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Population in Bulgaria compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Sierra Leone's population is 1.42 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Bulgaria vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
2100 3,384,288 16,107,087
2099 3,408,821 16,121,940
2098 3,433,149 16,135,035
2097 3,457,549 16,149,905
2096 3,482,057 16,160,672
2095 3,506,060 16,169,304
2094 3,530,278 16,168,902
2093 3,554,432 16,173,609
2092 3,578,667 16,170,778
2091 3,602,907 16,163,901
2090 3,627,300 16,154,165
2089 3,652,188 16,142,526
2088 3,677,416 16,128,775
2087 3,703,460 16,112,585
2086 3,730,284 16,085,549
2085 3,757,953 16,064,212
2084 3,786,496 16,040,563
2083 3,815,548 16,006,923
2082 3,845,662 15,970,872
2081 3,876,344 15,930,880
2080 3,908,874 15,892,665
2079 3,942,344 15,850,728
2078 3,976,345 15,801,450
2077 4,011,440 15,750,408
2076 4,047,182 15,695,310
2075 4,083,977 15,635,345
2074 4,122,447 15,580,279
2073 4,161,511 15,512,655
2072 4,201,158 15,442,481
2071 4,241,639 15,370,747
2070 4,283,145 15,293,426
2069 4,325,083 15,212,664
2068 4,367,606 15,124,069
2067 4,411,116 15,028,190
2066 4,455,358 14,931,295
2065 4,500,141 14,833,794
2064 4,545,243 14,736,872
2063 4,590,439 14,638,180
2062 4,635,634 14,525,736
2061 4,681,315 14,420,068
2060 4,727,089 14,307,451
2059 4,772,667 14,194,972
2058 4,817,532 14,077,124
2057 4,862,597 13,957,197
2056 4,907,646 13,832,494
2055 4,953,105 13,702,508
2054 4,998,650 13,576,231
2053 5,044,397 13,440,929
2052 5,089,817 13,299,910
2051 5,135,505 13,152,910
2050 5,181,635 13,006,688
2049 5,228,058 12,863,637
2048 5,274,692 12,712,671
2047 5,322,212 12,566,944
2046 5,369,645 12,411,042
2045 5,417,381 12,254,651
2044 5,465,818 12,088,895
2043 5,514,902 11,928,393
2042 5,564,573 11,767,372
2041 5,615,489 11,599,942
2040 5,667,076 11,428,331
2039 5,719,506 11,259,845
2038 5,771,452 11,097,180
2037 5,824,628 10,928,754
2036 5,877,980 10,757,928
2035 5,930,517 10,582,918
2034 5,983,205 10,411,088
2033 6,036,049 10,238,503
2032 6,088,107 10,059,929
2031 6,140,619 9,881,109
2030 6,193,318 9,705,485
2029 6,244,785 9,529,493
2028 6,294,981 9,358,412
2027 6,343,732 9,177,288
2026 6,390,149 8,998,902
2025 6,433,302 8,819,794
2024 6,441,421 8,642,022
2023 6,446,596 8,460,512
2022 6,465,097 8,276,807
2021 6,507,301 8,094,602
2020 6,550,696 7,912,558
2019 6,616,726 7,731,991
2018 6,710,798 7,554,563
2017 6,803,468 7,379,299
2016 6,894,139 7,205,328
2015 6,984,225 7,037,655
2014 7,073,572 6,876,385
2013 7,160,005 6,714,051
2012 7,305,888 6,551,080
2011 7,348,328 6,387,251
2010 7,395,599 6,222,714
2009 7,444,443 6,055,646
2008 7,492,561 5,894,722
2007 7,545,338 5,749,352
2006 7,601,022 5,624,466
2005 7,658,972 5,501,712
2004 7,716,860 5,355,717
2003 7,775,327 5,177,687
2002 7,837,161 4,971,435
2001 8,009,142 4,692,716
2000 8,170,172 4,423,611
1999 8,210,624 4,318,043
1998 8,256,786 4,295,785
1997 8,312,068 4,253,716
1996 8,362,826 4,199,210
1995 8,406,067 4,179,179
1994 8,443,591 4,173,105
1993 8,472,313 4,157,130
1992 8,540,164 4,166,366
1991 8,632,367 4,246,267
1990 8,718,289 4,196,828
1989 8,876,972 4,034,037
1988 8,981,446 3,934,517
1987 8,971,359 3,829,718
1986 8,958,171 3,728,380
1985 8,960,547 3,638,438
1984 8,960,679 3,558,758
1983 8,939,738 3,481,646
1982 8,917,457 3,408,183
1981 8,891,117 3,338,940
1980 8,861,535 3,272,089
1979 8,825,940 3,207,499
1978 8,814,032 3,145,517
1977 8,804,183 3,085,354
1976 8,758,599 3,028,820
1975 8,720,742 2,974,657
1974 8,678,745 2,920,459
1973 8,620,967 2,866,955
1972 8,576,200 2,814,388
1971 8,536,395 2,763,222
1970 8,489,574 2,712,286
1969 8,434,172 2,661,365
1968 8,369,603 2,611,532
1967 8,310,226 2,562,384
1966 8,258,057 2,514,638
1965 8,204,168 2,468,666
1964 8,144,340 2,424,390
1963 8,078,145 2,382,258
1962 8,012,946 2,342,242
1961 7,943,118 2,304,227
1960 7,867,374 2,268,356

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Sierra Leone is projected to reach its peak in 2093 at 16.2M 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
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
2100 -0.72% -0.09%
2099 -0.71% -0.08%
2098 -0.71% -0.09%
2097 -0.7% -0.07%
2096 -0.68% -0.05%
2095 -0.69% 0.002%
2094 -0.68% -0.03%
2093 -0.68% 0.02%
2092 -0.67% 0.04%
2091 -0.67% 0.06%
2090 -0.68% 0.07%
2089 -0.69% 0.09%
2088 -0.7% 0.1%
2087 -0.72% 0.17%
2086 -0.74% 0.13%
2085 -0.75% 0.15%
2084 -0.76% 0.21%
2083 -0.78% 0.23%
2082 -0.79% 0.25%
2081 -0.83% 0.24%
2080 -0.85% 0.26%
2079 -0.86% 0.31%
2078 -0.87% 0.32%
2077 -0.88% 0.35%
2076 -0.9% 0.38%
2075 -0.93% 0.35%
2074 -0.94% 0.44%
2073 -0.94% 0.45%
2072 -0.95% 0.47%
2071 -0.97% 0.51%
2070 -0.97% 0.53%
2069 -0.97% 0.59%
2068 -0.99% 0.64%
2067 -0.99% 0.65%
2066 -1% 0.66%
2065 -0.99% 0.66%
2064 -0.98% 0.67%
2063 -0.97% 0.77%
2062 -0.98% 0.73%
2061 -0.97% 0.79%
2060 -0.95% 0.79%
2059 -0.93% 0.84%
2058 -0.93% 0.86%
2057 -0.92% 0.9%
2056 -0.92% 0.95%
2055 -0.91% 0.93%
2054 -0.91% 1.01%
2053 -0.89% 1.06%
2052 -0.89% 1.12%
2051 -0.89% 1.12%
2050 -0.89% 1.11%
2049 -0.88% 1.19%
2048 -0.89% 1.16%
2047 -0.88% 1.26%
2046 -0.88% 1.28%
2045 -0.89% 1.37%
2044 -0.89% 1.35%
2043 -0.89% 1.37%
2042 -0.91% 1.44%
2041 -0.91% 1.5%
2040 -0.92% 1.5%
2039 -0.9% 1.47%
2038 -0.91% 1.54%
2037 -0.91% 1.59%
2036 -0.89% 1.65%
2035 -0.88% 1.65%
2034 -0.88% 1.69%
2033 -0.86% 1.78%
2032 -0.86% 1.81%
2031 -0.85% 1.81%
2030 -0.82% 1.85%
2029 -0.8% 1.83%
2028 -0.77% 1.97%
2027 -0.73% 1.98%
2026 -0.67% 2.03%
2025 -0.13% 2.06%
2024 -0.08% 2.15%
2023 -0.29% 2.22%
2022 -0.65% 2.25%
2021 -0.66% 2.3%
2020 -1% 2.34%
2019 -1.4% 2.35%
2018 -1.36% 2.38%
2017 -1.32% 2.41%
2016 -1.29% 2.38%
2015 -1.26% 2.35%
2014 -1.21% 2.42%
2013 -2% 2.49%
2012 -0.58% 2.56%
2011 -0.64% 2.64%
2010 -0.66% 2.76%
2009 -0.64% 2.73%
2008 -0.7% 2.53%
2007 -0.73% 2.22%
2006 -0.76% 2.23%
2005 -0.75% 2.73%
2004 -0.75% 3.44%
2003 -0.79% 4.15%
2002 -2.15% 5.94%
2001 -1.97% 6.08%
2000 -0.49% 2.44%
1999 -0.56% 0.52%
1998 -0.67% 0.99%
1997 -0.61% 1.3%
1996 -0.51% 0.48%
1995 -0.44% 0.15%
1994 -0.34% 0.38%
1993 -0.79% -0.22%
1992 -1.07% -1.88%
1991 -0.99% 1.18%
1990 -1.79% 4.04%
1989 -1.16% 2.53%
1988 0.11% 2.74%
1987 0.15% 2.72%
1986 -0.03% 2.47%
1985 -0.001% 2.24%
1984 0.23% 2.21%
1983 0.25% 2.16%
1982 0.3% 2.07%
1981 0.33% 2.04%
1980 0.4% 2.01%
1979 0.14% 1.97%
1978 0.11% 1.95%
1977 0.52% 1.87%
1976 0.43% 1.82%
1975 0.48% 1.86%
1974 0.67% 1.87%
1973 0.52% 1.87%
1972 0.47% 1.85%
1971 0.55% 1.88%
1970 0.66% 1.91%
1969 0.77% 1.91%
1968 0.71% 1.92%
1967 0.63% 1.9%
1966 0.66% 1.86%
1965 0.73% 1.83%
1964 0.82% 1.77%
1963 0.81% 1.71%
1962 0.88% 1.65%
1961 0.96% 1.58%

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/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Sierra Leone
Current population
6390149
9090531
Population rank 112/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.11%
One net population change
1.08 hours
2.96 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
2.02 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +487
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 47/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -11,309
Net migration rank 106/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -11,309
2024 -47,023 524 189,234 -11,000
2023 -43,837 5,173 188,788 -4,000
2022 -62,065 26,498 186,625 -4,000
2021 -90,452 11,756 183,326 -1,544
2020 -65,507 30,167 181,015 1,292
2019 -46,317 -2,156 181,068 -2,238
2018 -46,304 -3,873 178,772 -2,741
2017 -45,583 -6,109 173,259 1,234
2016 -42,744 -9,482 168,784 4,657
2015 -44,699 -4,227 162,275 -356
2014 -41,027 -2,180 160,137 485
2013 -37,948 -1,324 161,265 2,773
2012 -40,183 -26,334 160,915 988
2011 -37,477 -23,360 158,858 6,895
2010 -34,759 -21,668 155,338 7,983
2009 -26,800 -19,060 152,669 18,145
2008 -32,967 -17,595 149,855 1,182
2007 -37,727 -16,366 145,740 -6,042
2006 -39,526 -15,184 144,127 -34,052
2005 -42,124 -14,435 137,234 -1,805
2004 -40,128 -13,604 132,661 23,897
2003 -44,319 -13,183 130,312 69,185
2002 -46,240 -12,735 126,429 86,578
2001 -44,050 -30,726 116,647 227,791
2000 -41,668 -26,211 110,754 83,013
1999 -39,411 -23,846 102,295 -84,926
1998 -52,844 -23,262 103,906 -76,766
1997 -58,185 -22,963 105,433 -48,437
1996 -45,159 -21,520 104,140 -52,110
1995 -42,030 -22,020 100,885 -112,857
1994 -32,086 -20,984 101,486 -77,371
1993 -24,569 -19,973 103,317 -95,476
1992 -18,789 -120,552 103,251 -129,565
1991 -14,675 -119,356 105,477 -238,965
1990 -3,487 -116,817 100,778 131,587
1989 5,326 -114,705 98,298 -5,079
1988 9,879 215 96,344 9,470
1987 8,971 357 94,235 9,558
1986 16,125 1,104 90,902 7,992
1985 11,649 -19,230 88,869 -7,873
1984 20,610 -1,032 87,072 -8,708
1983 21,455 -1,872 84,628 -8,783
1982 24,077 -1,860 82,457 -11,379
1981 29,341 -1,830 80,111 -12,699
1980 30,129 -2,045 77,932 -11,641
1979 40,599 -872 75,992 -13,095
1978 44,070 -62,769 74,130 -13,073
1977 47,543 -11,955 71,663 -12,399
1976 56,055 -2,522 69,506 -15,686
1975 54,941 -38,071 67,560 -13,058
1974 64,223 -1,402 65,357 -11,473
1973 57,760 -5,409 62,443 -9,322
1972 47,169 -11,296 60,279 -8,267
1971 52,925 -7,654 58,484 -8,162
1970 61,125 -11,315 56,513 -4,957
1969 63,256 -3,204 54,768 -4,485
1968 69,468 -132 53,126 -3,743
1967 49,861 -420 51,734 -2,819
1966 54,504 -144 49,486 -2,911
1965 58,249 -1,406 47,223 -1,851
1964 66,783 505 45,487 -2,308
1963 66,241 500 43,569 -2,480
1962 64,104 499 41,603 -2,658
1961 75,460 378 40,022 -2,947
1960 76,314 -1,112 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

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
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

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

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