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Population in Bulgaria compared to Somalia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 19,009,151 people in Somalia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 20,503,678 in Somalia.

Population statistics:

  • Somalia's population is 3.22 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Somalia is the 66th.
  • The countries together account for 0.32% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.25% for Somalia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +3.61% in Somalia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Somalia has grown from 11M to 20.5M (86.8% growth).

Bulgaria vs Somalia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Somalia
2100 3,368,029 68,384,185
2099 3,392,444 68,040,371
2098 3,416,655 67,702,230
2097 3,440,938 67,362,336
2096 3,465,328 66,972,933
2095 3,489,216 66,585,659
2094 3,513,318 66,179,819
2093 3,537,356 65,760,590
2092 3,561,475 65,324,261
2091 3,585,597 64,852,843
2090 3,609,873 64,362,727
2089 3,634,642 63,922,797
2088 3,659,749 63,464,036
2087 3,685,668 62,987,028
2086 3,712,363 62,447,029
2085 3,739,898 61,873,597
2084 3,768,305 61,318,916
2083 3,797,217 60,761,800
2082 3,827,186 60,187,980
2081 3,857,721 59,676,722
2080 3,890,095 59,100,915
2079 3,923,403 58,477,428
2078 3,957,241 57,852,528
2077 3,992,168 57,211,821
2076 4,027,738 56,602,463
2075 4,064,356 56,005,600
2074 4,102,642 55,330,165
2073 4,141,518 54,651,918
2072 4,180,975 53,978,548
2071 4,221,261 53,284,016
2070 4,262,568 52,573,210
2069 4,304,304 51,878,214
2068 4,346,623 51,197,653
2067 4,389,924 50,493,028
2066 4,433,953 49,779,172
2065 4,478,521 49,024,665
2064 4,523,406 48,265,876
2063 4,568,385 47,522,361
2062 4,613,363 46,785,920
2061 4,658,825 46,037,526
2060 4,704,379 45,220,507
2059 4,749,738 44,397,936
2058 4,794,388 43,659,021
2057 4,839,236 42,897,422
2056 4,884,068 42,121,542
2055 4,929,309 41,318,179
2054 4,974,635 40,513,141
2053 5,020,162 39,744,995
2052 5,065,364 38,992,177
2051 5,110,833 38,228,872
2050 5,156,741 37,471,735
2049 5,202,941 36,739,905
2048 5,249,351 35,984,999
2047 5,296,642 35,218,863
2046 5,343,848 34,462,403
2045 5,391,354 33,717,596
2044 5,439,559 32,977,674
2043 5,488,407 32,247,710
2042 5,537,839 31,537,272
2041 5,588,510 30,794,853
2040 5,639,850 30,032,324
2039 5,692,028 29,312,883
2038 5,743,725 28,583,386
2037 5,796,645 27,838,646
2036 5,849,741 27,114,453
2035 5,902,025 26,385,421
2034 5,954,460 25,687,629
2033 6,007,050 25,018,509
2032 6,058,858 24,338,597
2031 6,111,118 23,657,353
2030 6,163,564 22,965,742
2029 6,214,784 22,299,610
2028 6,264,738 21,651,582
2027 6,313,255 20,991,860
2026 6,359,449 20,322,668
2025 6,402,394 19,666,990
2024 6,441,421 19,009,151
2023 6,446,596 18,358,615
2022 6,465,097 17,801,897
2021 6,507,301 17,271,431
2020 6,550,696 16,651,191
2019 6,616,726 16,030,971
2018 6,710,798 15,452,487
2017 6,803,468 14,916,629
2016 6,894,139 14,348,740
2015 6,984,225 13,806,963
2014 7,073,572 13,339,491
2013 7,160,005 12,869,594
2012 7,305,888 12,461,160
2011 7,348,328 12,348,830
2010 7,395,599 12,261,756
2009 7,444,443 11,961,201
2008 7,492,561 11,663,084
2007 7,545,338 11,322,582
2006 7,601,022 10,975,502
2005 7,658,972 10,644,228
2004 7,716,860 10,280,998
2003 7,775,327 9,909,157
2002 7,837,161 9,550,063
2001 8,009,142 9,198,493
2000 8,170,172 8,838,713
1999 8,210,624 8,492,059
1998 8,256,786 8,155,417
1997 8,312,068 7,824,525
1996 8,362,826 7,554,474
1995 8,406,067 7,285,007
1994 8,443,591 7,026,797
1993 8,472,313 6,681,399
1992 8,540,164 6,495,107
1991 8,632,367 6,813,760
1990 8,718,289 7,082,811
1989 8,876,972 7,114,817
1988 8,981,446 7,235,360
1987 8,971,359 7,228,302
1986 8,958,171 6,974,788
1985 8,960,547 6,693,289
1984 8,960,679 6,428,389
1983 8,939,738 6,198,430
1982 8,917,457 6,003,840
1981 8,891,117 5,982,849
1980 8,861,535 5,936,154
1979 8,825,940 5,449,117
1978 8,814,032 4,814,892
1977 8,804,183 4,484,050
1976 8,758,599 4,365,812
1975 8,720,742 4,257,535
1974 8,678,745 4,151,842
1973 8,620,967 4,045,592
1972 8,576,200 3,939,436
1971 8,536,395 3,837,691
1970 8,489,574 3,738,448
1969 8,434,172 3,641,015
1968 8,369,603 3,546,590
1967 8,310,226 3,454,537
1966 8,258,057 3,365,106
1965 8,204,168 3,277,874
1964 8,144,340 3,192,796
1963 8,078,145 3,110,361
1962 8,012,946 3,030,091
1961 7,943,118 2,952,054
1960 7,867,374 2,876,331

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/somalia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Somalia gained 3,373,238 people (a 30.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Somalia's population increased by 6,154,938 people (a 42.9% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Somalia was ranked 75th in 2006 and ranked 66th 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 Somalia will increase by 82.8% to 37,471,735 people and rank change from 66th to 57th.

Somalia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.4M 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
Somalia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Somalia
2100 -0.72% 0.51%
2099 -0.71% 0.5%
2098 -0.71% 0.5%
2097 -0.7% 0.58%
2096 -0.68% 0.58%
2095 -0.69% 0.61%
2094 -0.68% 0.64%
2093 -0.68% 0.67%
2092 -0.67% 0.73%
2091 -0.67% 0.76%
2090 -0.68% 0.69%
2089 -0.69% 0.72%
2088 -0.7% 0.76%
2087 -0.72% 0.86%
2086 -0.74% 0.93%
2085 -0.75% 0.9%
2084 -0.76% 0.92%
2083 -0.78% 0.95%
2082 -0.79% 0.86%
2081 -0.83% 0.97%
2080 -0.85% 1.07%
2079 -0.86% 1.08%
2078 -0.87% 1.12%
2077 -0.88% 1.08%
2076 -0.9% 1.07%
2075 -0.93% 1.22%
2074 -0.94% 1.24%
2073 -0.94% 1.25%
2072 -0.95% 1.3%
2071 -0.97% 1.35%
2070 -0.97% 1.34%
2069 -0.97% 1.33%
2068 -0.99% 1.4%
2067 -0.99% 1.43%
2066 -1% 1.54%
2065 -0.99% 1.57%
2064 -0.98% 1.56%
2063 -0.97% 1.57%
2062 -0.98% 1.63%
2061 -0.97% 1.81%
2060 -0.95% 1.85%
2059 -0.93% 1.69%
2058 -0.93% 1.78%
2057 -0.92% 1.84%
2056 -0.92% 1.94%
2055 -0.91% 1.99%
2054 -0.91% 1.93%
2053 -0.89% 1.93%
2052 -0.89% 2%
2051 -0.89% 2.02%
2050 -0.89% 1.99%
2049 -0.88% 2.1%
2048 -0.89% 2.18%
2047 -0.88% 2.2%
2046 -0.88% 2.21%
2045 -0.89% 2.24%
2044 -0.89% 2.26%
2043 -0.89% 2.25%
2042 -0.91% 2.41%
2041 -0.91% 2.54%
2040 -0.92% 2.45%
2039 -0.9% 2.55%
2038 -0.91% 2.68%
2037 -0.91% 2.67%
2036 -0.89% 2.76%
2035 -0.88% 2.72%
2034 -0.88% 2.67%
2033 -0.86% 2.79%
2032 -0.86% 2.88%
2031 -0.85% 3.01%
2030 -0.82% 2.99%
2029 -0.8% 2.99%
2028 -0.77% 3.14%
2027 -0.73% 3.29%
2026 -0.67% 3.33%
2025 -0.61% 3.46%
2024 -0.08% 3.54%
2023 -0.29% 3.13%
2022 -0.65% 3.07%
2021 -0.66% 3.72%
2020 -1% 3.87%
2019 -1.4% 3.74%
2018 -1.36% 3.59%
2017 -1.32% 3.96%
2016 -1.29% 3.92%
2015 -1.26% 3.5%
2014 -1.21% 3.65%
2013 -2% 3.28%
2012 -0.58% 0.91%
2011 -0.64% 0.71%
2010 -0.66% 2.51%
2009 -0.64% 2.56%
2008 -0.7% 3.01%
2007 -0.73% 3.16%
2006 -0.76% 3.11%
2005 -0.75% 3.53%
2004 -0.75% 3.75%
2003 -0.79% 3.76%
2002 -2.15% 3.82%
2001 -1.97% 4.07%
2000 -0.49% 4.08%
1999 -0.56% 4.13%
1998 -0.67% 4.23%
1997 -0.61% 3.57%
1996 -0.51% 3.7%
1995 -0.44% 3.67%
1994 -0.34% 5.17%
1993 -0.79% 2.87%
1992 -1.07% -4.68%
1991 -0.99% -3.8%
1990 -1.79% -0.45%
1989 -1.16% -1.67%
1988 0.11% 0.1%
1987 0.15% 3.63%
1986 -0.03% 4.21%
1985 -0.001% 4.12%
1984 0.23% 3.71%
1983 0.25% 3.24%
1982 0.3% 0.35%
1981 0.33% 0.79%
1980 0.4% 8.94%
1979 0.14% 13.2%
1978 0.11% 7.38%
1977 0.52% 2.71%
1976 0.43% 2.54%
1975 0.48% 2.55%
1974 0.67% 2.63%
1973 0.52% 2.69%
1972 0.47% 2.65%
1971 0.55% 2.65%
1970 0.66% 2.68%
1969 0.77% 2.66%
1968 0.71% 2.66%
1967 0.63% 2.66%
1966 0.66% 2.66%
1965 0.73% 2.66%
1964 0.82% 2.65%
1963 0.81% 2.65%
1962 0.88% 2.64%
1961 0.96% 2.63%

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/somalia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Somalia's population grew by 3.54%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Somalia
Current population
6359449
20503678
Population rank 112/197 66/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.25%
One net population change
1.69 hours
48.5 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
40 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +1,782
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +650,536
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +3.54%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 8/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
43.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +12,077
Net migration rank 106/196 40/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 77,972
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 140/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.4%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 180/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Somalia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Somalia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 12,077
2024 - 524 - 26,859
2023 -43,837 5,173 608,203 46,217
2022 -62,065 26,498 551,450 -92,434
2021 -90,452 11,756 566,399 35,506
2020 -65,507 30,167 561,311 77,259
2019 -46,317 -2,156 548,756 53,124
2018 -46,304 -3,873 514,244 40,844
2017 -45,583 -6,109 478,556 38,067
2016 -42,744 -9,482 495,132 124,017
2015 -44,699 -4,227 481,573 -17,178
2014 -41,027 -2,180 464,481 6,065
2013 -37,948 -1,324 448,518 20,723
2012 -40,183 -26,334 399,468 -51,833
2011 -37,477 -23,360 203,213 -326,192
2010 -34,759 -21,668 385,571 -88,448
2009 -26,800 -19,060 405,784 -101,795
2008 -32,967 -17,595 394,258 -102,035
2007 -37,727 -16,366 380,303 8,476
2006 -39,526 -15,184 372,597 -67,200
2005 -42,124 -14,435 363,117 -5,955
2004 -40,128 -13,604 351,959 17,353
2003 -44,319 -13,183 341,192 33,174
2002 -46,240 -12,735 331,215 12,603
2001 -44,050 -30,726 319,059 40,274
2000 -41,668 -26,211 306,651 53,580
1999 -39,411 -23,846 295,523 37,548
1998 -52,844 -23,262 284,779 55,426
1997 -58,185 -22,963 271,894 49,692
1996 -45,159 -21,520 264,807 -46,291
1995 -42,030 -22,020 254,509 65,888
1994 -32,086 -20,984 246,950 -50,921
1993 -24,569 -19,973 232,960 261,815
1992 -18,789 -120,552 57,495 -179,675
1991 -14,675 -119,356 53,052 -568,166
1990 -3,487 -116,817 225,162 -248,155
1989 5,326 -114,705 225,255 -266,281
1988 9,879 215 215,599 -415,660
1987 8,971 357 231,580 -17,391
1986 16,125 1,104 218,416 74,424
1985 11,649 -19,230 207,960 62,183
1984 20,610 -1,032 199,017 60,630
1983 21,455 -1,872 190,775 9,505
1982 24,077 -1,860 182,793 6,115
1981 29,341 -1,830 185,211 -332,129
1980 30,129 -2,045 174,790 65,519
1979 40,599 -872 151,016 582,746
1978 44,070 -62,769 132,689 402,005
1977 47,543 -11,955 124,818 2,170
1976 56,055 -2,522 113,319 -3,831
1975 54,941 -38,071 108,998 -1,934
1974 64,223 -1,402 104,813 -495
1973 57,760 -5,409 108,038 143
1972 47,169 -11,296 104,493 -351
1971 52,925 -7,654 101,196 -1,850
1970 61,125 -11,315 98,025 1,104
1969 63,256 -3,204 95,045 690
1968 69,468 -132 92,208 906
1967 49,861 -420 89,497 1,498
1966 54,504 -144 86,930 941
1965 58,249 -1,406 84,448 2,142
1964 66,783 505 82,042 1,518
1963 66,241 500 79,859 1,449
1962 64,104 499 77,737 1,496
1961 75,460 378 75,513 1,336
1960 76,314 -1,112 73,850 750

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/somalia | 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 Somalia 94.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,270,105 people) and 5.58% is from migration (a gain of 311,487 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 77,972 people or 0.4% in Somalia.

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
Somalia
City Population
Mogadishu 2.12M
Hargeisa 1.23M
Baidoa 1.2M
Borama 68.1K

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/somalia | 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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