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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • South Sudan's population is 1.97 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.23% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Bulgaria vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria South Sudan
2100 3,368,029 24,086,901
2099 3,392,444 24,081,477
2098 3,416,655 24,063,461
2097 3,440,938 24,065,268
2096 3,465,328 24,054,483
2095 3,489,216 24,046,345
2094 3,513,318 24,047,776
2093 3,537,356 24,039,017
2092 3,561,475 24,019,054
2091 3,585,597 24,000,308
2090 3,609,873 23,978,496
2089 3,634,642 23,937,487
2088 3,659,749 23,892,166
2087 3,685,668 23,857,250
2086 3,712,363 23,803,312
2085 3,739,898 23,759,178
2084 3,768,305 23,687,109
2083 3,797,217 23,617,646
2082 3,827,186 23,541,119
2081 3,857,721 23,466,449
2080 3,890,095 23,391,758
2079 3,923,403 23,294,252
2078 3,957,241 23,197,067
2077 3,992,168 23,086,584
2076 4,027,738 22,987,331
2075 4,064,356 22,868,587
2074 4,102,642 22,726,189
2073 4,141,518 22,583,672
2072 4,180,975 22,438,943
2071 4,221,261 22,288,026
2070 4,262,568 22,151,650
2069 4,304,304 22,003,659
2068 4,346,623 21,829,800
2067 4,389,924 21,662,211
2066 4,433,953 21,496,881
2065 4,478,521 21,317,455
2064 4,523,406 21,142,002
2063 4,568,385 20,965,122
2062 4,613,363 20,785,055
2061 4,658,825 20,608,964
2060 4,704,379 20,430,857
2059 4,749,738 20,235,022
2058 4,794,388 20,048,974
2057 4,839,236 19,853,696
2056 4,884,068 19,659,362
2055 4,929,309 19,464,297
2054 4,974,635 19,257,481
2053 5,020,162 19,060,517
2052 5,065,364 18,840,461
2051 5,110,833 18,633,198
2050 5,156,741 18,434,212
2049 5,202,941 18,230,881
2048 5,249,351 18,021,026
2047 5,296,642 17,806,282
2046 5,343,848 17,579,173
2045 5,391,354 17,355,041
2044 5,439,559 17,121,972
2043 5,488,407 16,888,278
2042 5,537,839 16,645,354
2041 5,588,510 16,396,768
2040 5,639,850 16,142,816
2039 5,692,028 15,889,952
2038 5,743,725 15,628,043
2037 5,796,645 15,363,975
2036 5,849,741 15,091,275
2035 5,902,025 14,815,307
2034 5,954,460 14,543,511
2033 6,007,050 14,278,180
2032 6,058,858 14,007,134
2031 6,111,118 13,730,637
2030 6,163,564 13,465,615
2029 6,214,784 13,206,477
2028 6,264,738 12,947,082
2027 6,313,255 12,692,769
2026 6,359,449 12,439,296
2025 6,402,394 12,193,102
2024 6,441,421 11,943,408
2023 6,446,596 11,483,374
2022 6,465,097 11,021,177
2021 6,507,301 10,865,780
2020 6,550,696 10,698,467
2019 6,616,726 10,423,384
2018 6,710,798 10,122,977
2017 6,803,468 10,259,154
2016 6,894,139 10,830,102
2015 6,984,225 11,107,561
2014 7,073,572 11,235,073
2013 7,160,005 11,166,275
2012 7,305,888 10,756,240
2011 7,348,328 10,288,109
2010 7,395,599 9,745,953
2009 7,444,443 9,243,556
2008 7,492,561 8,817,647
2007 7,545,338 8,388,788
2006 7,601,022 7,976,526
2005 7,658,972 7,590,143
2004 7,716,860 7,233,041
2003 7,775,327 6,903,127
2002 7,837,161 6,596,806
2001 8,009,142 6,308,391
2000 8,170,172 6,032,267
1999 8,210,624 5,771,628
1998 8,256,786 5,620,068
1997 8,312,068 5,509,136
1996 8,362,826 5,356,925
1995 8,406,067 5,225,836
1994 8,443,591 5,071,184
1993 8,472,313 4,956,002
1992 8,540,164 4,909,749
1991 8,632,367 4,836,677
1990 8,718,289 4,737,633
1989 8,876,972 4,713,229
1988 8,981,446 4,848,029
1987 8,971,359 4,962,395
1986 8,958,171 4,921,240
1985 8,960,547 4,834,296
1984 8,960,679 4,750,627
1983 8,939,738 4,661,574
1982 8,917,457 4,557,686
1981 8,891,117 4,447,272
1980 8,861,535 4,339,030
1979 8,825,940 4,232,605
1978 8,814,032 4,127,657
1977 8,804,183 4,024,032
1976 8,758,599 3,921,910
1975 8,720,742 3,821,494
1974 8,678,745 3,723,259
1973 8,620,967 3,627,383
1972 8,576,200 3,542,497
1971 8,536,395 3,468,646
1970 8,489,574 3,409,614
1969 8,434,172 3,365,533
1968 8,369,603 3,321,528
1967 8,310,226 3,277,648
1966 8,258,057 3,236,423
1965 8,204,168 3,189,835
1964 8,144,340 3,129,918
1963 8,078,145 3,072,669
1962 8,012,946 3,024,308
1961 7,943,118 2,976,724
1960 7,867,374 2,931,559

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-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

South Sudan is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 24.1M 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 Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria South Sudan
2100 -0.72% 0.02%
2099 -0.71% 0.07%
2098 -0.71% -0.008%
2097 -0.7% 0.04%
2096 -0.68% 0.03%
2095 -0.69% -0.006%
2094 -0.68% 0.04%
2093 -0.68% 0.08%
2092 -0.67% 0.08%
2091 -0.67% 0.09%
2090 -0.68% 0.17%
2089 -0.69% 0.19%
2088 -0.7% 0.15%
2087 -0.72% 0.23%
2086 -0.74% 0.19%
2085 -0.75% 0.3%
2084 -0.76% 0.29%
2083 -0.78% 0.33%
2082 -0.79% 0.32%
2081 -0.83% 0.32%
2080 -0.85% 0.42%
2079 -0.86% 0.42%
2078 -0.87% 0.48%
2077 -0.88% 0.43%
2076 -0.9% 0.52%
2075 -0.93% 0.63%
2074 -0.94% 0.63%
2073 -0.94% 0.64%
2072 -0.95% 0.68%
2071 -0.97% 0.62%
2070 -0.97% 0.67%
2069 -0.97% 0.8%
2068 -0.99% 0.77%
2067 -0.99% 0.77%
2066 -1% 0.84%
2065 -0.99% 0.83%
2064 -0.98% 0.84%
2063 -0.97% 0.87%
2062 -0.98% 0.85%
2061 -0.97% 0.87%
2060 -0.95% 0.97%
2059 -0.93% 0.93%
2058 -0.93% 0.98%
2057 -0.92% 0.99%
2056 -0.92% 1%
2055 -0.91% 1.07%
2054 -0.91% 1.03%
2053 -0.89% 1.17%
2052 -0.89% 1.11%
2051 -0.89% 1.08%
2050 -0.89% 1.12%
2049 -0.88% 1.16%
2048 -0.89% 1.21%
2047 -0.88% 1.29%
2046 -0.88% 1.29%
2045 -0.89% 1.36%
2044 -0.89% 1.38%
2043 -0.89% 1.46%
2042 -0.91% 1.52%
2041 -0.91% 1.57%
2040 -0.92% 1.59%
2039 -0.9% 1.68%
2038 -0.91% 1.72%
2037 -0.91% 1.81%
2036 -0.89% 1.86%
2035 -0.88% 1.87%
2034 -0.88% 1.86%
2033 -0.86% 1.94%
2032 -0.86% 2.01%
2031 -0.85% 1.97%
2030 -0.82% 1.96%
2029 -0.8% 2%
2028 -0.77% 2%
2027 -0.73% 2.04%
2026 -0.67% 2.02%
2025 -0.61% 2.09%
2024 -0.08% 4.01%
2023 -0.29% 4.19%
2022 -0.65% 1.43%
2021 -0.66% 1.56%
2020 -1% 2.64%
2019 -1.4% 2.97%
2018 -1.36% -1.33%
2017 -1.32% -5.27%
2016 -1.29% -2.5%
2015 -1.26% -1.13%
2014 -1.21% 0.62%
2013 -2% 3.81%
2012 -0.58% 4.55%
2011 -0.64% 5.56%
2010 -0.66% 5.44%
2009 -0.64% 4.83%
2008 -0.7% 5.11%
2007 -0.73% 5.17%
2006 -0.76% 5.09%
2005 -0.75% 4.94%
2004 -0.75% 4.78%
2003 -0.79% 4.64%
2002 -2.15% 4.57%
2001 -1.97% 4.58%
2000 -0.49% 4.52%
1999 -0.56% 2.7%
1998 -0.67% 2.01%
1997 -0.61% 2.84%
1996 -0.51% 2.51%
1995 -0.44% 3.05%
1994 -0.34% 2.32%
1993 -0.79% 0.94%
1992 -1.07% 1.51%
1991 -0.99% 2.09%
1990 -1.79% 0.52%
1989 -1.16% -2.78%
1988 0.11% -2.3%
1987 0.15% 0.84%
1986 -0.03% 1.8%
1985 -0.001% 1.76%
1984 0.23% 1.91%
1983 0.25% 2.28%
1982 0.3% 2.48%
1981 0.33% 2.49%
1980 0.4% 2.51%
1979 0.14% 2.54%
1978 0.11% 2.58%
1977 0.52% 2.6%
1976 0.43% 2.63%
1975 0.48% 2.64%
1974 0.67% 2.64%
1973 0.52% 2.4%
1972 0.47% 2.13%
1971 0.55% 1.73%
1970 0.66% 1.31%
1969 0.77% 1.32%
1968 0.71% 1.34%
1967 0.63% 1.27%
1966 0.66% 1.46%
1965 0.73% 1.91%
1964 0.82% 1.86%
1963 0.81% 1.6%
1962 0.88% 1.6%
1961 0.96% 1.54%

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-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria South Sudan
Current population
6359449
12507858
Population rank 112/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.15%
One net population change
1.69 hours
1.14 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.6 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +1,260
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 7/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 +6,145
Net migration rank 106/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 6,145
2024 - 524 - 15,374
2023 -43,837 5,173 217,966 455,000
2022 -62,065 26,498 211,166 40,259
2021 -90,452 11,756 213,567 -154,359
2020 -65,507 30,167 212,332 62,935
2019 -46,317 -2,156 209,708 65,198
2018 -46,304 -3,873 168,497 157,408
2017 -45,583 -6,109 72,193 -670,477
2016 -42,744 -9,482 110,553 -654,225
2015 -44,699 -4,227 148,542 -159,822
2014 -41,027 -2,180 227,611 -471,523
2013 -37,948 -1,324 315,983 65,337
2012 -40,183 -26,334 312,974 125,771
2011 -37,477 -23,360 303,181 194,325
2010 -34,759 -21,668 287,409 299,402
2009 -26,800 -19,060 278,859 139,129
2008 -32,967 -17,595 268,268 165,557
2007 -37,727 -16,366 256,546 167,350
2006 -39,526 -15,184 246,706 153,926
2005 -42,124 -14,435 239,272 132,869
2004 -40,128 -13,604 231,877 110,182
2003 -44,319 -13,183 225,822 91,951
2002 -46,240 -12,735 212,014 82,847
2001 -44,050 -30,726 204,108 77,856
2000 -41,668 -26,211 196,055 74,227
1999 -39,411 -23,846 180,721 70,271
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -12,157 64,285
1997 -58,185 -22,963 121,454 48,280
1996 -45,159 -21,520 116,728 17,953
1995 -42,030 -22,020 110,417 17,077
1994 -32,086 -20,984 165,407 16,407
1993 -24,569 -19,973 32,779 15,772
1992 -18,789 -120,552 28,874 15,077
1991 -14,675 -119,356 87,873 14,327
1990 -3,487 -116,817 82,900 12,988
1989 5,326 -114,705 83,735 -130,821
1988 9,879 215 -125,447 -97,065
1987 8,971 357 5,756 -11,976
1986 16,125 1,104 99,502 -10,973
1985 11,649 -19,230 95,342 -9,986
1984 20,610 -1,032 90,970 -8,984
1983 21,455 -1,872 104,107 -7,986
1982 24,077 -1,860 118,641 -6,983
1981 29,341 -1,830 115,163 -5,994
1980 30,129 -2,045 112,307 -4,997
1979 40,599 -872 109,540 -3,997
1978 44,070 -62,769 107,352 -2,998
1977 47,543 -11,955 104,886 -1,997
1976 56,055 -2,522 102,346 -995
1975 54,941 -38,071 99,882 -395
1974 64,223 -1,402 97,181 -192
1973 57,760 -5,409 94,765 0
1972 47,169 -11,296 74,803 193
1971 52,925 -7,654 72,308 394
1970 61,125 -11,315 44,776 587
1969 63,256 -3,204 42,015 786
1968 69,468 -132 44,213 995
1967 49,861 -420 41,357 1,194
1966 54,504 -144 38,523 1,386
1965 58,249 -1,406 51,682 1,591
1964 66,783 505 64,786 1,785
1963 66,241 500 46,333 1,591
1962 64,104 499 47,406 1,386
1961 75,460 378 45,186 1,194
1960 76,314 -1,112 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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-sudan | 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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