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Population in Bulgaria compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 10.3 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).

Bulgaria vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria South Africa
2100 3,368,029 94,767,727
2099 3,392,444 94,556,931
2098 3,416,655 94,349,546
2097 3,440,938 94,158,472
2096 3,465,328 93,960,605
2095 3,489,216 93,752,736
2094 3,513,318 93,527,902
2093 3,537,356 93,300,398
2092 3,561,475 93,074,837
2091 3,585,597 92,826,204
2090 3,609,873 92,594,033
2089 3,634,642 92,355,184
2088 3,659,749 92,112,914
2087 3,685,668 91,866,024
2086 3,712,363 91,614,165
2085 3,739,898 91,385,350
2084 3,768,305 91,139,318
2083 3,797,217 90,877,425
2082 3,827,186 90,615,359
2081 3,857,721 90,345,492
2080 3,890,095 90,071,835
2079 3,923,403 89,801,998
2078 3,957,241 89,526,224
2077 3,992,168 89,249,206
2076 4,027,738 88,986,114
2075 4,064,356 88,713,215
2074 4,102,642 88,428,616
2073 4,141,518 88,149,885
2072 4,180,975 87,866,246
2071 4,221,261 87,540,177
2070 4,262,568 87,209,425
2069 4,304,304 86,901,512
2068 4,346,623 86,588,742
2067 4,389,924 86,268,392
2066 4,433,953 85,935,310
2065 4,478,521 85,604,376
2064 4,523,406 85,244,950
2063 4,568,385 84,875,503
2062 4,613,363 84,503,237
2061 4,658,825 84,132,885
2060 4,704,379 83,748,999
2059 4,749,738 83,354,923
2058 4,794,388 82,947,675
2057 4,839,236 82,538,045
2056 4,884,068 82,127,477
2055 4,929,309 81,698,196
2054 4,974,635 81,255,867
2053 5,020,162 80,818,632
2052 5,065,364 80,367,409
2051 5,110,833 79,886,672
2050 5,156,741 79,411,977
2049 5,202,941 78,925,493
2048 5,249,351 78,437,677
2047 5,296,642 77,922,211
2046 5,343,848 77,397,298
2045 5,391,354 76,879,838
2044 5,439,559 76,357,155
2043 5,488,407 75,827,709
2042 5,537,839 75,291,615
2041 5,588,510 74,748,408
2040 5,639,850 74,205,530
2039 5,692,028 73,663,047
2038 5,743,725 73,105,930
2037 5,796,645 72,532,742
2036 5,849,741 71,956,247
2035 5,902,025 71,362,555
2034 5,954,460 70,762,815
2033 6,007,050 70,153,205
2032 6,058,858 69,527,410
2031 6,111,118 68,890,002
2030 6,163,564 68,245,372
2029 6,214,784 67,573,179
2028 6,264,738 66,884,377
2027 6,313,255 66,190,258
2026 6,359,449 65,496,277
2025 6,402,394 64,770,314
2024 6,441,421 64,007,187
2023 6,446,596 63,212,384
2022 6,465,097 62,378,410
2021 6,507,301 61,502,603
2020 6,550,696 60,562,381
2019 6,616,726 59,587,885
2018 6,710,798 58,613,001
2017 6,803,468 57,635,162
2016 6,894,139 57,259,551
2015 6,984,225 56,723,537
2014 7,073,572 55,594,838
2013 7,160,005 54,678,791
2012 7,305,888 53,782,567
2011 7,348,328 52,995,205
2010 7,395,599 52,344,051
2009 7,444,443 51,728,516
2008 7,492,561 51,114,599
2007 7,545,338 50,528,584
2006 7,601,022 49,998,277
2005 7,658,972 49,490,033
2004 7,716,860 48,991,421
2003 7,775,327 48,500,348
2002 7,837,161 48,019,415
2001 8,009,142 47,566,800
2000 8,170,172 47,159,719
1999 8,210,624 46,730,335
1998 8,256,786 46,223,880
1997 8,312,068 45,666,838
1996 8,362,826 45,123,018
1995 8,406,067 44,541,554
1994 8,443,591 44,004,139
1993 8,472,313 43,297,156
1992 8,540,164 42,443,509
1991 8,632,367 41,687,898
1990 8,718,289 40,746,268
1989 8,876,972 39,628,575
1988 8,981,446 38,480,649
1987 8,971,359 37,326,190
1986 8,958,171 36,180,515
1985 8,960,547 35,042,093
1984 8,960,679 33,892,788
1983 8,939,738 32,739,304
1982 8,917,457 31,615,339
1981 8,891,117 30,541,044
1980 8,861,535 29,518,857
1979 8,825,940 28,634,162
1978 8,814,032 27,869,507
1977 8,804,183 27,118,952
1976 8,758,599 26,395,450
1975 8,720,742 25,690,940
1974 8,678,745 24,989,108
1973 8,620,967 24,294,263
1972 8,576,200 23,609,456
1971 8,536,395 22,942,143
1970 8,489,574 22,279,984
1969 8,434,172 21,614,676
1968 8,369,603 20,957,287
1967 8,310,226 20,314,066
1966 8,258,057 19,690,087
1965 8,204,168 19,089,380
1964 8,144,340 18,511,361
1963 8,078,145 17,954,564
1962 8,012,946 17,418,522
1961 7,943,118 16,908,035
1960 7,867,374 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

South Africa is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 94.8M 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
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria South Africa
2100 -0.72% 0.22%
2099 -0.71% 0.22%
2098 -0.71% 0.2%
2097 -0.7% 0.21%
2096 -0.68% 0.22%
2095 -0.69% 0.24%
2094 -0.68% 0.24%
2093 -0.68% 0.24%
2092 -0.67% 0.27%
2091 -0.67% 0.25%
2090 -0.68% 0.26%
2089 -0.69% 0.26%
2088 -0.7% 0.27%
2087 -0.72% 0.27%
2086 -0.74% 0.25%
2085 -0.75% 0.27%
2084 -0.76% 0.29%
2083 -0.78% 0.29%
2082 -0.79% 0.3%
2081 -0.83% 0.3%
2080 -0.85% 0.3%
2079 -0.86% 0.31%
2078 -0.87% 0.31%
2077 -0.88% 0.3%
2076 -0.9% 0.31%
2075 -0.93% 0.32%
2074 -0.94% 0.32%
2073 -0.94% 0.32%
2072 -0.95% 0.37%
2071 -0.97% 0.38%
2070 -0.97% 0.35%
2069 -0.97% 0.36%
2068 -0.99% 0.37%
2067 -0.99% 0.39%
2066 -1% 0.39%
2065 -0.99% 0.42%
2064 -0.98% 0.44%
2063 -0.97% 0.44%
2062 -0.98% 0.44%
2061 -0.97% 0.46%
2060 -0.95% 0.47%
2059 -0.93% 0.49%
2058 -0.93% 0.5%
2057 -0.92% 0.5%
2056 -0.92% 0.53%
2055 -0.91% 0.54%
2054 -0.91% 0.54%
2053 -0.89% 0.56%
2052 -0.89% 0.6%
2051 -0.89% 0.6%
2050 -0.89% 0.62%
2049 -0.88% 0.62%
2048 -0.89% 0.66%
2047 -0.88% 0.68%
2046 -0.88% 0.67%
2045 -0.89% 0.68%
2044 -0.89% 0.7%
2043 -0.89% 0.71%
2042 -0.91% 0.73%
2041 -0.91% 0.73%
2040 -0.92% 0.74%
2039 -0.9% 0.76%
2038 -0.91% 0.79%
2037 -0.91% 0.8%
2036 -0.89% 0.83%
2035 -0.88% 0.85%
2034 -0.88% 0.87%
2033 -0.86% 0.9%
2032 -0.86% 0.93%
2031 -0.85% 0.94%
2030 -0.82% 0.99%
2029 -0.8% 1.03%
2028 -0.77% 1.05%
2027 -0.73% 1.06%
2026 -0.67% 1.12%
2025 -0.61% 1.19%
2024 -0.08% 1.26%
2023 -0.29% 1.34%
2022 -0.65% 1.42%
2021 -0.66% 1.55%
2020 -1% 1.64%
2019 -1.4% 1.66%
2018 -1.36% 1.7%
2017 -1.32% 0.66%
2016 -1.29% 0.94%
2015 -1.26% 2.03%
2014 -1.21% 1.68%
2013 -2% 1.67%
2012 -0.58% 1.49%
2011 -0.64% 1.24%
2010 -0.66% 1.19%
2009 -0.64% 1.2%
2008 -0.7% 1.16%
2007 -0.73% 1.06%
2006 -0.76% 1.03%
2005 -0.75% 1.02%
2004 -0.75% 1.01%
2003 -0.79% 1%
2002 -2.15% 0.95%
2001 -1.97% 0.86%
2000 -0.49% 0.92%
1999 -0.56% 1.1%
1998 -0.67% 1.22%
1997 -0.61% 1.21%
1996 -0.51% 1.31%
1995 -0.44% 1.22%
1994 -0.34% 1.63%
1993 -0.79% 2.01%
1992 -1.07% 1.81%
1991 -0.99% 2.31%
1990 -1.79% 2.82%
1989 -1.16% 2.98%
1988 0.11% 3.09%
1987 0.15% 3.17%
1986 -0.03% 3.25%
1985 -0.001% 3.39%
1984 0.23% 3.52%
1983 0.25% 3.56%
1982 0.3% 3.52%
1981 0.33% 3.46%
1980 0.4% 3.09%
1979 0.14% 2.74%
1978 0.11% 2.77%
1977 0.52% 2.74%
1976 0.43% 2.74%
1975 0.48% 2.81%
1974 0.67% 2.86%
1973 0.52% 2.9%
1972 0.47% 2.91%
1971 0.55% 2.97%
1970 0.66% 3.08%
1969 0.77% 3.14%
1968 0.71% 3.17%
1967 0.63% 3.17%
1966 0.66% 3.15%
1965 0.73% 3.12%
1964 0.82% 3.1%
1963 0.81% 3.08%
1962 0.88% 3.02%
1961 0.96% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria South Africa
Current population
6359449
65683993
Population rank 112/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.79%
One net population change
1.69 hours
39.7 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
26.6 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
54 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 +2,178
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +794,803
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.26%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 85/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +146,370
Net migration rank 106/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 146,370
2024 - 524 - 166,972
2023 -43,837 5,173 602,793 228,222
2022 -62,065 26,498 603,636 233,284
2021 -90,452 11,756 456,411 458,246
2020 -65,507 30,167 595,873 369,901
2019 -46,317 -2,156 652,130 331,124
2018 -46,304 -3,873 648,319 318,260
2017 -45,583 -6,109 645,975 343,146
2016 -42,744 -9,482 641,365 -879,235
2015 -44,699 -4,227 668,771 641,150
2014 -41,027 -2,180 674,754 272,697
2013 -37,948 -1,324 652,427 232,230
2012 -40,183 -26,334 643,723 264,091
2011 -37,477 -23,360 601,708 65,166
2010 -34,759 -21,668 566,834 68,563
2009 -26,800 -19,060 554,115 41,528
2008 -32,967 -17,595 595,332 36,869
2007 -37,727 -16,366 503,567 36,339
2006 -39,526 -15,184 487,584 33,159
2005 -42,124 -14,435 464,464 31,286
2004 -40,128 -13,604 442,540 58,924
2003 -44,319 -13,183 415,018 65,604
2002 -46,240 -12,735 430,926 50,313
2001 -44,050 -30,726 484,801 -60,793
2000 -41,668 -26,211 526,963 -136,794
1999 -39,411 -23,846 594,643 -126,011
1998 -52,844 -23,262 627,027 -82,722
1997 -58,185 -22,963 667,969 -98,181
1996 -45,159 -21,520 710,868 -193,007
1995 -42,030 -22,020 743,488 -98,403
1994 -32,086 -20,984 698,609 -268,849
1993 -24,569 -19,973 789,220 194,977
1992 -18,789 -120,552 794,415 -71,342
1991 -14,675 -119,356 827,296 -39,131
1990 -3,487 -116,817 835,421 259,718
1989 5,326 -114,705 884,629 255,605
1988 9,879 215 909,221 246,382
1987 8,971 357 922,330 231,009
1986 16,125 1,104 903,644 234,378
1985 11,649 -19,230 893,889 244,940
1984 20,610 -1,032 869,011 290,789
1983 21,455 -1,872 837,013 310,172
1982 24,077 -1,860 807,550 293,195
1981 29,341 -1,830 767,833 279,985
1980 30,129 -2,045 738,415 258,127
1979 40,599 -872 716,541 56,323
1978 44,070 -62,769 694,341 62,121
1977 47,543 -11,955 680,929 63,739
1976 56,055 -2,522 675,011 27,333
1975 54,941 -38,071 667,862 38,809
1974 64,223 -1,402 658,438 38,518
1973 57,760 -5,409 651,596 41,125
1972 47,169 -11,296 638,754 38,163
1971 52,925 -7,654 624,761 32,961
1970 61,125 -11,315 605,102 61,514
1969 63,256 -3,204 590,794 73,225
1968 69,468 -132 571,841 78,932
1967 49,861 -420 553,741 81,932
1966 54,504 -144 534,862 77,417
1965 58,249 -1,406 506,632 82,514
1964 66,783 505 490,606 76,298
1963 66,241 500 473,821 72,844
1962 64,104 499 455,634 69,771
1961 75,460 378 437,851 57,728
1960 76,314 -1,112 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pietermaritzburg 839K
Pretoria 742K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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