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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 7.67 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 -0.96% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Bulgaria vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Spain
2100 3,368,029 33,862,981
2099 3,392,444 34,039,965
2098 3,416,655 34,215,187
2097 3,440,938 34,387,116
2096 3,465,328 34,552,002
2095 3,489,216 34,719,411
2094 3,513,318 34,882,039
2093 3,537,356 35,044,043
2092 3,561,475 35,204,657
2091 3,585,597 35,366,895
2090 3,609,873 35,535,838
2089 3,634,642 35,707,942
2088 3,659,749 35,877,681
2087 3,685,668 36,043,209
2086 3,712,363 36,210,710
2085 3,739,898 36,386,207
2084 3,768,305 36,564,622
2083 3,797,217 36,749,680
2082 3,827,186 36,936,644
2081 3,857,721 37,133,976
2080 3,890,095 37,337,517
2079 3,923,403 37,551,557
2078 3,957,241 37,771,135
2077 3,992,168 38,002,963
2076 4,027,738 38,249,247
2075 4,064,356 38,506,040
2074 4,102,642 38,777,715
2073 4,141,518 39,056,249
2072 4,180,975 39,348,447
2071 4,221,261 39,642,346
2070 4,262,568 39,949,413
2069 4,304,304 40,256,590
2068 4,346,623 40,575,543
2067 4,389,924 40,893,798
2066 4,433,953 41,218,263
2065 4,478,521 41,543,254
2064 4,523,406 41,878,338
2063 4,568,385 42,208,320
2062 4,613,363 42,542,893
2061 4,658,825 42,874,096
2060 4,704,379 43,191,452
2059 4,749,738 43,506,737
2058 4,794,388 43,809,907
2057 4,839,236 44,112,668
2056 4,884,068 44,415,689
2055 4,929,309 44,691,749
2054 4,974,635 44,958,971
2053 5,020,162 45,223,225
2052 5,065,364 45,470,541
2051 5,110,833 45,695,307
2050 5,156,741 45,911,520
2049 5,202,941 46,127,777
2048 5,249,351 46,322,244
2047 5,296,642 46,510,152
2046 5,343,848 46,687,914
2045 5,391,354 46,858,778
2044 5,439,559 47,016,278
2043 5,488,407 47,158,325
2042 5,537,839 47,301,091
2041 5,588,510 47,434,593
2040 5,639,850 47,563,236
2039 5,692,028 47,685,343
2038 5,743,725 47,798,797
2037 5,796,645 47,910,899
2036 5,849,741 48,020,350
2035 5,902,025 48,124,430
2034 5,954,460 48,220,051
2033 6,007,050 48,311,842
2032 6,058,858 48,402,470
2031 6,111,118 48,495,278
2030 6,163,564 48,579,920
2029 6,214,784 48,648,699
2028 6,264,738 48,707,969
2027 6,313,255 48,758,200
2026 6,359,449 48,806,901
2025 6,402,394 48,838,057
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

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 -0.61% -0.02%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Spain
Current population
6359449
48806901
Population rank 112/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.59%
One net population change
1.69 hours
1.06 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.62 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +1,360
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 100/197
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 - 524 - 111,674
2023 -43,837 5,173 -111,211 119,099
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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 (1960–2024, 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/spain | 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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