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Population in Bulgaria compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 3.49 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.34% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Bulgaria vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Sri Lanka
2100 3,368,029 20,270,496
2099 3,392,444 20,383,669
2098 3,416,655 20,498,567
2097 3,440,938 20,611,123
2096 3,465,328 20,723,560
2095 3,489,216 20,834,629
2094 3,513,318 20,943,809
2093 3,537,356 21,052,131
2092 3,561,475 21,158,833
2091 3,585,597 21,263,961
2090 3,609,873 21,371,263
2089 3,634,642 21,475,426
2088 3,659,749 21,577,177
2087 3,685,668 21,677,510
2086 3,712,363 21,777,420
2085 3,739,898 21,876,464
2084 3,768,305 21,970,336
2083 3,797,217 22,062,801
2082 3,827,186 22,151,745
2081 3,857,721 22,240,834
2080 3,890,095 22,326,555
2079 3,923,403 22,411,438
2078 3,957,241 22,489,772
2077 3,992,168 22,565,028
2076 4,027,738 22,637,463
2075 4,064,356 22,707,112
2074 4,102,642 22,778,489
2073 4,141,518 22,844,703
2072 4,180,975 22,905,707
2071 4,221,261 22,964,866
2070 4,262,568 23,022,515
2069 4,304,304 23,076,310
2068 4,346,623 23,129,541
2067 4,389,924 23,184,596
2066 4,433,953 23,234,419
2065 4,478,521 23,285,901
2064 4,523,406 23,331,390
2063 4,568,385 23,372,184
2062 4,613,363 23,409,522
2061 4,658,825 23,441,893
2060 4,704,379 23,474,032
2059 4,749,738 23,502,132
2058 4,794,388 23,528,076
2057 4,839,236 23,550,580
2056 4,884,068 23,570,923
2055 4,929,309 23,582,432
2054 4,974,635 23,591,414
2053 5,020,162 23,601,371
2052 5,065,364 23,605,361
2051 5,110,833 23,606,194
2050 5,156,741 23,603,330
2049 5,202,941 23,597,604
2048 5,249,351 23,587,307
2047 5,296,642 23,570,881
2046 5,343,848 23,547,409
2045 5,391,354 23,515,133
2044 5,439,559 23,483,546
2043 5,488,407 23,446,242
2042 5,537,839 23,404,983
2041 5,588,510 23,357,358
2040 5,639,850 23,306,148
2039 5,692,028 23,248,341
2038 5,743,725 23,187,512
2037 5,796,645 23,120,775
2036 5,849,741 23,053,427
2035 5,902,025 22,981,808
2034 5,954,460 22,906,587
2033 6,007,050 22,826,414
2032 6,058,858 22,742,267
2031 6,111,118 22,655,907
2030 6,163,564 22,564,038
2029 6,214,784 22,470,759
2028 6,264,738 22,370,999
2027 6,313,255 22,266,017
2026 6,359,449 22,155,543
2025 6,402,394 22,039,908
2024 6,441,421 21,916,000
2023 6,446,596 22,037,000
2022 6,465,097 22,181,000
2021 6,507,301 22,156,000
2020 6,550,696 21,919,000
2019 6,616,726 21,803,000
2018 6,710,798 21,670,000
2017 6,803,468 21,453,000
2016 6,894,139 21,209,000
2015 6,984,225 20,970,000
2014 7,073,572 20,778,000
2013 7,160,005 20,585,000
2012 7,305,888 21,169,458
2011 7,348,328 21,009,048
2010 7,395,599 20,879,089
2009 7,444,443 20,756,435
2008 7,492,561 20,629,378
2007 7,545,338 20,492,545
2006 7,601,022 20,352,411
2005 7,658,972 20,216,524
2004 7,716,860 20,087,605
2003 7,775,327 19,951,521
2002 7,837,161 19,805,752
2001 8,009,142 19,600,362
2000 8,170,172 19,293,054
1999 8,210,624 18,944,731
1998 8,256,786 18,596,003
1997 8,312,068 18,248,200
1996 8,362,826 17,905,018
1995 8,406,067 17,564,068
1994 8,443,591 17,275,773
1993 8,472,313 17,025,918
1992 8,540,164 16,739,284
1991 8,632,367 16,475,354
1990 8,718,289 16,352,458
1989 8,876,972 16,248,557
1988 8,981,446 16,078,621
1987 8,971,359 15,916,576
1986 8,958,171 15,731,256
1985 8,960,547 15,544,154
1984 8,960,679 15,441,860
1983 8,939,738 15,388,794
1982 8,917,457 15,286,567
1981 8,891,117 15,099,414
1980 8,861,535 14,847,974
1979 8,825,940 14,579,614
1978 8,814,032 14,310,128
1977 8,804,183 14,049,371
1976 8,758,599 13,796,770
1975 8,720,742 13,548,984
1974 8,678,745 13,305,693
1973 8,620,967 13,060,916
1972 8,576,200 12,809,205
1971 8,536,395 12,551,910
1970 8,489,574 12,287,110
1969 8,434,172 12,013,858
1968 8,369,603 11,736,088
1967 8,310,226 11,457,328
1966 8,258,057 11,183,928
1965 8,204,168 10,916,965
1964 8,144,340 10,653,397
1963 8,078,145 10,395,040
1962 8,012,946 10,143,754
1961 7,943,118 9,899,372
1960 7,867,374 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.6M 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
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Sri Lanka
2100 -0.72% -0.56%
2099 -0.71% -0.56%
2098 -0.71% -0.55%
2097 -0.7% -0.54%
2096 -0.68% -0.53%
2095 -0.69% -0.52%
2094 -0.68% -0.51%
2093 -0.68% -0.5%
2092 -0.67% -0.49%
2091 -0.67% -0.5%
2090 -0.68% -0.49%
2089 -0.69% -0.47%
2088 -0.7% -0.46%
2087 -0.72% -0.46%
2086 -0.74% -0.45%
2085 -0.75% -0.43%
2084 -0.76% -0.42%
2083 -0.78% -0.4%
2082 -0.79% -0.4%
2081 -0.83% -0.38%
2080 -0.85% -0.38%
2079 -0.86% -0.35%
2078 -0.87% -0.33%
2077 -0.88% -0.32%
2076 -0.9% -0.31%
2075 -0.93% -0.31%
2074 -0.94% -0.29%
2073 -0.94% -0.27%
2072 -0.95% -0.26%
2071 -0.97% -0.25%
2070 -0.97% -0.23%
2069 -0.97% -0.23%
2068 -0.99% -0.24%
2067 -0.99% -0.21%
2066 -1% -0.22%
2065 -0.99% -0.19%
2064 -0.98% -0.17%
2063 -0.97% -0.16%
2062 -0.98% -0.14%
2061 -0.97% -0.14%
2060 -0.95% -0.12%
2059 -0.93% -0.11%
2058 -0.93% -0.1%
2057 -0.92% -0.09%
2056 -0.92% -0.05%
2055 -0.91% -0.04%
2054 -0.91% -0.04%
2053 -0.89% -0.02%
2052 -0.89% -0.004%
2051 -0.89% 0.01%
2050 -0.89% 0.02%
2049 -0.88% 0.04%
2048 -0.89% 0.07%
2047 -0.88% 0.1%
2046 -0.88% 0.14%
2045 -0.89% 0.13%
2044 -0.89% 0.16%
2043 -0.89% 0.18%
2042 -0.91% 0.2%
2041 -0.91% 0.22%
2040 -0.92% 0.25%
2039 -0.9% 0.26%
2038 -0.91% 0.29%
2037 -0.91% 0.29%
2036 -0.89% 0.31%
2035 -0.88% 0.33%
2034 -0.88% 0.35%
2033 -0.86% 0.37%
2032 -0.86% 0.38%
2031 -0.85% 0.41%
2030 -0.82% 0.42%
2029 -0.8% 0.45%
2028 -0.77% 0.47%
2027 -0.73% 0.5%
2026 -0.67% 0.52%
2025 -0.61% 0.57%
2024 -0.08% -0.55%
2023 -0.29% -0.65%
2022 -0.65% 0.11%
2021 -0.66% 1.08%
2020 -1% 0.53%
2019 -1.4% 0.61%
2018 -1.36% 1.01%
2017 -1.32% 1.15%
2016 -1.29% 1.14%
2015 -1.26% 0.92%
2014 -1.21% 0.94%
2013 -2% -2.76%
2012 -0.58% 0.76%
2011 -0.64% 0.62%
2010 -0.66% 0.59%
2009 -0.64% 0.62%
2008 -0.7% 0.67%
2007 -0.73% 0.69%
2006 -0.76% 0.67%
2005 -0.75% 0.64%
2004 -0.75% 0.68%
2003 -0.79% 0.74%
2002 -2.15% 1.05%
2001 -1.97% 1.59%
2000 -0.49% 1.84%
1999 -0.56% 1.88%
1998 -0.67% 1.91%
1997 -0.61% 1.92%
1996 -0.51% 1.94%
1995 -0.44% 1.67%
1994 -0.34% 1.47%
1993 -0.79% 1.71%
1992 -1.07% 1.6%
1991 -0.99% 0.75%
1990 -1.79% 0.64%
1989 -1.16% 1.06%
1988 0.11% 1.02%
1987 0.15% 1.18%
1986 -0.03% 1.2%
1985 -0.001% 0.66%
1984 0.23% 0.34%
1983 0.25% 0.67%
1982 0.3% 1.24%
1981 0.33% 1.69%
1980 0.4% 1.84%
1979 0.14% 1.88%
1978 0.11% 1.86%
1977 0.52% 1.83%
1976 0.43% 1.83%
1975 0.48% 1.83%
1974 0.67% 1.87%
1973 0.52% 1.97%
1972 0.47% 2.05%
1971 0.55% 2.16%
1970 0.66% 2.27%
1969 0.77% 2.37%
1968 0.71% 2.43%
1967 0.63% 2.44%
1966 0.66% 2.45%
1965 0.73% 2.47%
1964 0.82% 2.49%
1963 0.81% 2.48%
1962 0.88% 2.47%
1961 0.96% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Sri Lanka
Current population
6359449
22185425
Population rank 112/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.27%
One net population change
1.69 hours
4.34 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
2.13 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 -332
Annual growth/decline -5,175 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 188/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -30,724
Net migration rank 106/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -30,724
2024 - 524 - -27,245
2023 -43,837 5,173 66,111 -28,011
2022 -62,065 26,498 95,378 -27,435
2021 -90,452 11,756 121,858 -29,586
2020 -65,507 30,167 170,968 -29,875
2019 -46,317 -2,156 172,243 -28,426
2018 -46,304 -3,873 183,610 -28,607
2017 -45,583 -6,109 187,993 -22,324
2016 -42,744 -9,482 194,232 -18,388
2015 -44,699 -4,227 201,815 -29,797
2014 -41,027 -2,180 211,541 -33,672
2013 -37,948 -1,324 221,021 -37,754
2012 -40,183 -26,334 229,138 -41,955
2011 -37,477 -23,360 224,461 -90,839
2010 -34,759 -21,668 224,325 -98,060
2009 -26,800 -19,060 200,175 -81,130
2008 -32,967 -17,595 232,225 -97,144
2007 -37,727 -16,366 248,287 -109,695
2006 -39,526 -15,184 248,706 -107,045
2005 -42,124 -14,435 248,683 -118,594
2004 -40,128 -13,604 212,527 -84,795
2003 -44,319 -13,183 252,008 -107,573
2002 -46,240 -12,735 252,840 -105,718
2001 -44,050 -30,726 244,377 19,273
2000 -41,668 -26,211 227,060 123,894
1999 -39,411 -23,846 206,876 138,799
1998 -52,844 -23,262 201,059 150,724
1997 -58,185 -22,963 208,193 135,636
1996 -45,159 -21,520 215,290 127,236
1995 -42,030 -22,020 221,957 117,416
1994 -32,086 -20,984 228,904 8,323
1993 -24,569 -19,973 226,257 36,232
1992 -18,789 -120,552 222,230 88,542
1991 -14,675 -119,356 218,117 -1,047
1990 -3,487 -116,817 224,454 -195,736
1989 5,326 -114,705 212,401 -33,305
1988 9,879 215 219,184 -58,415
1987 8,971 357 226,414 -63,105
1986 16,125 1,104 233,782 -26,460
1985 11,649 -19,230 247,836 -80,950
1984 20,610 -1,032 263,175 -225,450
1983 21,455 -1,872 277,768 -209,362
1982 24,077 -1,860 300,030 -163,987
1981 29,341 -1,830 328,096 -89,824
1980 30,129 -2,045 328,155 -63,541
1979 40,599 -872 329,791 -57,683
1978 44,070 -62,769 317,055 -50,189
1977 47,543 -11,955 300,038 -45,383
1976 56,055 -2,522 291,816 -41,258
1975 54,941 -38,071 282,496 -37,475
1974 64,223 -1,402 275,521 -33,979
1973 57,760 -5,409 278,577 -30,582
1972 47,169 -11,296 282,494 -27,071
1971 52,925 -7,654 281,200 -22,021
1970 61,125 -11,315 286,719 -16,299
1969 63,256 -3,204 286,218 -10,152
1968 69,468 -132 286,642 -7,163
1967 49,861 -420 284,738 -6,696
1966 54,504 -144 275,549 -6,794
1965 58,249 -1,406 272,422 -7,249
1964 66,783 505 269,584 -7,614
1963 66,241 500 262,880 -8,118
1962 64,104 499 256,719 -8,909
1961 75,460 378 251,087 -10,144
1960 76,314 -1,112 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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/sri-lanka | 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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