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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 49,355,143 people in Spain in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 49,323,658 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 7.72 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.67% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +0.55% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 49.3M (11.1% growth).

Bulgaria vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Spain
2100 3,384,288 34,221,514
2099 3,408,821 34,400,373
2098 3,433,149 34,577,450
2097 3,457,549 34,751,199
2096 3,482,057 34,917,831
2095 3,506,060 35,087,012
2094 3,530,278 35,251,362
2093 3,554,432 35,415,082
2092 3,578,667 35,577,396
2091 3,602,907 35,741,351
2090 3,627,300 35,912,083
2089 3,652,188 36,086,009
2088 3,677,416 36,257,546
2087 3,703,460 36,424,826
2086 3,730,284 36,594,101
2085 3,757,953 36,771,456
2084 3,786,496 36,951,760
2083 3,815,548 37,138,777
2082 3,845,662 37,327,720
2081 3,876,344 37,527,142
2080 3,908,874 37,732,838
2079 3,942,344 37,949,144
2078 3,976,345 38,171,047
2077 4,011,440 38,405,329
2076 4,047,182 38,654,221
2075 4,083,977 38,913,733
2074 4,122,447 39,188,284
2073 4,161,511 39,469,767
2072 4,201,158 39,765,059
2071 4,241,639 40,062,070
2070 4,283,145 40,372,388
2069 4,325,083 40,682,818
2068 4,367,606 41,005,148
2067 4,411,116 41,326,772
2066 4,455,358 41,654,672
2065 4,500,141 41,983,104
2064 4,545,243 42,321,736
2063 4,590,439 42,655,212
2062 4,635,634 42,993,328
2061 4,681,315 43,328,037
2060 4,727,089 43,648,753
2059 4,772,667 43,967,376
2058 4,817,532 44,273,756
2057 4,862,597 44,579,723
2056 4,907,646 44,885,952
2055 4,953,105 45,164,935
2054 4,998,650 45,434,986
2053 5,044,397 45,702,038
2052 5,089,817 45,951,973
2051 5,135,505 46,179,119
2050 5,181,635 46,397,620
2049 5,228,058 46,616,167
2048 5,274,692 46,812,693
2047 5,322,212 47,002,591
2046 5,369,645 47,182,235
2045 5,417,381 47,354,908
2044 5,465,818 47,514,076
2043 5,514,902 47,657,627
2042 5,564,573 47,801,904
2041 5,615,489 47,936,819
2040 5,667,076 48,066,825
2039 5,719,506 48,190,225
2038 5,771,452 48,304,880
2037 5,824,628 48,418,168
2036 5,877,980 48,528,778
2035 5,930,517 48,633,960
2034 5,983,205 48,730,594
2033 6,036,049 48,823,356
2032 6,088,107 48,914,944
2031 6,140,619 49,008,735
2030 6,193,318 49,094,273
2029 6,244,785 49,163,780
2028 6,294,981 49,223,677
2027 6,343,732 49,274,441
2026 6,390,149 49,323,658
2025 6,433,302 49,355,143
2024 6,441,421 48,848,840
2023 6,446,596 48,352,528
2022 6,465,097 47,786,102
2021 6,507,301 47,443,821
2020 6,550,696 47,359,424
2019 6,616,726 47,118,501
2018 6,710,798 46,782,011
2017 6,803,468 46,571,232
2016 6,894,139 46,458,139
2015 6,984,225 46,422,303
2014 7,073,572 46,460,733
2013 7,160,005 46,604,197
2012 7,305,888 46,773,055
2011 7,348,328 46,742,697
2010 7,395,599 46,576,897
2009 7,444,443 46,362,946
2008 7,492,561 45,954,106
2007 7,545,338 45,226,803
2006 7,601,022 44,397,319
2005 7,658,972 43,653,155
2004 7,716,860 42,921,895
2003 7,775,327 42,187,645
2002 7,837,161 41,431,558
2001 8,009,142 40,850,412
2000 8,170,172 40,567,864
1999 8,210,624 40,386,875
1998 8,256,786 40,223,509
1997 8,312,068 40,057,389
1996 8,362,826 39,889,852
1995 8,406,067 39,724,050
1994 8,443,591 39,549,108
1993 8,472,313 39,361,262
1992 8,540,164 39,157,685
1991 8,632,367 38,966,376
1990 8,718,289 38,867,322
1989 8,876,972 38,827,764
1988 8,981,446 38,766,939
1987 8,971,359 38,684,815
1986 8,958,171 38,584,624
1985 8,960,547 38,469,512
1984 8,960,679 38,330,364
1983 8,939,738 38,171,525
1982 8,917,457 37,986,012
1981 8,891,117 37,758,631
1980 8,861,535 37,491,165
1979 8,825,940 37,191,330
1978 8,814,032 36,864,898
1977 8,804,183 36,511,638
1976 8,758,599 36,137,812
1975 8,720,742 35,757,900
1974 8,678,745 35,373,335
1973 8,620,967 34,988,947
1972 8,576,200 34,604,469
1971 8,536,395 34,224,490
1970 8,489,574 33,814,531
1969 8,434,172 33,441,054
1968 8,369,603 33,113,134
1967 8,310,226 32,682,947
1966 8,258,057 32,283,194
1965 8,204,168 31,954,292
1964 8,144,340 31,609,195
1963 8,078,145 31,296,651
1962 8,012,946 31,023,366
1961 7,943,118 30,739,250
1960 7,867,374 30,455,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Spain's population increased by 2,865,519 people (a 6.17% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bulgaria's population will shrink by 18.9% to 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 46,397,620 people and rank change from 32nd to 46th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 21.6% in Spain.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Spain
2100 -0.72% -0.52%
2099 -0.71% -0.51%
2098 -0.71% -0.5%
2097 -0.7% -0.48%
2096 -0.68% -0.48%
2095 -0.69% -0.47%
2094 -0.68% -0.46%
2093 -0.68% -0.46%
2092 -0.67% -0.46%
2091 -0.67% -0.48%
2090 -0.68% -0.48%
2089 -0.69% -0.47%
2088 -0.7% -0.46%
2087 -0.72% -0.46%
2086 -0.74% -0.48%
2085 -0.75% -0.49%
2084 -0.76% -0.5%
2083 -0.78% -0.51%
2082 -0.79% -0.53%
2081 -0.83% -0.55%
2080 -0.85% -0.57%
2079 -0.86% -0.58%
2078 -0.87% -0.61%
2077 -0.88% -0.64%
2076 -0.9% -0.67%
2075 -0.93% -0.7%
2074 -0.94% -0.71%
2073 -0.94% -0.74%
2072 -0.95% -0.74%
2071 -0.97% -0.77%
2070 -0.97% -0.76%
2069 -0.97% -0.79%
2068 -0.99% -0.78%
2067 -0.99% -0.79%
2066 -1% -0.78%
2065 -0.99% -0.8%
2064 -0.98% -0.78%
2063 -0.97% -0.79%
2062 -0.98% -0.77%
2061 -0.97% -0.73%
2060 -0.95% -0.72%
2059 -0.93% -0.69%
2058 -0.93% -0.69%
2057 -0.92% -0.68%
2056 -0.92% -0.62%
2055 -0.91% -0.59%
2054 -0.91% -0.58%
2053 -0.89% -0.54%
2052 -0.89% -0.49%
2051 -0.89% -0.47%
2050 -0.89% -0.47%
2049 -0.88% -0.42%
2048 -0.89% -0.4%
2047 -0.88% -0.38%
2046 -0.88% -0.36%
2045 -0.89% -0.33%
2044 -0.89% -0.3%
2043 -0.89% -0.3%
2042 -0.91% -0.28%
2041 -0.91% -0.27%
2040 -0.92% -0.26%
2039 -0.9% -0.24%
2038 -0.91% -0.23%
2037 -0.91% -0.23%
2036 -0.89% -0.22%
2035 -0.88% -0.2%
2034 -0.88% -0.19%
2033 -0.86% -0.19%
2032 -0.86% -0.19%
2031 -0.85% -0.17%
2030 -0.82% -0.14%
2029 -0.8% -0.12%
2028 -0.77% -0.1%
2027 -0.73% -0.1%
2026 -0.67% -0.06%
2025 -0.13% 1.04%
2024 -0.08% 1.03%
2023 -0.29% 1.19%
2022 -0.65% 0.72%
2021 -0.66% 0.18%
2020 -1% 0.51%
2019 -1.4% 0.72%
2018 -1.36% 0.45%
2017 -1.32% 0.24%
2016 -1.29% 0.08%
2015 -1.26% -0.08%
2014 -1.21% -0.31%
2013 -2% -0.36%
2012 -0.58% 0.06%
2011 -0.64% 0.36%
2010 -0.66% 0.46%
2009 -0.64% 0.89%
2008 -0.7% 1.61%
2007 -0.73% 1.87%
2006 -0.76% 1.7%
2005 -0.75% 1.7%
2004 -0.75% 1.74%
2003 -0.79% 1.82%
2002 -2.15% 1.42%
2001 -1.97% 0.7%
2000 -0.49% 0.45%
1999 -0.56% 0.41%
1998 -0.67% 0.41%
1997 -0.61% 0.42%
1996 -0.51% 0.42%
1995 -0.44% 0.44%
1994 -0.34% 0.48%
1993 -0.79% 0.52%
1992 -1.07% 0.49%
1991 -0.99% 0.25%
1990 -1.79% 0.1%
1989 -1.16% 0.16%
1988 0.11% 0.21%
1987 0.15% 0.26%
1986 -0.03% 0.3%
1985 -0.001% 0.36%
1984 0.23% 0.42%
1983 0.25% 0.49%
1982 0.3% 0.6%
1981 0.33% 0.71%
1980 0.4% 0.81%
1979 0.14% 0.89%
1978 0.11% 0.97%
1977 0.52% 1.03%
1976 0.43% 1.06%
1975 0.48% 1.09%
1974 0.67% 1.1%
1973 0.52% 1.11%
1972 0.47% 1.11%
1971 0.55% 1.21%
1970 0.66% 1.12%
1969 0.77% 0.99%
1968 0.71% 1.32%
1967 0.63% 1.24%
1966 0.66% 1.03%
1965 0.73% 1.09%
1964 0.82% 1%
1963 0.81% 0.88%
1962 0.88% 0.92%
1961 0.96% 0.93%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/spain | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Spain's population grew by 1.04%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Spain
Current population
6390149
49323658
Population rank 112/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.59%
One net population change
1.08 hours
1.04 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
1.66 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +1,387
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +506,303
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +1.04%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 98/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +96,630
Net migration rank 106/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 96,630
2024 -47,023 524 -117,237 111,674
2023 -43,837 5,173 -116,046 119,099
2022 -62,065 26,498 -133,801 299,779
2021 -90,452 11,756 -113,865 144,385
2020 -65,507 30,167 -151,551 236,854
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -56,542 464,783
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -56,139 337,467
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -32,600 201,135
2016 -42,744 -9,482 0 106,474
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -4,642 -1,979
2014 -41,027 -2,180 32,522 -97,870
2013 -37,948 -1,324 37,284 -250,741
2012 -40,183 -26,334 51,450 -153,486
2011 -37,477 -23,360 84,137 60,761
2010 -34,759 -21,668 102,469 69,406
2009 -26,800 -19,060 106,635 129,557
2008 -32,967 -17,595 133,267 434,135
2007 -37,727 -16,366 108,545 772,317
2006 -39,526 -15,184 110,994 659,720
2005 -42,124 -14,435 78,576 629,803
2004 -40,128 -13,604 85,844 661,158
2003 -44,319 -13,183 54,844 658,428
2002 -46,240 -12,735 53,861 737,880
2001 -44,050 -30,726 44,936 181,307
2000 -41,668 -26,211 36,512 176,269
1999 -39,411 -23,846 8,077 178,559
1998 -52,844 -23,262 4,022 182,926
1997 -58,185 -22,963 20,028 165,345
1996 -45,159 -21,520 11,967 162,704
1995 -42,030 -22,020 15,889 162,434
1994 -32,086 -20,984 31,639 160,407
1993 -24,569 -19,973 47,234 160,907
1992 -18,789 -120,552 62,652 177,544
1991 -14,675 -119,356 58,450 122,841
1990 -3,487 -116,817 66,075 -30,684
1989 5,326 -114,705 81,538 -25,892
1988 9,879 215 100,794 -17,663
1987 8,971 357 116,054 -12,681
1986 16,125 1,104 131,188 -13,540
1985 11,649 -19,230 146,184 -589
1984 20,610 -1,032 172,487 2,754
1983 21,455 -1,872 183,223 1,241
1982 24,077 -1,860 231,714 -7,384
1981 29,341 -1,830 237,879 2,563
1980 30,129 -2,045 281,184 20,166
1979 40,599 -872 312,407 -5,929
1978 44,070 -62,769 339,157 -2,504
1977 47,543 -11,955 361,465 -1,332
1976 56,055 -2,522 375,834 2,804
1975 54,941 -38,071 371,882 -218
1974 64,223 -1,402 396,182 105,838
1973 57,760 -5,409 374,381 8,624
1972 47,169 -11,296 391,030 7,935
1971 52,925 -7,654 369,625 7,363
1970 61,125 -11,315 378,723 -60,580
1969 63,256 -3,204 367,851 -49,956
1968 69,468 -132 387,423 -46,088
1967 49,861 -420 402,001 -42,344
1966 54,504 -144 397,084 -41,467
1965 58,249 -1,406 405,819 -42,476
1964 66,783 505 429,885 -41,461
1963 66,241 500 394,338 -44,446
1962 64,104 499 384,690 -45,211
1961 75,460 378 396,537 -46,517
1960 76,314 -1,112 398,960 -154,869

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/spain | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 91.7% of the population change in Bulgaria is from natural causes (a loss of 534,531 people) and 8.28% is from migration (a gain of 48,271 people). In Spain 27.9% is from natural causes (a loss of 782,423 people) and 72.1% is from migration (a gain of 2,019,671 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

Biggest cities by population

Bulgaria
City Population
Sofia 1.21M
Plovdiv 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/spain | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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