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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 9,049,533 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 101st.
  • 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 -0.96% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Bulgaria vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Sierra Leone
2100 3,368,029 16,111,324
2099 3,392,444 16,126,181
2098 3,416,655 16,139,280
2097 3,440,938 16,154,153
2096 3,465,328 16,164,923
2095 3,489,216 16,173,557
2094 3,513,318 16,173,155
2093 3,537,356 16,177,864
2092 3,561,475 16,175,032
2091 3,585,597 16,168,153
2090 3,609,873 16,158,415
2089 3,634,642 16,146,773
2088 3,659,749 16,133,018
2087 3,685,668 16,116,823
2086 3,712,363 16,089,780
2085 3,739,898 16,068,438
2084 3,768,305 16,044,782
2083 3,797,217 16,011,134
2082 3,827,186 15,975,073
2081 3,857,721 15,935,071
2080 3,890,095 15,896,846
2079 3,923,403 15,854,898
2078 3,957,241 15,805,607
2077 3,992,168 15,754,551
2076 4,027,738 15,699,439
2075 4,064,356 15,639,458
2074 4,102,642 15,584,377
2073 4,141,518 15,516,736
2072 4,180,975 15,446,543
2071 4,221,261 15,374,790
2070 4,262,568 15,297,449
2069 4,304,304 15,216,666
2068 4,346,623 15,128,048
2067 4,389,924 15,032,144
2066 4,433,953 14,935,222
2065 4,478,521 14,837,697
2064 4,523,406 14,740,749
2063 4,568,385 14,642,031
2062 4,613,363 14,529,557
2061 4,658,825 14,423,861
2060 4,704,379 14,311,215
2059 4,749,738 14,198,706
2058 4,794,388 14,080,827
2057 4,839,236 13,960,869
2056 4,884,068 13,836,132
2055 4,929,309 13,706,113
2054 4,974,635 13,579,802
2053 5,020,162 13,444,465
2052 5,065,364 13,303,409
2051 5,110,833 13,156,370
2050 5,156,741 13,010,109
2049 5,202,941 12,867,021
2048 5,249,351 12,716,015
2047 5,296,642 12,570,250
2046 5,343,848 12,414,307
2045 5,391,354 12,257,874
2044 5,439,559 12,092,075
2043 5,488,407 11,931,531
2042 5,537,839 11,770,467
2041 5,588,510 11,602,993
2040 5,639,850 11,431,337
2039 5,692,028 11,262,807
2038 5,743,725 11,100,099
2037 5,796,645 10,931,629
2036 5,849,741 10,760,758
2035 5,902,025 10,585,702
2034 5,954,460 10,413,826
2033 6,007,050 10,241,196
2032 6,058,858 10,062,575
2031 6,111,118 9,883,708
2030 6,163,564 9,708,038
2029 6,214,784 9,532,000
2028 6,264,738 9,360,873
2027 6,313,255 9,179,702
2026 6,359,449 9,001,269
2025 6,402,394 8,822,114
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st 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 Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st 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 3.37M 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 -0.61% 2.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Sierra Leone
Current population
6359449
9049533
Population rank 112/197 101/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.11%
One net population change
1.69 hours
2.9 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
2.03 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +497
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 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 - 524 - -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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sierra-leone | 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 Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 (1960–2024, 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/sierra-leone | 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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