Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 21,756,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 21,926,160 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Sri Lanka's population is 3.43 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 0.26% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +0.42% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 21.9M (7.73% growth).

Bulgaria vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Sri Lanka
2100 3,384,288 20,009,380
2099 3,408,821 20,121,095
2098 3,433,149 20,234,513
2097 3,457,549 20,345,619
2096 3,482,057 20,456,607
2095 3,506,060 20,566,246
2094 3,530,278 20,674,019
2093 3,554,432 20,780,946
2092 3,578,667 20,886,274
2091 3,602,907 20,990,047
2090 3,627,300 21,095,968
2089 3,652,188 21,198,788
2088 3,677,416 21,299,229
2087 3,703,460 21,398,269
2086 3,730,284 21,496,892
2085 3,757,953 21,594,661
2084 3,786,496 21,687,323
2083 3,815,548 21,778,597
2082 3,845,662 21,866,395
2081 3,876,344 21,954,337
2080 3,908,874 22,038,953
2079 3,942,344 22,122,744
2078 3,976,345 22,200,069
2077 4,011,440 22,274,355
2076 4,047,182 22,345,857
2075 4,083,977 22,414,609
2074 4,122,447 22,485,066
2073 4,161,511 22,550,427
2072 4,201,158 22,610,645
2071 4,241,639 22,669,042
2070 4,283,145 22,725,948
2069 4,325,083 22,779,050
2068 4,367,606 22,831,596
2067 4,411,116 22,885,941
2066 4,455,358 22,935,123
2065 4,500,141 22,985,942
2064 4,545,243 23,030,844
2063 4,590,439 23,071,114
2062 4,635,634 23,107,970
2061 4,681,315 23,139,924
2060 4,727,089 23,171,649
2059 4,772,667 23,199,387
2058 4,817,532 23,224,997
2057 4,862,597 23,247,211
2056 4,907,646 23,267,292
2055 4,953,105 23,278,653
2054 4,998,650 23,287,520
2053 5,044,397 23,297,347
2052 5,089,817 23,301,287
2051 5,135,505 23,302,108
2050 5,181,635 23,299,282
2049 5,228,058 23,293,630
2048 5,274,692 23,283,465
2047 5,322,212 23,267,251
2046 5,369,645 23,244,081
2045 5,417,381 23,212,221
2044 5,465,818 23,181,041
2043 5,514,902 23,144,217
2042 5,564,573 23,103,489
2041 5,615,489 23,056,478
2040 5,667,076 23,005,928
2039 5,719,506 22,948,866
2038 5,771,452 22,888,821
2037 5,824,628 22,822,943
2036 5,877,980 22,756,462
2035 5,930,517 22,685,766
2034 5,983,205 22,611,514
2033 6,036,049 22,532,374
2032 6,088,107 22,449,310
2031 6,140,619 22,364,063
2030 6,193,318 22,273,377
2029 6,244,785 22,181,300
2028 6,294,981 22,082,826
2027 6,343,732 21,979,196
2026 6,390,149 21,870,145
2025 6,433,302 21,756,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 717,160 people (a 3.38% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Sri Lanka will increase by 6.26% to 23,299,282 people and rank change from 63rd to 71st.

Sri Lanka is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 23.3M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.38M 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 -0.13% -0.73%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.73%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Sri Lanka
Current population
6390149
21926160
Population rank 112/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.26%
One net population change
1.08 hours
3.29 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
2.37 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
3.07 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 -438
Annual growth/decline -8,119 -160,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% -0.73%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 190/197
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 -47,023 524 50,407 -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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 84.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,444,615 people) and 15.7% is from migration (a loss of 269,694 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/sri-lanka | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.