudi Arabia was ranked 50th in 2006 and ranked 43rd 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 Saudi Arabia will increase by 34.9% to 51,192,924 people and rank change from 43rd to 42nd.

Saudi Arabia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 76.4M 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
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 -0.13% 4.74%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Saudi Arabia's population grew by 4.74%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Saudi Arabia
Current population
6390149
37955120
Population rank 112/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.46%
One net population change
1.08 hours
18.9 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
54.2 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
6.37 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +4,584
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +1,673,275
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +4.74%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 2/197
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 -47,023 524 499,782 122,170
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia 99.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 4,835,913 people) and 0.73% is from migration (a loss of 35,765 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

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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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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