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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 8.12 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Bulgaria vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria South Korea
2100 3,368,029 22,012,503
2099 3,392,444 22,335,528
2098 3,416,655 22,668,719
2097 3,440,938 23,009,661
2096 3,465,328 23,360,151
2095 3,489,216 23,722,747
2094 3,513,318 24,093,391
2093 3,537,356 24,473,038
2092 3,561,475 24,860,975
2091 3,585,597 25,255,379
2090 3,609,873 25,655,577
2089 3,634,642 26,060,945
2088 3,659,749 26,470,073
2087 3,685,668 26,884,813
2086 3,712,363 27,301,913
2085 3,739,898 27,723,736
2084 3,768,305 28,147,480
2083 3,797,217 28,578,182
2082 3,827,186 29,012,953
2081 3,857,721 29,456,022
2080 3,890,095 29,901,880
2079 3,923,403 30,352,062
2078 3,957,241 30,809,176
2077 3,992,168 31,273,700
2076 4,027,738 31,744,480
2075 4,064,356 32,221,226
2074 4,102,642 32,706,020
2073 4,141,518 33,196,556
2072 4,180,975 33,696,490
2071 4,221,261 34,203,935
2070 4,262,568 34,719,324
2069 4,304,304 35,241,850
2068 4,346,623 35,762,799
2067 4,389,924 36,292,307
2066 4,433,953 36,826,655
2065 4,478,521 37,368,086
2064 4,523,406 37,916,439
2063 4,568,385 38,469,051
2062 4,613,363 39,028,473
2061 4,658,825 39,584,621
2060 4,704,379 40,149,830
2059 4,749,738 40,712,514
2058 4,794,388 41,277,134
2057 4,839,236 41,833,887
2056 4,884,068 42,377,427
2055 4,929,309 42,909,302
2054 4,974,635 43,427,254
2053 5,020,162 43,938,741
2052 5,065,364 44,441,106
2051 5,110,833 44,923,604
2050 5,156,741 45,385,311
2049 5,202,941 45,832,153
2048 5,249,351 46,258,529
2047 5,296,642 46,668,898
2046 5,343,848 47,056,404
2045 5,391,354 47,433,205
2044 5,439,559 47,797,411
2043 5,488,407 48,144,730
2042 5,537,839 48,478,991
2041 5,588,510 48,806,273
2040 5,639,850 49,115,658
2039 5,692,028 49,412,830
2038 5,743,725 49,694,340
2037 5,796,645 49,957,504
2036 5,849,741 50,200,702
2035 5,902,025 50,426,000
2034 5,954,460 50,632,962
2033 6,007,050 50,821,090
2032 6,058,858 50,987,020
2031 6,111,118 51,134,940
2030 6,163,564 51,267,908
2029 6,214,784 51,385,868
2028 6,264,738 51,486,791
2027 6,313,255 51,576,746
2026 6,359,449 51,649,918
2025 6,402,394 51,710,062
2024 6,441,421 51,751,065
2023 6,446,596 51,712,619
2022 6,465,097 51,672,569
2021 6,507,301 51,769,539
2020 6,550,696 51,836,239
2019 6,616,726 51,764,822
2018 6,710,798 51,585,058
2017 6,803,468 51,361,911
2016 6,894,139 51,217,803
2015 6,984,225 51,014,947
2014 7,073,572 50,746,659
2013 7,160,005 50,428,893
2012 7,305,888 50,199,853
2011 7,348,328 49,936,638
2010 7,395,599 49,554,112
2009 7,444,443 49,307,835
2008 7,492,561 49,054,708
2007 7,545,338 48,683,638
2006 7,601,022 48,438,292
2005 7,658,972 48,184,561
2004 7,716,860 48,082,519
2003 7,775,327 47,892,330
2002 7,837,161 47,644,736
2001 8,009,142 47,370,164
2000 8,170,172 47,008,111
1999 8,210,624 46,616,677
1998 8,256,786 46,286,503
1997 8,312,068 45,953,580
1996 8,362,826 45,524,681
1995 8,406,067 45,092,991
1994 8,443,591 44,641,540
1993 8,472,313 44,194,628
1992 8,540,164 43,747,962
1991 8,632,367 43,295,704
1990 8,718,289 42,869,283
1989 8,876,972 42,449,038
1988 8,981,446 42,031,247
1987 8,971,359 41,621,690
1986 8,958,171 41,213,674
1985 8,960,547 40,805,744
1984 8,960,679 40,405,956
1983 8,939,738 39,910,403
1982 8,917,457 39,326,352
1981 8,891,117 38,723,248
1980 8,861,535 38,123,775
1979 8,825,940 37,534,236
1978 8,814,032 36,969,185
1977 8,804,183 36,411,795
1976 8,758,599 35,848,523
1975 8,720,742 35,280,725
1974 8,678,745 34,692,266
1973 8,620,967 34,103,149
1972 8,576,200 33,505,406
1971 8,536,395 32,882,704
1970 8,489,574 32,240,827
1969 8,434,172 31,544,266
1968 8,369,603 30,838,302
1967 8,310,226 30,130,983
1966 8,258,057 29,435,571
1965 8,204,168 28,704,674
1964 8,144,340 27,984,155
1963 8,078,145 27,261,747
1962 8,012,946 26,513,030
1961 7,943,118 25,765,673
1960 7,867,374 25,012,374

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-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 38.5% in South Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria South Korea
2100 -0.72% -1.45%
2099 -0.71% -1.47%
2098 -0.71% -1.48%
2097 -0.7% -1.5%
2096 -0.68% -1.53%
2095 -0.69% -1.54%
2094 -0.68% -1.55%
2093 -0.68% -1.56%
2092 -0.67% -1.56%
2091 -0.67% -1.56%
2090 -0.68% -1.56%
2089 -0.69% -1.55%
2088 -0.7% -1.54%
2087 -0.72% -1.53%
2086 -0.74% -1.52%
2085 -0.75% -1.51%
2084 -0.76% -1.51%
2083 -0.78% -1.5%
2082 -0.79% -1.5%
2081 -0.83% -1.49%
2080 -0.85% -1.48%
2079 -0.86% -1.48%
2078 -0.87% -1.49%
2077 -0.88% -1.48%
2076 -0.9% -1.48%
2075 -0.93% -1.48%
2074 -0.94% -1.48%
2073 -0.94% -1.48%
2072 -0.95% -1.48%
2071 -0.97% -1.48%
2070 -0.97% -1.48%
2069 -0.97% -1.46%
2068 -0.99% -1.46%
2067 -0.99% -1.45%
2066 -1% -1.45%
2065 -0.99% -1.45%
2064 -0.98% -1.44%
2063 -0.97% -1.43%
2062 -0.98% -1.4%
2061 -0.97% -1.41%
2060 -0.95% -1.38%
2059 -0.93% -1.37%
2058 -0.93% -1.33%
2057 -0.92% -1.28%
2056 -0.92% -1.24%
2055 -0.91% -1.19%
2054 -0.91% -1.16%
2053 -0.89% -1.13%
2052 -0.89% -1.07%
2051 -0.89% -1.02%
2050 -0.89% -0.97%
2049 -0.88% -0.92%
2048 -0.89% -0.88%
2047 -0.88% -0.82%
2046 -0.88% -0.79%
2045 -0.89% -0.76%
2044 -0.89% -0.72%
2043 -0.89% -0.69%
2042 -0.91% -0.67%
2041 -0.91% -0.63%
2040 -0.92% -0.6%
2039 -0.9% -0.57%
2038 -0.91% -0.53%
2037 -0.91% -0.48%
2036 -0.89% -0.45%
2035 -0.88% -0.41%
2034 -0.88% -0.37%
2033 -0.86% -0.33%
2032 -0.86% -0.29%
2031 -0.85% -0.26%
2030 -0.82% -0.23%
2029 -0.8% -0.2%
2028 -0.77% -0.17%
2027 -0.73% -0.14%
2026 -0.67% -0.12%
2025 -0.61% -0.08%
2024 -0.08% 0.07%
2023 -0.29% 0.08%
2022 -0.65% -0.19%
2021 -0.66% -0.13%
2020 -1% 0.14%
2019 -1.4% 0.35%
2018 -1.36% 0.43%
2017 -1.32% 0.28%
2016 -1.29% 0.4%
2015 -1.26% 0.53%
2014 -1.21% 0.63%
2013 -2% 0.46%
2012 -0.58% 0.53%
2011 -0.64% 0.77%
2010 -0.66% 0.5%
2009 -0.64% 0.52%
2008 -0.7% 0.76%
2007 -0.73% 0.51%
2006 -0.76% 0.53%
2005 -0.75% 0.21%
2004 -0.75% 0.4%
2003 -0.79% 0.52%
2002 -2.15% 0.58%
2001 -1.97% 0.77%
2000 -0.49% 0.84%
1999 -0.56% 0.71%
1998 -0.67% 0.72%
1997 -0.61% 0.94%
1996 -0.51% 0.96%
1995 -0.44% 1.01%
1994 -0.34% 1.01%
1993 -0.79% 1.02%
1992 -1.07% 1.04%
1991 -0.99% 0.99%
1990 -1.79% 0.99%
1989 -1.16% 0.99%
1988 0.11% 0.98%
1987 0.15% 0.99%
1986 -0.03% 1%
1985 -0.001% 0.99%
1984 0.23% 1.24%
1983 0.25% 1.49%
1982 0.3% 1.56%
1981 0.33% 1.57%
1980 0.4% 1.57%
1979 0.14% 1.53%
1978 0.11% 1.53%
1977 0.52% 1.57%
1976 0.43% 1.61%
1975 0.48% 1.7%
1974 0.67% 1.73%
1973 0.52% 1.78%
1972 0.47% 1.89%
1971 0.55% 1.99%
1970 0.66% 2.21%
1969 0.77% 2.29%
1968 0.71% 2.35%
1967 0.63% 2.36%
1966 0.66% 2.55%
1965 0.73% 2.57%
1964 0.82% 2.65%
1963 0.81% 2.82%
1962 0.88% 2.9%
1961 0.96% 3.01%

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-korea | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria South Korea
Current population
6359449
51649918
Population rank 112/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.62%
One net population change
1.69 hours
13.7 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +105
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 160/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +65,731
Net migration rank 106/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 65,731
2024 - 524 - 75,963
2023 -43,837 5,173 -77,569 87,800
2022 -62,065 26,498 -124,014 87,800
2021 -90,452 11,756 -56,947 -16,778
2020 -65,507 30,167 -31,101 112,631
2019 -46,317 -2,156 10,353 128,622
2018 -46,304 -3,873 30,951 118,220
2017 -45,583 -6,109 71,907 104,029
2016 -42,744 -9,482 122,923 91,568
2015 -44,699 -4,227 163,248 276,427
2014 -41,027 -2,180 167,464 308,037
2013 -37,948 -1,324 166,415 301,926
2012 -40,183 -26,334 215,859 281,866
2011 -37,477 -23,360 214,728 269,958
2010 -34,759 -21,668 213,083 52,042
2009 -26,800 -19,060 197,231 5,308
2008 -32,967 -17,595 215,841 -19,630
2007 -37,727 -16,366 248,286 -42,293
2006 -39,526 -15,184 203,441 -28,434
2005 -42,124 -14,435 187,920 -47,821
2004 -40,128 -13,604 225,988 -42,549
2003 -44,319 -13,183 244,251 -31,994
2002 -46,240 -12,735 247,752 -18,105
2001 -44,050 -30,726 312,643 -28,006
2000 -41,668 -26,211 390,167 -84,960
1999 -39,411 -23,846 368,272 -107,448
1998 -52,844 -23,262 393,436 -98,044
1997 -58,185 -22,963 422,773 -109,130
1996 -45,159 -21,520 446,142 -115,705
1995 -42,030 -22,020 468,967 -208,491
1994 -32,086 -20,984 473,200 -208,309
1993 -24,569 -19,973 477,302 -222,802
1992 -18,789 -120,552 494,352 -265,849
1991 -14,675 -119,356 467,594 -270,754
1990 -3,487 -116,817 411,546 79,294
1989 5,326 -114,705 403,266 186,120
1988 9,879 215 399,297 192,534
1987 8,971 357 378,758 198,057
1986 16,125 1,104 395,651 189,782
1985 11,649 -19,230 416,219 97,949
1984 20,610 -1,032 436,384 101,394
1983 21,455 -1,872 514,844 102,167
1982 24,077 -1,860 605,626 48,638
1981 29,341 -1,830 631,189 18,442
1980 30,129 -2,045 583,294 -148,341
1979 40,599 -872 623,068 -139,566
1978 44,070 -62,769 499,084 -85,721
1977 47,543 -11,955 578,947 -90,737
1976 56,055 -2,522 530,558 -92,314
1975 54,941 -38,071 603,300 -52,332
1974 64,223 -1,402 673,030 27,005
1973 57,760 -5,409 699,115 35,779
1972 47,169 -11,296 740,469 25,382
1971 52,925 -7,654 789,185 -6,326
1970 61,125 -11,315 747,987 -27,999
1969 63,256 -3,204 694,227 -21,175
1968 69,468 -132 684,487 -16,868
1967 49,861 -420 692,169 -16,484
1966 54,504 -144 623,534 -16,688
1965 58,249 -1,406 641,090 -146,386
1964 66,783 505 655,501 -102,284
1963 66,241 500 685,824 -80,226
1962 64,104 499 712,590 -94,606
1961 75,460 378 730,173 -93,179
1960 76,314 -1,112 728,010 47,245

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/south-korea | 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 Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

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 Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

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-korea | 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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