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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 10,569,709 people in Sweden in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 10,680,056 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 1.68 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 91st.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.88% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.6% growth).

Bulgaria vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Sweden
2100 3,368,029 11,357,586
2099 3,392,444 11,361,443
2098 3,416,655 11,365,725
2097 3,440,938 11,366,889
2096 3,465,328 11,368,572
2095 3,489,216 11,371,525
2094 3,513,318 11,374,169
2093 3,537,356 11,376,054
2092 3,561,475 11,378,099
2091 3,585,597 11,379,549
2090 3,609,873 11,381,475
2089 3,634,642 11,384,408
2088 3,659,749 11,387,073
2087 3,685,668 11,390,874
2086 3,712,363 11,398,223
2085 3,739,898 11,403,279
2084 3,768,305 11,408,050
2083 3,797,217 11,411,588
2082 3,827,186 11,416,796
2081 3,857,721 11,418,438
2080 3,890,095 11,420,629
2079 3,923,403 11,420,158
2078 3,957,241 11,418,032
2077 3,992,168 11,415,948
2076 4,027,738 11,412,112
2075 4,064,356 11,407,978
2074 4,102,642 11,404,682
2073 4,141,518 11,401,754
2072 4,180,975 11,398,056
2071 4,221,261 11,393,134
2070 4,262,568 11,389,416
2069 4,304,304 11,385,560
2068 4,346,623 11,384,165
2067 4,389,924 11,383,331
2066 4,433,953 11,383,335
2065 4,478,521 11,382,611
2064 4,523,406 11,381,643
2063 4,568,385 11,381,489
2062 4,613,363 11,382,109
2061 4,658,825 11,379,849
2060 4,704,379 11,378,661
2059 4,749,738 11,376,317
2058 4,794,388 11,372,527
2057 4,839,236 11,367,109
2056 4,884,068 11,361,843
2055 4,929,309 11,354,884
2054 4,974,635 11,347,343
2053 5,020,162 11,336,678
2052 5,065,364 11,322,876
2051 5,110,833 11,306,983
2050 5,156,741 11,287,973
2049 5,202,941 11,268,461
2048 5,249,351 11,247,615
2047 5,296,642 11,225,655
2046 5,343,848 11,202,749
2045 5,391,354 11,178,920
2044 5,439,559 11,153,887
2043 5,488,407 11,128,417
2042 5,537,839 11,102,505
2041 5,588,510 11,078,898
2040 5,639,850 11,054,498
2039 5,692,028 11,031,322
2038 5,743,725 11,008,943
2037 5,796,645 10,987,323
2036 5,849,741 10,964,438
2035 5,902,025 10,941,953
2034 5,954,460 10,919,289
2033 6,007,050 10,895,104
2032 6,058,858 10,869,796
2031 6,111,118 10,844,434
2030 6,163,564 10,815,888
2029 6,214,784 10,784,274
2028 6,264,738 10,749,191
2027 6,313,255 10,710,226
2026 6,359,449 10,668,870
2025 6,402,394 10,621,495
2024 6,441,421 10,569,709
2023 6,446,596 10,536,632
2022 6,465,097 10,486,941
2021 6,507,301 10,415,811
2020 6,550,696 10,353,442
2019 6,616,726 10,278,887
2018 6,710,798 10,175,214
2017 6,803,468 10,057,698
2016 6,894,139 9,923,085
2015 6,984,225 9,799,186
2014 7,073,572 9,696,110
2013 7,160,005 9,600,379
2012 7,305,888 9,519,374
2011 7,348,328 9,449,213
2010 7,395,599 9,378,126
2009 7,444,443 9,298,515
2008 7,492,561 9,219,637
2007 7,545,338 9,148,092
2006 7,601,022 9,080,505
2005 7,658,972 9,029,572
2004 7,716,860 8,993,531
2003 7,775,327 8,958,229
2002 7,837,161 8,924,958
2001 8,009,142 8,895,960
2000 8,170,172 8,872,109
1999 8,210,624 8,857,874
1998 8,256,786 8,850,974
1997 8,312,068 8,846,062
1996 8,362,826 8,840,998
1995 8,406,067 8,826,939
1994 8,443,591 8,780,745
1993 8,472,313 8,718,561
1992 8,540,164 8,668,067
1991 8,632,367 8,617,375
1990 8,718,289 8,558,835
1989 8,876,972 8,492,964
1988 8,981,446 8,436,489
1987 8,971,359 8,397,804
1986 8,958,171 8,369,829
1985 8,960,547 8,350,386
1984 8,960,679 8,336,605
1983 8,939,738 8,329,033
1982 8,917,457 8,325,263
1981 8,891,117 8,320,503
1980 8,861,535 8,310,531
1979 8,825,940 8,293,678
1978 8,814,032 8,275,599
1977 8,804,183 8,251,540
1976 8,758,599 8,222,286
1975 8,720,742 8,192,437
1974 8,678,745 8,159,955
1973 8,620,967 8,136,312
1972 8,576,200 8,122,300
1971 8,536,395 8,098,334
1970 8,489,574 8,042,801
1969 8,434,172 7,968,072
1968 8,369,603 7,912,273
1967 8,310,226 7,867,931
1966 8,258,057 7,807,797
1965 8,204,168 7,733,853
1964 8,144,340 7,661,354
1963 8,078,145 7,604,328
1962 8,012,946 7,561,588
1961 7,943,118 7,519,998
1960 7,867,374 7,484,656

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/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Sweden's population increased by 756,971 people (a 7.63% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 91st 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 Sweden will increase by 5.69% to 11,287,973 people and rank change from 91st to 93rd.

Sweden is projected to reach its peak in 2080 at 11.4M 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
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Sweden
2100 -0.72% -0.03%
2099 -0.71% -0.04%
2098 -0.71% -0.01%
2097 -0.7% -0.01%
2096 -0.68% -0.03%
2095 -0.69% -0.02%
2094 -0.68% -0.02%
2093 -0.68% -0.02%
2092 -0.67% -0.01%
2091 -0.67% -0.02%
2090 -0.68% -0.03%
2089 -0.69% -0.02%
2088 -0.7% -0.03%
2087 -0.72% -0.06%
2086 -0.74% -0.04%
2085 -0.75% -0.04%
2084 -0.76% -0.03%
2083 -0.78% -0.05%
2082 -0.79% -0.01%
2081 -0.83% -0.02%
2080 -0.85% 0.004%
2079 -0.86% 0.02%
2078 -0.87% 0.02%
2077 -0.88% 0.03%
2076 -0.9% 0.04%
2075 -0.93% 0.03%
2074 -0.94% 0.03%
2073 -0.94% 0.03%
2072 -0.95% 0.04%
2071 -0.97% 0.03%
2070 -0.97% 0.03%
2069 -0.97% 0.01%
2068 -0.99% 0.007%
2067 -0.99% -0%
2066 -1% 0.006%
2065 -0.99% 0.009%
2064 -0.98% 0.001%
2063 -0.97% -0.005%
2062 -0.98% 0.02%
2061 -0.97% 0.01%
2060 -0.95% 0.02%
2059 -0.93% 0.03%
2058 -0.93% 0.05%
2057 -0.92% 0.05%
2056 -0.92% 0.06%
2055 -0.91% 0.07%
2054 -0.91% 0.09%
2053 -0.89% 0.12%
2052 -0.89% 0.14%
2051 -0.89% 0.17%
2050 -0.89% 0.17%
2049 -0.88% 0.19%
2048 -0.89% 0.2%
2047 -0.88% 0.2%
2046 -0.88% 0.21%
2045 -0.89% 0.22%
2044 -0.89% 0.23%
2043 -0.89% 0.23%
2042 -0.91% 0.21%
2041 -0.91% 0.22%
2040 -0.92% 0.21%
2039 -0.9% 0.2%
2038 -0.91% 0.2%
2037 -0.91% 0.21%
2036 -0.89% 0.21%
2035 -0.88% 0.21%
2034 -0.88% 0.22%
2033 -0.86% 0.23%
2032 -0.86% 0.23%
2031 -0.85% 0.26%
2030 -0.82% 0.29%
2029 -0.8% 0.33%
2028 -0.77% 0.36%
2027 -0.73% 0.39%
2026 -0.67% 0.45%
2025 -0.61% 0.49%
2024 -0.08% 0.31%
2023 -0.29% 0.47%
2022 -0.65% 0.68%
2021 -0.66% 0.6%
2020 -1% 0.73%
2019 -1.4% 1.02%
2018 -1.36% 1.17%
2017 -1.32% 1.36%
2016 -1.29% 1.26%
2015 -1.26% 1.06%
2014 -1.21% 1%
2013 -2% 0.85%
2012 -0.58% 0.74%
2011 -0.64% 0.76%
2010 -0.66% 0.86%
2009 -0.64% 0.86%
2008 -0.7% 0.78%
2007 -0.73% 0.74%
2006 -0.76% 0.56%
2005 -0.75% 0.4%
2004 -0.75% 0.39%
2003 -0.79% 0.37%
2002 -2.15% 0.33%
2001 -1.97% 0.27%
2000 -0.49% 0.16%
1999 -0.56% 0.08%
1998 -0.67% 0.06%
1997 -0.61% 0.06%
1996 -0.51% 0.16%
1995 -0.44% 0.53%
1994 -0.34% 0.71%
1993 -0.79% 0.58%
1992 -1.07% 0.59%
1991 -0.99% 0.68%
1990 -1.79% 0.78%
1989 -1.16% 0.67%
1988 0.11% 0.46%
1987 0.15% 0.33%
1986 -0.03% 0.23%
1985 -0.001% 0.17%
1984 0.23% 0.09%
1983 0.25% 0.05%
1982 0.3% 0.06%
1981 0.33% 0.12%
1980 0.4% 0.2%
1979 0.14% 0.22%
1978 0.11% 0.29%
1977 0.52% 0.36%
1976 0.43% 0.36%
1975 0.48% 0.4%
1974 0.67% 0.29%
1973 0.52% 0.17%
1972 0.47% 0.3%
1971 0.55% 0.69%
1970 0.66% 0.94%
1969 0.77% 0.71%
1968 0.71% 0.56%
1967 0.63% 0.77%
1966 0.66% 0.96%
1965 0.73% 0.95%
1964 0.82% 0.75%
1963 0.81% 0.57%
1962 0.88% 0.55%
1961 0.96% 0.47%

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/sweden | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.31%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Sweden
Current population
6359449
10680056
Population rank 112/197 91/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.13%
One net population change
1.69 hours
15.9 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
5.25 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
5.54 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +91
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +33,077
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.31%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 149/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +47,079
Net migration rank 106/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 47,079
2024 - 524 - 50,115
2023 -43,837 5,173 5,269 55,209
2022 -62,065 26,498 10,487 58,955
2021 -90,452 11,756 22,914 51,947
2020 -65,507 30,167 14,495 37,302
2019 -46,317 -2,156 25,697 72,619
2018 -46,304 -3,873 23,403 87,517
2017 -45,583 -6,109 24,138 102,671
2016 -42,744 -9,482 25,800 119,234
2015 -44,699 -4,227 23,518 80,534
2014 -41,027 -2,180 26,179 77,654
2013 -37,948 -1,324 23,041 66,760
2012 -40,183 -26,334 20,943 52,879
2011 -37,477 -23,360 21,733 46,049
2010 -34,759 -21,668 25,320 51,175
2009 -26,800 -19,060 21,387 63,638
2008 -32,967 -17,595 18,439 56,452
2007 -37,727 -16,366 15,552 54,907
2006 -39,526 -15,184 15,436 51,675
2005 -42,124 -14,435 9,030 27,030
2004 -40,128 -13,604 9,893 25,842
2003 -44,319 -13,183 6,271 29,161
2002 -46,240 -12,735 893 31,364
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -1,779 28,856
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -2,662 24,900
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -6,201 13,940
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -3,541 11,325
1997 -58,185 -22,963 -3,539 6,047
1996 -45,159 -21,520 1,768 5,773
1995 -42,030 -22,020 9,710 11,621
1994 -32,086 -20,984 20,196 51,545
1993 -24,569 -19,973 20,924 32,725
1992 -18,789 -120,552 28,605 20,507
1991 -14,675 -119,356 29,299 25,314
1990 -3,487 -116,817 29,100 35,668
1989 5,326 -114,705 24,629 44,565
1988 9,879 215 15,186 30,064
1987 8,971 357 11,757 21,335
1986 16,125 1,104 9,206 15,211
1985 11,649 -19,230 4,175 11,464
1984 20,610 -1,032 3,335 8,668
1983 21,455 -1,872 833 2,105
1982 24,077 -1,860 1,665 2,524
1981 29,341 -1,830 1,664 3,209
1980 30,129 -2,045 5,818 10,040
1979 40,599 -872 4,976 13,895
1978 44,070 -62,769 4,138 13,807
1977 47,543 -11,955 7,426 23,528
1976 56,055 -2,522 8,222 20,324
1975 54,941 -38,071 14,746 16,564
1974 64,223 -1,402 23,664 9,217
1973 57,760 -5,409 24,409 -9,551
1972 47,169 -11,296 28,428 -13,519
1971 52,925 -7,654 31,583 2,334
1970 61,125 -11,315 30,563 47,242
1969 63,256 -3,204 23,904 48,824
1968 69,468 -132 30,858 8,545
1967 49,861 -420 41,700 11,075
1966 54,504 -144 45,286 24,920
1965 58,249 -1,406 44,857 32,444
1964 66,783 505 45,968 23,581
1963 66,241 500 35,741 11,009
1962 64,104 499 30,246 9,627
1961 75,460 378 30,832 14,401
1960 76,314 -1,112 27,693 1,080

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sweden | 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 Sweden 21.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 201,900 people) and 78.6% is from migration (a gain of 743,642 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

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
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

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/sweden | 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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